Unyanyembe

Unyanyembe is a town in Tanzania (formerly German East Africa) near Mwadui Airport in Shinyanga Region.

Ifundikila (reigned 1840–1858) was a king of Unyanyembe who oversaw major cooperation with a large Arab-Swahili commercial class in his kingdom.

However it needs to be kept in mind that the Arabs and Swahili's were a foreign commercial class, they did not exercise political control in the kingdom.

After a few years the people of Unyanyembe tried of Mnywasela's rule, and a faction worked to return Mkasiwa from his exile in the Kingdom of Ulyankhulu.

This was fought because Urambo's ruler, Mirambo, had extended his power to control the main routes of trade between Unyanyembe and the Swahili coast, and both the Arab-Swahili merchants and the Nyamwezi objected to his transit fees.

Pocket chronometer loan receipt by David Livingstone , Consul Inner Africa, Unyanyembe, February 1872. Zanzibar Museum.