He was educated at Zanzibar during the reign of Majid bin Sa'id (1856–70).[5] He became a leader in the Qadiriyya Muslim brotherhood.[6] The Arab trader Tippu Tip from Zanzibar reached the Luba region in the late 1850s, trading in slaves, ivory and copper. Relying on force as needed to defeat uncooperative local chieftains, he steadily expanded his trading empire. In 1875, he established his capital as Kasongo.[7] Rumaliza spent some time with Tippu Tip at Tabora in western Tanganyika, and is said to have acquired his name from the nearby village or suburb called Rumaliza or Lumaliza.[8] Rumaliza formed a trading alliance with Tippu Tip.