The Bemba kingdom

This post explores the origins, and expansion as well as the decline of the The Bemba kingdom

Origins of Bemba kingdom

Oral traditions of the Bemba royalty suggest that they migrated from the Luba kingdom known as kola in what is now the DRC.
However, some historians argue that this story is of a mostly mythical nature to explain the continued rule of lubemba by the crocodile clan.

Where the Bemba came from

• Mukulumpe, the, the king of kola, had married a woman of the crocodile clan (Abena ng’andu).
• They had three sons and one daughter; the sons were chiti, nkole and katongo. Chilufya was their sister.
• The three sons had differences with their father and fought him.
• After the fight they decided to flee the kingdom.
• They were later joined by their half brothers, chimba, kapasa and kazembe.
• They fled eastwards and settled in present-day northern Zambia.
• They were led by chiti, to whom they gave a praise name “mukulu”, meaning the great. So chiti came to be called Chiti Mukulu or chiti the Great. They built their capital east of present-day kasama and called the newly occupied area lubemba.

Political organization

• The Bemba expanded in all directions through conquering other chiefdoms and founding new chiefdoms.
• They achieved a centralized government under the supreme chief, the Chiti Mukulu of the royal clan.
• The power of the clan was thought to lie in their prayers to the spirits of their ancestors at special sites, which they believed influenced the fertility of land and the general welfare of the people.
• The burial of the close members of the royal clan and ceremonies around the succession of the new chief are among the most complex among the Bantu speaking.

REASONS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE BEMBA KINGDOM

Bemba power and expansion resulted from the following:

• Good administrative reforms by the chitimukulu particularly under chileshe chepela
• •Limiting the chieftaincy and succession to the Abena Ng’andu clan. Chiefs were chosen from the sons and nephews of chiefs, united under the chitimukulu
• Obtaining guns and gunpowder, Which allowed them to conquer other groups who had to pay tribute
• Well-organised armies commanded by trusted members of the loyal clan
• Well-organised administrative structures of the kingdom.

Social organisation and culture

• The Bemba clans were divided into about 40 matrilineal clans ,such as Abena Bowa ,Abena Nsofu or Abena Mfula, Which were spread all over the Lubemba area.
• Administratively the smallest group was the village. This was mostly made up of matrilineal relatives of the village headman.
• The headman reported to the chiefs who reported to the senior chiefs, and in turn the senior chiefs reported to the chitimukulu through appointed royal councilors called bachilolo.
• The Bemba also practiced polygamy, through the first wife enjoyed special status.

Economic activities

• The Bemba practiced shifting cultivation, called the chitemene system, because of the acidity of the soil.
• The ash from the burnt vegetation neutralized the soil.
• They grew millet, sorghum and Cassava.
• They did not keep cattle due to tsetse flies, so they raided neighboring groups (such as Mambwe) for cattle.
• They sold slaves, copper and ivory to the Portuguese and Swahili on the east coast.
• In return, they got guns, gun powder, beads, cloth and other manufactured goods from Swahili and Arabs.
• Guns strengthened their military position to the extent that they could defeat invading Ngoni who wanted to overrun the Lubemba country.

Decline of the The Bemba kingdom

• By 1883, the Bemba kingdom had expanded greatly, and included Bisaland, Lunguland, Tabwa and Mambwe areas.
• During European colonization, treaties were signed with the most powerful chiefs. Internal disputes between mwamba and chitimukulu lead to lack of joint, organized resistance to European colonization.
• As a result, the powers of the Bemba chiefs were reduced by the colonial administration.
• However, almost all the Bemba chiefs, including the chitimukulu, retained authority over their chiefdoms.