Mtyela Kasanda (1840-1884), better known as Mirambo (which means "corpses") was a Nyamwezi warlord, from 1860 to 1884. He created the largest state (Nyamwezi Kingdom) by the use of his small group of mercenary warriors, ruga-ruga in 19th-century. Its capital was at Urambo.
Between 1870 and 1884 he expanded his empire to Buha and Burundi, and to Vinza and Tongwe to the west, Pimbwe and Konongo to the south, Nyaturu, Iramba and Sukuma and Sumbwa to the north. By doing this, Mirambo gained control of the direct trade route from Tabora to ujiji.
