122 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
Bahera. Although it is said that the Bahima were once united and held sway over a great empire called Kitara, in historic times this territory was split up into kingdoms stretching from Bunyoro through Toro and Ankole to Ruanda in Belgian territory. The kingdom of Buganda also belongs to this classification, but, owing to the greater percentage of the agricultural population, sharp racial differences soon disappeared, the royal family alone stressing its foreign descent.
This upland corridor, then, is the stage upon which Bahima and Bairu have for centuries played their political drama. Intriguing and heroic as the opening scenes of this drama undoubtedly were, the story as historical fact is lost to us for ever. But to every Muhima this past is a living, fascinating reality. Whether it be embodied in song, recitation or fireside tale, the theme is the same. It is of raiding, of wandering, of battle between clans and kings, of famine and disease, of sorcery and sacrifice. Through this vast body of myth and legend, we are able to grasp something of the epic nature of the struggle which took place on the plains of western Uganda and which, in one instance, gave rise to the kingdom of Ankole.
Long ago, these legends say, there were Bahima and Bairu in the land. The Bahima lived in eastern Ankole with their cattle while the Bairu tilled the soil in the west. In those days the Bahima had neither king nor chiefs, but important men in the clans settled disputes. Among the rich men the following are still remembered: Nyawera lived in Kashari and belonged to the Abaitera clan; Rwazigami lived in Rugondo and belonged to the Abasite clan; Ishemurindwa of the Abaishekatwa clan lived in Masha; Karara of the Abakoboza clan lived in Ruanda; Rwanyakizha of the Aba-raini lived in Nshara; while Mariza of the Abararira clan lived in Bukanga. There were other clans as well, too numerous to mention here. These Bahima are spoken of to-day as being the first Bahima of Ankole. There are no stories of how they got there. Other clans came into Ankole later from the neighbouring countries.
The Bairu lived in Rwanpara, Shema, Buhwezhu, and Igara. It is not known whether they had clans or whether they were organized under chiefs. There were no wars between the Bahima and the Bairu in those days, each living in his own section of the land and trading beer and millet for milk and butter.
Then very suddenly a strange people appeared. They were