He was denied his inheritance by his Zigula lineage, who claimed he was a kigego, a being considered mystically dangerous, due to cutting his upper teeth first as an infant, which they believed caused the deaths of his kinsmen.
From there, he followed the present-day railway line northwest to Makuyuni, then moved northeast to Vuruni, where the plains form an indentation in the mountains.
Accounts of Mbegha's early impact mention Ziai, Manka, and Mlungui, forming an arc along the western side of the southern tip of Shambaai.
The traditions highlight Mbegha’s influence in the region surrounding Bumbuli, mentioning areas such as Shembekeza, Ngulwi, Funta, Tekwa, Ng’wavula, Balangai, Mpaau, Due, and Nkongoi.
The intention of the tradition is to illustrate Mbegha’s influence in the vicinity of Bumbuli, including relations with the Nango lineages there.
In certain narratives, Mbegha is identified as a "kigego" (plural: "vigego"), referring to a child whose upper teeth emerge before the lower ones or whose molars appear before the incisors.
An informant noted Mbegha's hairiness, linking it to Shambaa symbolism, where hair is often viewed as unclean and ritually hazardous.
In Shambaa culture, prominent medical practitioners, who were also considered sorcerers, wore a distinctive lock of long hair (ushungi) as a symbol of their power.
Mbegha was depicted as a wild man and witch in the early stages of his myth, further exemplified by the death of the chief’s son during a hunting expedition with him.
His magical abilities, tied to his wild nature and capacity to kill, also encompassed the power to bestow fertility upon Shambaai.