Mbegha was born to the Ngulu people from the hilly area of the Nguru Mountains. Because of disputes with relatives and because considered supernaturally dangerous, he was condemned from his homeland. He fled to Kilindi, where he became a hunter, hunting bush pigs with the local chief's son. While on a hunt, the chief's son was accidentally killed. In order to escape punishment from the chief, Mbegha had to flee again, this time further north into the Usambara Mountains. He lived in the open near a place called Ziai, in caves and camps, hunting wild animals.