Which groups entered Malawi as traders or armed refugees between 1830 and 1860?

Between 1830 and 1860, three primary groups entered the Malawi region as traders or as armed refugees fleeing the Zulu states to the south:

• Swahili-speaking people: Arriving from the east coast, they became a dominant ruling class and played a significant role in the slave trade.
• Ngoni people: These groups were part of the Mfecane, a period of forced migrations and wars that displaced many populations. They established independent states and became a dominant military force in the region.
• Yao people: Already known as traders by 1800, they expanded their influence during this period, also becoming heavily involved in the slave trade and establishing their own spheres of influence as a ruling class.123

Each of these groups eventually created their own spheres of influence, becoming the dominant ruling classes within their respective territories.13