Rumaliza

Muhammad bin Khalfan bin Khamis al-Barwani (Arabic: محمد بن خلفان بن خميس البرواني) (born c. 1850, died 1919), commonly known as Rumaliza, was an Omani Swahili trader of slaves and ivory, active in Central and East Africa in the latter part of the nineteenth century. He was a member of the Arabian Barwani tribe. With the help of Tippu Tip, he became the Sultan of Ujiji. At one time, he dominated the trade of Tanganyika, before being defeated by Belgian forces under Baron Francis Dhanis in January 1894. Rumaliza was born in 1850 in Zanzibar. He helped the "Nyamwezi" African tribe and became friends with its members which then earned him nickname "Rumaliza." He played a significant role in the war against Belgian colonialism in the Congo and was pivotal in expanding trade within Africa. He is credited with opening several regions to commerce and raising the level of trade, particularly in ivory and other goods. His dominance extended to the coasts and the city of Ujiji, where he controlled the trade routes and established himself as a significant leader. Despite his successes, his influence waned following his defeat by Belgian forces, marking the decline of his dominance in the region.