THE LOZI AND BEMBAS ARE COUSINS FROM KATANGA REGION OF THE LUBA-LUNDA KINGDOM
THE LOZI AND BEMBAS ARE COUSINS FROM KATANGA REGION OF THE LUBA-LUNDA KINGDOM
The first monarchs of the Luyi people, who were the ancestors of the Lozi peoples present today in Barotseland, were women who led the Luyi when they first arrived on the Bulozi flood plain after a staged migration from the Lunda-Luba empire of the Katanga region in present day Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The earliest known of these queens is remembered by the name of Mwambwa who bore a daughter called Mbuyu-wa-mwambwa. This means ‘Mbuyu of Mwambwa’ shortened to Mbuwamwambwa.
It is from these two queens under whose leadership the Luyi are said to have settled in Kalabo district that the line of kingship evident up to today can be traced.
During the reign of Mbuyu, one of her sons, Mboo was selected to be the first male monarch and from that time forwards, only males have occupied the Kingship.
The dates of the reigns of the various kings are vague up to the time of Lewanika.
Here is a list of Litungas and other senior royal positions in chronological order starting with the first.
- Mboo – also: Muyunda Mwanasilundu – Son to Mbuywamwambwa – Mboo may have been a nickname added after his overdue birth (Mwanasilundu – literally a child who came late).
- Inyambo – older brother to Mboo; son to Mbuywamwambwa.
- Yeta I – son to Mwambwa; uncle to Mboo and Inyambo; brother to Mbuywamwambwa.
- Ngalama – nephew to Yeta I; son to Prince Ingalamwa, said to have been adopted by Litunga Inyambo.
- Yeta Nalute – son to Ngalama.
Ngombala – son to Ngalama. - Yubya – grandson to Ngombala, son to Prince Mbanga, Mulena wa Nalolo.
- Mwanawina I – brother to Yubya; son to Prince Mbanga, Mulena wa Nalolo.
- Mwananyanda – son to Mwanawina I
- Mulambwa – known to Livingstone as Santulu – son to Mwanawina I: c1780-c1830 – dates uncertain.
- Silumulume – son to Mulambwa – ruler of the north – Namuso: dates uncertain.
- Mubukwanu – son to Mulambwa – ruler of the south – Lwambi: possibly 1830-1838, much of this rule in exile.
Then the Makololo (Kololos) took over and ruled from 1830 to 1864.
- Sebetwane: 1839 till his death on 7th July 1851.
- Mamochisane – daughter to Sebetwane: 1851-2.
- Sekeletu – son to Sebetwane 1852-1864.
- Mamili – possibly uncle to Sekeletu; possibly brother to Sebetwane: 1863.
- Mbololo – brother to Sebetwane 1864-1864.
- Sipopa – son to Sibeso, grandson to Mulambwa – (formerly Lutangu): 1864-1876
- Mowa Mamili (Regent): 1876
- Mwanawina II – son to Mubukwanu: 1876-1878
- Lubosi – grandson to Mulambwa; son to Prince Litia: (first period of rule) 1878-1884
- Tatila Akufuna – son to Prince Imbua, grandson to Mulambwa: 1884-1885
- Lubosi (second period of rule) – became known as Lewanika ‘the uniter’: 1885-1916
- Litia – became Yeta III – son to Lewanika: 1916-1945 (June)
- Imwiko – son to Lewanika 1945-1948 (June)
- Mwanawina III – son to Lewanika: 1948-1968
- Mbikusita – son to Lewanika: 1968 (15th Dec)-1977
- Ilute – also known as Yeta IV – son to Yeta III: 1977-2000
- Lubosi Imwiko II – son to Imwiko I: 2000 (October) – presently (in April 2024) still reigning.
Apart from the Sebitwane raiders (1830-1864), the rest are cousins to Mwene Lubemba.
The reunification of the Lozi and Bemba cousins that was proclaimed last weekend in Mongu has strong historical origins. Let all well-meaning Zambians embrace it wholeheartedly.