Thread by @PwaniTribune

Ever used the word 'kibarua' or phrase 'niko kibaruani'? Well, the word 'kibarua' gained prominence on the Kenyan Coast in the 19th century to mean a system of day labour for slaves at the docks. They in turn paid their 'masters' half their daily earnings. A thread...

We must first understand the slavery/utumwa set-up as it was at the Coast. Utumwa was in contrast to what was considered 'uungwana' (civilised/freeborn). Some of the qualities of uungwana were being 'cultured', 'graceful', 'fashionable'. Utumwa would later morph into 'utumishi'.

'Mtumishi' was a servant as opposed to a slave. The difference being 'mtumwa' worked for free. The terms associated with utumwa were 'mzalia', 'mjakazi', 'mtwana', 'suria', 'suriama', 'mtumwa mjinga', and at the bottom of the pile...'mshenzi'.

Mzalia was a home-born slave. Mjakazi a female slave (kijakazi a young female slave). Mtwana a male slave (kitwana a young male slave), the saying "Viovu vya bwana si vyema vya Juma kitwana" (what is bad for the master is not good for Juma the slave). Suria was a concubine...

...Suriama was one born from 'Master-slave' relations, a 'half-caste'. Mtumwa mjinga was an 'unskilled' slave. Mshenzi/ushenzi was who or what was considered completely barbaric.

Wazalia worked in the household...cleaning pots/pans, laundry, sewing mats & cooking. Wazalia referred to females, to make a distinction with males one said 'mzalia mwanaume'. Wazalia held water jugs for the 'master' to wash his hands & washed his feet (if his wife allowed it).

'Watumwa wajinga' were sent to the fields to cultivate cassava and other produce which they gave to their 'master' & kept just a small portion for their sustainance. Those who were a bit more 'skilled' worked as sailors, ferry/boat conductors & porters.

'Watumwa wajinga' worked under harsher conditions than wazalia. They wore no caps, long robes or shoes. They also could not call a 'freeborn' by name, they could only refer to them as 'Mwinyi', alluding 'Master' or 'Boss'.

With the coming of the British, their need for domestic help & gradual slavery abolition, the concept of domestic wage labour came to be...utumishi. Utumishi itself had 'uboi'(from boy) to mean domestic house servant & 'mtumishi'/'watumishi' who were messengers.

The British preferred those already with the experience of serving in 'Master-slave' households because they had the qualities they required, key being 'loyalty'. For this the slave 'masters' recommended the Mijikenda to the British.

It is sad to read that when the British adorned their watumishi in dress associated with 'uungwana'...turbans/caps & long flowing robes', Mijikenda youth left for Old Town Mombasa to 'apprentice' (for free) in 'Master' households in order to later be recommended to the British.

To 'kibarua'/'vibarua', colonialism came with bountiful harvest in plantations & a lot of work required to load vessels at the docks. Opportunity arose for those with slaves in their households to send them to work at the docks for a daily wage, of which they would take half.

Vibarua would later be done completely by freed slaves.

PS: Reading on slavery brings a lot to the forefront e.g with no proper prison set-up in those days, some communities gave off their own wrong-doers to the trade. We must approach the subject with full openness & clarity.

A great help to this thread was 'Service, Slavery (Utumwa) & Swahili Social Reality' by Carol M. Eastman.