Murungu

Murungu
Varungu

A white couple, 1935
Total population
~100,000
Regions with significant populations
Rwizikuru	21,595
Languages
Estmerish, Gaullican, and weRwizi
Religion
Sotirianism

The murungu (pl. varungu), also known as White Rwizikurans or Euclean-Rwizikurans, are people in Rwizikuru who are of Euclean descent, and have been citizens of Rwizikuru since its independence from Estmere in 1946.

Etymology

The term murungu is a weRwizi language term referring to white people.

The most common theory says that the term originated from a name that is commonly used by other Bahian peoples to refer to God or the creator deity, Mulungu. According to linguist and settler Marvin Carnall, who first proposed the idea in 1911, when the Estmerish first arrived to present-day Port Graham in 1638 and established a fort, the native veRwizi saw the Estmerish as Gods, and thus used the term murungu to refer to the Estmerish.

However, this interpretation has been met with substantial criticism, with many veRwizi arguing that Carnall's theory is Eucleocentric and plays into the common trope that "uncivlized peoples" see Eucleans as gods.

The most common alternative theory, first proposed in 1975 by linguist Tazvitya Mhlanga claims that the term derives from the "pumpkin-like" appearance of the earliest Estmerish settlers in the 17th century. Thus, they called the white commmunity "people of the pumpkin."

This term was historically only used by the weRwizi people to refer to all white people. However, in 1946, with independence looming, many white people chose to keep the citizenship of their home countries, instead of accepting Rwizikuran citizenship. Thus, Samhuri Ngonidzashe needed to devise terms, so to distinguish the "white citizens," and the "white expatriates."

Thus, he chose to use the term "murungu" or "varungu" to refer to white citizens of Rwizikuru, and "munodzoka" or "vanodzoka" to refer to the whites who chose to not accept Rwizikuran citizenship. Since independence, the latter term has evolved to refer to all expatriates of Euclean descent, while the former now only refers to Rwizikuran citizens of Euclean descent.

History

Slave trade

A depiction of Port Graham, c. 1735

It is believed that the earliest populations of what would become the varungu arrived in 1638 when Estmere established Port Graham as a place to facilitate trade with the veRwizi Empire. However, the presence of Eucleans in Rwizikuru was generally limited, even during the height of the slave trade in Bahia in the 1670s and 1680s, with virtually all Eucleans in the area being either soldiers defending the forts, slavers who collected slaves, or sailors who were currently in port.

This period of varungu history meant that there was never a permanent sizable Euclean population in Rwizikuru at the time: after the loss of many of the forts due to the Gilded Wars, coupled with the end of the slave trade in the 1740s, Estmerish presence declined, until the fort at Port Graham was abandoned in 1803.

While there is evidence of relationships between Eucleans and the veRwizi during this period, which produced mixed-race (weRwizi: musanganiswa), the mixed-race generally were assimilated into the veRwizi community, or else were assimilated into the Euclean community.

Colonization

white immigration not as high as in other Estmerish colonies, what with the hot climate: Crogan becomes main center of the white community from 1890s on as it is somewhat cooler than Port Fitzhubert, and is home to large farms of cash crops. by 1931, white population reaches 14,867 people.

Post Great-War

With the end of the Great War in 1935, the white community in Riziland were augmented by Gaullophones living in Olongaland, or the portion of the Gaullican colony of Quigomba which was split between Nasana and Estmere.

While most of the Gaullican residents in Olongaland were either expelled, or left of their own accord over the next few years, there was still a substantial white presence in Olongaland, which was predominantly Gaullophone. This led to increasing tensions between Guallophones and Anglophones, especially as many Anglophones viewed the Gaullophones as a potential threat to Estmerish rule over Riziland.

Around this time, two major movements sprung up among the white population: the Alliance paysanne, based in Saint-Germain (present-day Port Tsalar, Nasana) and led by Jean-Louis Milhaud, and the Conservative Front, based in Port Fitzhubert and led by Alistair Perry, each representing their side of the population. The Alliance paysanne wanted equal recognition for the Gaullophone community in colonial politics, while the Conservative Front advocated for assimilation of all whites into Estmerish culture.

By 1941, the white population reached 41,479 people, or about 0.58% of the total population, with only 17,375 originating from Estmere or descended from Estmerish settlers, with almost all of the remaining 24,104 white people being Gaullicans who were allowed to remain. Only 615 were of other Euclean descent.

While some radical white settlers, most notably the far-right Mouvement de civilisation led by Adolphe Crevier, advocated for independence from Estmere under a white minority government, most Eucleans believed that permanent rule by whites would not be viable in the long term.

Thus, when limited self-government was proclaimed in 1941, with a sixteen member legislative council, eight seats were allocated to the white community. With Adolphe Crevier's party destroyed as a result of the election, Jean-Louis Milhaud and Alistair Perry became the main political representatives of the white community.

By the early 1940s, the whites had reached their zenith of political, and to some degree, economic influence, although most of the economy was dominated by Marathi immigrants who were unrepresented in the legislative council.

Post-independence

Following the independence of Rwizikuru in 1946, it was estimated that 2/3rds of the Anglophone community, and 3/5ths of the Gaullophone community either refused to take Rwizikuran citizenship or emigrated from Rwizikuru. Thus, it was estimated only around five thousand Estmerish-speaking whites and around ten thousand Gaullican-speaking whites took up Rwizikuran citizenship.

While the whites lost much of their political standing, the 1946 general elections saw three white legislators: Jean-Louis Milhaud (MV) representing Centre St-Germain, Ignace Dutoit (MV) representing Petit Pays, and Archibald Hayes (MV) representing Crogan. As well, the whites maintained their economic position, especially as managers and supervisors, and many of the murungu remained in the Rwizikuran civil service. However, they were starting to lose their stature, with the 1950 elections only returning Hayes and Dutoit, while Milhaud retiring from politics.

In 1951, the murungu population was reported to be at 16,335 people, making up 0.1% of the total population. Of the 16,070 varungu, 9,958 were of Guallican descent, while 6,112 people were of Estmerish descent, and the remaining 265 varungu were of other Euclean origins.

During the early 1950s, the murungu population started to lose more of their strength, especially as the governing Mubatanidzwa weRusununguko rweRwizikuru began to institute policies to regulate the economy. By 1954, with the retirement of Samhuri Ngonidzashe, and the accession of Izibongo Ngonidzashe, the two remaining white legislators lost their seats. At the same time, policies of indigenization pushed many of the white civil servants out of their jobs.

Bottoming out

By 1961, the white population fell to 11,643 people, or around 0.09% of the total population. Of the 11,643 varungu, 5,915 were of Gaullican descent, 5,581 were of Estmerish descent, and 147 were of other Euclean descent. The white community by this point was largely concentrated in and around Saint-Germain (present-day Port Tsalar, Nasana), Port Fitzhubert, and Crogan.

However, things got worse: with the passage of the eighth amendment to the Rwizikuran constitution, foreign investment dried up. As many of the whites in the country were employed by Euclean firms operating in Rwizikuru, they generally lost their jobs, or were asked to move out of Rwizikuru to keep their jobs. With a crackdown on bourgeois elites, many of them population feared that they will lose their lands and businesses, although unlike the Marathi population or the wealthy Irfanic population, the varungu were not as badly affected by the policy, primarily because of their common faith, although a handful of families did lose farms and businesses to the government.

To make things worse, the Nasani-Rwizikuran War from 1968 to 1969 saw the loss of most of Yekumavirira to Nasana: virtually all of the Gaullophone community fled, with most of them leaving for Euclea, with the rest fleeing to Port Fitzhubert and Crogan.

Thus, by the 1971 census, the murungu population fell to 6,229 people, or 0.05% of the total population. Of the 6,229 murungu, 5,977 were of Estmerish descent, 201 were of Gaullican descent and 51 were of other Euclean descent.

During the 1970s, as Rwizikuru became more closed off from the rest of the world, many of the varungu who remained were farmers exporting cash crops to the few nations willing to trade with Rwizikuru, especially as few businessmen remained, and only a handful of varungu remained in the Rwizikuran civil service, with that number decreasing as many retired during the 1970s and 1980s.

By 1981, the murungu population fell to a low of 5,789 people, comprising 0.04% of the total population. Of the 5,789 varungu, 5,565 were of Estmerish descent, 213 were of Gaullican descent, and 11 were of other Euclean descent, with the main centers of murungu population being in Crogan, where out of the 59,576 inhabitants in its urban area, there were 3,506 murungu living there, comprising 5.9% of the city's population, 1,055 living in Port Fitzhubert, making up 0.2% of the city population, and the remainder living in the countryside.

Contemporary era

A white-owned farm near Crogan, 2012

With the death of Izibongo Ngonidzashe in 1979, and his succession by Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe, Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe began to engage in economic reforms to attract foreign investment in the country.

With the increasing economic freedoms, many varungu living abroad began to return, especially those who were businessmen prior to the 1960s, although most of them were short-term expats tasked with reestablishing foreign businesses in Rwizikuru. This led to an increase of varungu in Port Fitzhubert. However, most of the economic growth was driven by the Nokara, who were invited back to Rwizikuru in 1982 by Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe.

By 1991, the murungu population had risen to 7,526 people, or 0.04% of the national population, with 7,191 Estmerish varungu, 228 Gaullican varungu, and 107 of other Euclean descent. The government estimated that of the additional people between 1981 and 1991, 1,390 were returning varungu from foreign countries, while only 350 were children born to varungu.

During the 1990s, the murungu continued to see their economic power rise: although it was not to the same heights as the Marathi population, who played a more dominant economic role than the whites. However, during the 1990s, many farmers were no longer able to produce cash crops, with virtually all tobacco farms and banana plantations closing: by 1997, royal officials noted that:

"The only varungu-run farms remaining in operation are coffee plantations, what with the decline of demand for tobacco-based products, and the rise of other countries more suited to growing crops like bananas, combined with increasing coffee demand."

In 2001, the murungu population had risen to 11,881 people, or 0.06% of the national population. Of the varungu, 10,533 varungu were of Estmerish descent, 954 were of Gaullican descent, and 394 were of other Euclean descent. In addition, the government estimated that of the growth between 1991 and 2001, only 602 were born to varungu parents, while 3,753 were returnees from other countries.

In the 2000s, with agreements signed between countries that led to increased mining of coltan, copper, and coal by foreign countries, many varungu took on positions as managers of the mines, or as supervisors, while others took on administrative positions. At the same time, a small tourist industry began to arise, mostly driven by Eucleans and varungu living abroad, which attracted many varungu to work in the hospitality industry.

By the 2011 census, the murungu population rose to 21,595 people, or 0.11% of the national population. Of the varungu, 19,959 were of Estmerish descent, 1,021 were of Gaullican descent, and 615 were of other Euclean descent. As well, the government estimated that between 2001 and 2011, there were 1,426 born to varungu parents, while 8,288 were returnees.

As of 2011, the main centers of the varungu were still Port Fitzhubert, which has a varungu population of 10,798 people, making up 0.3% of the city's population, and Crogan, which has a varungu population of 9,718 people, making up 4.1% of the city's population, with 1,079 scattered throughout the rest of the country.

Culture

Arts

Dolcie Thompson, 2009

The artistic style of the varungu population have generally been influenced by Estmerish art and Gaullican artistic styles. Prominent varungu painters include Peter Credge, Cleve Carrington, and Agnes Cawley. Prominent varungu sculptors include Hobson Commins and Keith Donoughoe.

Prominent authors from the varungu community include Roe Lyness and Evalyn Vear from the colonial era, while contemporary varungu authors that are popular in Rwizikuru include Dolcie Thompson, Benedict Grant, and Harris Day.

There are only a handful of varungu actors in Rwizikuru's film industry, with most varungu often cast as colonial officials. The most popular varungu actors include Leighton Saunders, Luca Bates, and Honey Davidson.

Cuisine

The cuisine of the varungu population generally has two sources: Estmerish cuisine and Gaullican cuisine, which generally depends on the origins of the murungu in question.

Popular foods among the varungu include oatmeal, mashed potatoes, macarons, and either fish and chips or steak frites. However, many varungu consume Rwizikuran cuisine, so yakagochwa mombe and sadza are also commonplace among the white community.

Sports

The varungu have interested many Euclean sports to Rwizikuru, with Estmere introducing football and rugby league to Rwizikuru.

Popular sports among the white community include horse racing, netball, and field hockey, each also introduced by the Euclean population in Rwizikuru.