Info For You Lot Bemba People: Matrilineal, Agrarian As Well As The The Largest Ethnic Grouping Inwards The Zambia
The Bemba ('BaBemba or 'Awemba' or 'BaWemba') are a cluster of matrilineal as well as agriculturalist ChiBemba-speaking ethnolinguistic grouping of Bantu extraction living inwards the northeastern high plateau of Zambia. They reside mainly inwards the Northern, Luapula as well as Copperbelt Provinces of Republic of Zambia who draw their origins to the Luba as well as Lunda states of the upper Congo basin, inwards what became Katanga Province inwards southern Congo-Kinshasa (DRC). They are the largest ethnic grouping inwards Zambia. Bemba history is a major historical phenomenon inwards the evolution of chieftainship inwards a large as well as culturally homogeneous portion of key Africa.
The Bemba are those who consider themselves subjects of the Chitimukulu, the Bemba's unmarried paramount chief. They lived inwards villages of 100 to 200 people as well as numbered 250,000 potent inwards 1963. There are over 30 Bemba clans, named later animals or natural organisms, such every bit the royal clan, "the people of the crocodile" (Bena Ng'andu) or the Bena Bowa (Mushroom Clan). They were the people who finally position a stop to the northward march of the Nguni as well as Sotho-Tswana descended Ngoni people, through Chief Chitapankwa Kaluba.
In contemporary Zambia, the discussion "Bemba" genuinely has several meanings. It may designate people of Bemba origin, regardless of where they live, e.g. whether they live inwards urban areas or inwards the master rural Bemba area. Alternatively, it may comprehend a much larger population which includes some 'eighteen dissimilar ethnic groups', who together with the Bemba shape a closely related ethnolinguistic cluster of matrilineal-matrifocal agriculturalists known every bit the Bemba-speaking peoples of Zambia.They may telephone call upwards themselves yesteryear the detail grouping name—Aushi, Bisa, Chishinga, Kunda, Lala, Lamba Lunda, Ng'umbo, Swaka, Tabwa, or Unga—but the style inwards urban areas is to exercise the generic term "Bemba". In this broad feel the Bemba shape the most of import ethnic grouping inwards the urban areas of the Copperbelt, including Kitwe, Ndola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Chingola, as well as Chililabombwe inwards Republic of Zambia as well as a important minority inwards Lubumbashi inwards the DRC.
Bemba family
Bemba Folklore/Mythology
In a province called Kola, at that spot 1 time was a powerful, simply manifestly crazy main called Mukulumpe. He had a number of sons yesteryear dissimilar wives, simply 1 twenty-four hr menses he heard of a adult woman with ears every bit large every bit an elephant's, who said she came from the heaven as well as belonged to the crocodile clan. Her mention was Mumbi Mukasa, as well as the main married her. They had iii sons, Katongo, Chiti as well as Nkole, as well as a daughter, Chilufya Mulenga. The impetuous immature men built a tower that fell downwardly as well as killed many people. King Mukulumpe was furious. He discover Katongo's eyes, as well as banished Chiti as well as Nkole. Mukulumpe pretended to relent as well as called dorsum the exiles. However, he had dug a game pit to kill the iii of them. Katongo, though blind, warned his brothers yesteryear using his talking drum. When they arrived live as well as at the palace, the manful mortal monarch humiliated them yesteryear making them do menial work. Chiti as well as Nkole left the kingdom for good, as well as took with them their iii maternal one-half brothers Kapasa, Chimba as well as Kazembe as well as their entourage.
The Bemba people lately celebrated Ukusefya Pangwena, which re-enacts the journeying from the Luba-Lunda Kingdom into Bembaland. The photograph to a higher identify depicts Chitimukulu beingness carried on a hammock yesteryear a grouping of men at the ceremony.
They fled east, until they came to the middle reaches of the Luapula river. Chief Mapalo Matanda of the Bena Mukulo ferried them across. In their haste, they left behind their blind blood brother Katongo as well as their sis Chilufya Mulenga, who Mukulumpu had locked upwards inwards a theater without doors. They despatched their one-half blood brother Kapasa to recess out Chilufya Mulenga, which he did ingeniously. But on the agency to Luapula, Kapasa fell inwards dear with Chilufya. When it turned out she was pregnant, Kapasa was disowned yesteryear Chiti. The grouping meanwhile, had fallen inwards with a 'white magician', Luchele Ng'anga. When they arrived at the Luapula, Kazembe decided to settle there, simply Nkole as well as Chiti were uncertain. When Luchele Ng'anga conjured upwards a fish from a mortar, they took this to live an omen to caput eastwards, as well as moved toward the plateau of the Chambeshi river, nigh Lake Bangweulu.
They crossed the Safwa rapids, as well as the Luchindashi river, where at that spot was a quarrel betwixt ii women, as well as business office of the grouping stayed behind, forming the Bena Nona (Mushroom Clan), the royal clan of the Bisa people.
The others continued southwards where they encountered the Lala people, who asked them for a chief, as well as were given a adult man called Kankomba. The migrants thence turned eastwards to the Luangwa Valley as well as alongside the Senga (or Nsenga) people, they encountered a main called Mwase. Mwase's wife, Chilimbulu, was real beautiful, as well as her tummy was adorned with elegant cicatrisations. Chilimbulu at 1 time fell inwards dear with Chiti, as well as thence did he. She seduced him breathless when Mwase was out hunting. When he returned as well as saw Chilimbulu naked, doing it with Chiti, he was enraged. He pulled Chilimbulu off of Chiti, the ii chiefs fought, as well as with Mwase trying to kill Chiti, he was grazed yesteryear a poisoned arrow, as well as Chilimbulu cried out, ran to her Chiti, as well as stabbed herself with the arrow too, later which they both died.
Nkole as well as his followers took Chiti's torso with them as well as stole Chilimbulu's body, looking for a grove suitable for their burial. They encountered the wizard Luchele Ng'anga again, as well as he directed them toward a imperial grove, called Mwalule or Milemba. At Mwalule, they found a adult woman called Chimbala. They also found some other visitor, the Bisa headman Kabotwe, who was at that spot to merchandise as well as pay observe to Chimbala.
After Chimbala gave them permission to bury Chiti as well as Chilimbulu, as well as placed Chilumbulu adjacent to Chiti. But they managed to acquire Chimbala to hook upwards with Kabotwe, ensuring Chimbala's ritual powerfulness to purify those who buried Chiti. Kabotwe became the keeper of the grove, as well as received the championship Shimwalule, which his matrilineal descendants inherited. However, Nkole had sent out a political party to raid cattle from Fipa main 'Pilula' to provide an oxhide cover for Chiti. Then, he dispatched a political party to avenge Chiti's death, killing Mwase as well as Chilimbulu. Their bodies were burned at Mwalule, simply the smoke overcame Nkole, who also died, as well as at 1 time also had to live buried at Mwalule.
The Kola migrants adopted matrilineal succession, as well as Chiti as well as Nkole were succeeded yesteryear their sis Chilufya Mulenga's son. He was also called Chilufya, as well as was also immature to dominion every bit chief, thence Chiti's one-half blood brother Chimba ruled inwards his place. The Kola migrants left Mulambalala, their site nigh Mwalule as well as crossed the Chambesi River north. The disgraced Kapasa however, settled on his ain inwards Bulombwa, driving out Iwa main Kafwimbi as well as his cattle.
The others traveled westward upwards the Kalongwa River, where ii men, Kawba as well as Chikunga found a dead crocodile. As the chiefs were of the crocodile clan, this was taken every bit a goodness sign. Here, the Kola migrants made their capital, Ng'wena (Crocodile) on the Kalungu River as well as settled the surrounding country. The groups thence living inwards the expanse were called Sukuma, Musukwa, Kalelelya as well as Ngalagansa. They were driven off or killed yesteryear the Kola migrants, who were yesteryear at 1 time called the Bemba.
When Chilufya the manful mortal monarch grew up, Chimba handed him the royal bows belonging to his uncles Nkole as well as Chiti. Chilufya thereby gained the praise mention 'ca mata yabili' (of the ii bows). Chilufya however, insisted that Chimba kept Nkole's bow, allowing him to found his ain hamlet at Chatindubwi, a few miles northward of the Kalungu River.
Thereafter, the Bemba became many. New villages as well as chiefs were founded, as well as many chiefs succeeded Chilufya Kaluba. All of these paramount chiefs took the mention of the master founder, Chiti Mukulu (Chiti The Great). They are at 1 time inwards today's Zambia.
Geography
The plateau heartland of the Bemba reaches a pinnacle of roughly 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) as well as is located from 10° to 12° S as well as 30° to 32° E. It rises from the lowlands of Lake Bangweulu as well as the Luapula Valley to the southward as well as W as well as Lake Tanganyika as well as the Luangwa Valley to the northward as well as east. The Chambeshi River, which feeds Lake Bangweulu as well as forms business office of the southern Congo drainage basin, meanders through its center. The plateau is made of onetime crystalline rocks that are rich inwards minerals simply create piteous soil fertility. The natural vegetation consists of sparse forests of tall trees termed savanna woodland.
It is estimated that of the 8 as well as 1 one-half meg people inwards Zambia, 36 pct (or 3.1 million) are Bemba or speak the Bemba language.
Language
The Bemba people speak a Bemba linguistic communication known every bit ChiBemba (Cibemba, Ichibemba, Icibemba as well as Chiwemba). It is a major Bantu linguistic communication which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. ChiBemba is spoken primarily inwards north-eastern Republic of Zambia yesteryear the Bemba people as well as every bit a clapper franca yesteryear nearly 18 related ethnic groups, including the Bisa people of Mpika as well as Lake Bangweulu, as well as to a lesser extent inwards Katanga inwards the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, as well as Botswana. Including all its dialects, Bemba is the most spoken indigenous linguistic communication inwards Zambia. The Lamba linguistic communication is closely related, some people consider it a dialect of Bemba.
An urban dialect called Town Bemba (ichiTauni or ichiKopebeelti) is a widely used clapper franca inwards the Copperbelt towns as well as consists of a number of loan words from English linguistic communication inwards Republic of Zambia as well as from French as well as Swahili inwards the southern DRC. Portuguese as well as Swahili loan words signal nineteenth-century trading contacts.
Basic Vocabulary as well as Phrases
ee - yes
awe - no
ulishani - hi (informal)
Mulishani - hi (formal)
shalenipo - goodbye
Ishina lyandi ni.. - My mention is...
umuntu - person
umunandi - friend
umwana - child
chiBemba - the Bemba language
na - and, with
nga - like, as
suma (adj.) - good
onse (adj.) - all
uluchelo (adj) - morning
Natotela - Thank you
Sana - Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot
Natotela sana - Thanks a lot
History
The oral tradition of the Bemba courtroom recalls a migration of chiefs from the province of the Luba (Kola). The manful mortal monarch of Kola, Mukulumpe, married a adult woman who belonged to the Crocodile Clan (Abena Ngandu) as well as had ears similar an elephant. She had iii sons—Katongo, Chiti, as well as Nkole—and a daughter, Chilufya. After a acquire by with their father, Chiti as well as Nkole fled eastward as well as were joined yesteryear their one-half brothers Chimba, Kapasa, as well as Kazembe as well as their sis Chilurya. After the decease inwards battle of Chiti as well as Nkole, the boy of Chilufya became chief. When they came across a dead crocodile, they decided to settle, for they were of the Crocodile Clan. Chilurya became known every bit Chitimukulu, or Chiti the Great.
Historians have got argued that this oral tradition is to a greater extent than a "mythical charter" that legitimizes the dominion of the Crocodile Clan than a tape of historical fact. The legend in all likelihood refers to a migration of Luba or Lunda chiefs that occurred before 1700. Before the migration at that spot were autochthonous inhabitants who spoke a Bantu linguistic communication that resembled modern IchiBemba as well as had for certain cultural as well as economical practices similar to those found later the Luba/Lunda conquest. They had settled inwards the expanse to a greater extent than than a K years earlier. The Luba/Lunda chiefs did non alter the cultural as well as economical practices of the master inhabitants, adapting them spell proclaiming descent from royalty to legitimize their rule.
Before the 1840s the greatest challenge to the Bemba came from Mwata Kazembe's Eastern Lunda Kingdom based inwards the Luapula Valley; later 1840 the Ngoni from southern Africa challenged the Bemba from the due east inwards a serial of inconclusive wars until a decisive battle inwards nearly 1870 led to a Ngoni retreat. Local exchanges of Fe as well as common salt were of import for the consolidation of political powerfulness yesteryear chiefs, simply the long-distance merchandise inwards slaves, ivory, as well as copper with the Portuguese as well as Swahili on the due east coast fortified as well as centralized the Bemba polity, which reached its zenith inwards the 1870s.
The initiatory of all written reference to the Bemba is from 1798, when the Portuguese expedition to Mwata Kazembe led yesteryear F. J.de Lacerda heard nearly the Bemba. The initiatory of all recorded contact betwixt Portuguese traders as well as Bemba chiefs took identify inwards 1831, when some other expedition to Mwata Kazembe nether A. C. P. Garnitto encountered Bemba chiefs expanding to the south. Tippu Tip, a Swahili slave trader, had contact with the Bemba inwards the 1860s, as well as David Livingstone passed through the expanse inwards 1867-1868 as well as inwards 1872 soon before his decease nigh Bemba country.
In the 1880s as well as 1890s European conquest as well as colonization began. The London Missionary Society as well as the Catholic White Fathers established mission stations on the border of the Bemba polity. By the 1890s agents of the British South African Company had begun signing treaties with chiefs. Europeans widened internal fissures betwixt the competing chiefships of Chitimukulu as well as Mwamba, as well as this contributed to the lack of organized resistance to European colonialism. During the colonial menses the Bemba territory became an of import labor-supply hinterland for the copper mines. The powers of the Bemba chiefs were reduced yesteryear the colonial administration, yet for certain Bemba chiefs, including Chitimukulu, retained authorisation nether the colonial practise of indirect rule.
The Bemba supported the Cha Cha Cha struggle for independence led yesteryear the United National Independence Party (UNIP). The initiatory of all Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, was non of Bemba descent yet grew upwards as well as taught inwards Bemba country. Bemba back upwards for UNIP declined later the fell repression of the pop Lumpa Church as well as the perception that the one-party regime discriminated against the Bemba as well as favored easterners. In the 1970s back upwards grew for the breakaway United Progressive Party (UPP) led yesteryear Simon Kapwewe. Bemba back upwards for the authorities of Frederick Chiluba that took over from Kaunda later democratic elections inwards 1991 was high. In urban areas President Chiluba is considered a Bemba fifty-fifty though he comes from Luapula Province as well as is non a fellow member of the meat Bemba group.
Settlements
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 tarmac route called the Great North Road runs from the Copperbelt through the plateau portion as well as splits into ii roads leading to the Lake Tanganyika port of Mpulungu as well as the border of Tanzania, respectively. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 railway problem from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar es Salaam runs through Bemba country. Settlement is concentrated along the roads as well as railway line, with farms extending for several miles into the interior. Northern Province is divided into nine districts, each of which has an administrative upper-case missive of the alphabet that also serves every bit a trading center. The most of import towns nigh the Bemba heartland are Chinsali as well as Kasama. Houses constructed of bricks as well as corrugated Fe are replacing those made of the traditional clay as well as thatch. Except inwards the towns, piped H2O as well as electricity are rare. Small toilets as well as granaries are situated exterior the main houses. The population density is low.
Economy
Subsistence. Subsistence agriculture makes an of import contribution to livelihood since work levels are depression as well as payoff as well as pensions are below the subsistence level. In many areas cassava as well as maize have got replaced the traditional staple, millet. The Bemba are known for a shifting shape of agriculture termed chitemene, inwards which the branches of trees are cutting as well as burned to provide the nutrients needed to cultivate millet as well as maize.
Forms of chitemene have got changed over time. For example, traditionally alone tree branches were burned, simply at 1 time entire trees are burned for exercise every bit both fertilizer as well as charcoal. Without burning, fertilizer is required. Cassava grown on mounds (mputa) has acquire to a greater extent than widespread since fiddling fertilizer is required as well as it tin live grown without chitemene. However, chitemene has non disappeared as well as soundless is an of import business office of Bemba survival strategies. Cassava, millet, as well as maize are dried, Earth into flour, as well as cooked with H2O to brand a thick porridge called ubwali. Vegetables include pumpkin, squash, cabbage, spinach, rape, as well as cassava leaves. Cattle traditionally were non domesticated because of the tsetse wing as well as are soundless rare. Sources of poly peptide include beans, groundnuts, caterpillars, fish, game meat, poultry, as well as goat.
Commercial Activities. Maize as well as cassava are exported to urban areas. Coffee estates inwards the highlands export high-quality beans. Small-scale gemstone as well as mineral mining occurs. Before the decline of the copper mines inwards the 1980s, most income was derived from urban remittances.
Industrial Arts. Handicraft products include clay pots, reed mats as well as baskets, hunting as well as line-fishing nets, wood as well as Fe agricultural implements, canoes, stools, as well as drums. Wood is the most of import as well as versatile raw material. There is fiddling tourism, as well as these products commonly are made for local use.
Trade. Trucks on the main route acquit merchandise goods to as well as from the Mpulungu harbor on Lake Tanganyika as well as the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. Locals sell nutrient as well as refreshments as well as provide services to passing truck drivers as well as prepare passengers.
Division of Labor
In general, men laid upwards the chitemene fields yesteryear cutting as well as burning the branches. Women are responsible for planting, harvesting, drying, pounding the dried grain or root into flour, as well as cooking. Increased manful mortal migration to the copper mines later the 1920s was a factor inwards the replacement of millet tillage inwards chitemene fields yesteryear cassava. Men dominate hunting as well as line-fishing activities, spell women as well as children get together wild create such every bit mushrooms as well as caterpillars. The Bemba speak nearly a sectionalization of task inwards a stiff fashion, simply inwards practise it tin live fluid.
Land Tenure
As a lawsuit of the traditionally depression population density as well as shifting agricultural practices, uncultivated reason or bush (mpanga) had fiddling intrinsic value as well as was non strongly associated with private ownership. However, rights to the reason did be as well as were regulated yesteryear hamlet rulers. The colonial authorities declared reason "Native Trust," to live allocated yesteryear chiefs. Despite the vesting of the reason inwards the president nether the postcolonial government, chiefs soundless allocated land. The introduction of private reason registration nether the post-1991 authorities has non had an impact. In contrast to uncultivated land, at that spot is a potent feel of private ownership of cultivated fields as well as produce.
Kinship
Kin Groups as well as Descent. The Bemba commonly are classified every bit matrilineal as well as matrilocal. This is an idealized version of Bemba kinship relations that mightiness have got existed inwards the past, yet fifty-fifty this seems unclear. Currently, at that spot seems to live a weakening of the matrilineal/matrilocal system; residence departs substantially from matrilocality at 1 time as well as mightiness best live described every bit bilocal. Membership inwards a clan (umukowa; plural imikowa) as well as positional succession are soundless matrilineal. However, it is mutual for a kid to adopt the father's mention as well as ancestral spirit (umupashi), as well as this is suggestive of a strengthening of patrilineal elements. In the yesteryear a adult man worked for a menses inwards the homestead of his novel married adult woman as well as chose to remain with his wife's identify unit of measurement or render with her to his woman parent or father's homestead. However, today newlywed couples may remain with the husband's family. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 coin economic scheme as well as Christianity have got strengthened the command of men over their children as well as weakened attachment to uterine kin.
Kinship Terminology
Kin damage are of the Iroquois type. Close kinship damage are champaign of written report to declension, for example, mayo (my mother), noko (thy mother), nyina (her mother). In ego's generation separate damage are used for siblings according to their sexual practice as well as age. Because of positional succession (ukupyanika) kin terminology for an private tin change. For example, through succession ego tin acquire his mother's blood brother as well as all women who were his woman parent (mayo) acquire his sis (nkashi).
Marriage as well as Family
Marriage. Traditionally, spousal human relationship payments inwards the shape of goods from the groom's identify unit of measurement to the bride's identify unit of measurement were little as well as insignificant. The to a greater extent than of import aspect of the spousal human relationship contract was the task service performed yesteryear the son-in-law. With the increasing importance of coin as well as goods, payments are becoming of to a greater extent than importance as well as task service yesteryear the son-in-law is increasingly rare. Polygamy is allowed simply uncommon. Marriages are unstable, as well as divorce or separation is common, peculiarly if a adult man fails to provide labor, money, or goods to his wife's family. To a for certain extent Christianity has stabilized marital relations. While spousal human relationship inside a clan is non allowed, cross-cousin marriages are permitted as well as strengthen the bonds betwixt blood brother as well as sister.
The Bemba tradition recognizes 4 symbolic banquets inwards relation to courtship as well as marriage. These are
• Icisumina Nsalamu (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal),
• Icilanga Mulilo [Literal meaning: “The Showing of the Fire” or “Introduction to Cuisine” – Editor]
• Ukukonkola (Granting authority) and
• Amatebeto (Thanks offering),
It is non uncommon to uncovering a bride’s identify unit of measurement preparing Icilanga Mulilo for the groom, inwards the false belief that it is Amatebeto. Others may laid upwards Icisumina Nsalamu believing it to live Icilanga Mulilo. Some have got knowingly practiced a alternative as well as mix version out of convenience. This fuzziness has been tolerated inwards many cases, simply alone adds to the confusion about these issues.
Bemba Wedding ceremony
According to Mr. Dyson Chalwe, a traditional spousal human relationship counselor as well as long standing Shibukombe (a trustworthy mortal who is appointed to live the emissary as well as confidant for the groom inwards coming together the bride’s parents), at that spot are 4 real distinct ceremonial banquets involving the taking of symbolic meals from the bride to the groom inwards the menses leading to spousal human relationship as well as later start of marriage:
1. ICISUMINA NSALAMU (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal).
Icisumina Nsalamu is a repast prepared yesteryear the bride’s family, which they deliver to the groom, to symbolize the credence of his spousal human relationship proposal.
According to Mr.Chalwe, the repast alone consists of 1 plate of Nshima (the traditional thick porridge made from maize meal) as well as a plate of whole chicken. The groom does non have got to give dorsum anything inwards return. The object of this gesture is for the bride’s identify unit of measurement to demonstrate that they have got accepted the spousal human relationship proposal on behalf of their daughter. It’s less elaborate than the other iii banquets.
2. ICILANGA MULILO (Permission granting the groom liberty to have got meals from the bride’s identify unit of measurement during courtship visits).
[Literal meaning: “The Showing of the Fire” or “Introduction to Cuisine” – Editor]
Mr. Chalwe says that Icilanga Mulilo is nutrient that is prepared yesteryear the bride’s identify unit of measurement as well as delivered to the groom to symbolize an opened upwards invitation to the groom to dine with the bride’s identify unit of measurement on hereafter visits during their courtship. Traditionally, the groom is forbidden from eating whatsoever nutrient at the bride’s parents or guardian’s domicile before this symbolic gesture. Different types of dishes are prepared yesteryear the bride’s to showcase their traditional cuisine.
The groom is expected to swallow or sense of savor every food, including the nutrient that he is non familiar with.
The bride’s political party laid upwards the meals at the theater of 1 of their relatives. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large grouping of women thence charge the nutrient parcels on their heads amid singing as well as drumming. They caput to the theater where the groom as well as his political party are waiting. The bride is non involved inwards this.
When the political party arrives at the gate at the grooms location, they recess as well as hold back for an invitation to enter. This is inwards the shape of coin that the groom’s identify unit of measurement drib on the Earth inwards front end of them. In a low-cal hearted display, the political party may reject to come inwards until to a greater extent than coin is offered. The amounts of coin involved are non large, alone symbolic.
Once the invitation to come inwards is accepted, the singing political party thence proceed to the house. At the door, they volition plow about as well as come inwards the theater walking backwards, with their parcels soundless balanced on their heads.
Once inwards the house, the singing as well as ululation continues. The women trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards the middle of the room. The political party waits for an invitation to laid downwardly their nutrient parcels. Once more, this takes the shape of coin offerings from the groom’s family.
Finally at that spot is to a greater extent than dancing as well as singing. Those who are gathered thence tuck into the feast.
This occasion, other than beingness a” showcase” of the bride's menu, also symbolizes that the groom is responsible for the welfare of his bride from thence on. He tin at 1 time assume the responsibilities of taking attention of his bride’s fiscal needs. The bride at this phase is also allowed to start cooking as well as doing laundry for the groom.
Mr. Chalwe farther revealed that later the Icilanga Mulilo ceremony, the groom is allowed to give dorsum something, commonly money, every bit a token of appreciation for the repast when delivering dorsum the empty plates to the bride.
Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - Food dishes 1 - kitweonlineIcilanga Mulilo ceremony - Food dishes 2 - kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - Meat dish - kitweonlineIcilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Groom with friends- kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Shibukombe - Mr Dyson Chalwe
3. AMATEBETO (Thanks offering)
Amatebeto are prepared yesteryear the bride’s identify unit of measurement as well as delivered to the groom later spousal human relationship has taken place. Amatebeto tin live prepared ii or to a greater extent than years into the marriage.
Amatebeto symbolizes the appreciation of the groom yesteryear the bride’s parents for keeping a problem costless marriage. It is an acknowledgement yesteryear the bridge’s identify unit of measurement that the groom is capable of looking later his married adult woman good as well as that they have got re-affirmed their approbation of the marriage
In today’s practice, Amatebeto as well as Icilanga Mulilo have got been used interchangeably. They are also the ii ceremonies most easily confused for each other.
4. UKUKONKOLA (Granting authority)
Ukukonkola is a repast that is prepared for the groom yesteryear the bride’s parents. It is a repast that the groom eats at his in-law's house.
On this day, the repast symbolizes the authorisation that is given to the groom to brand identify unit of measurement decisions affecting his wife’s side of the identify unit of measurement on behalf of elders inwards the bride’s family. The groom is allowed to brand some decisions “without consulting” his in-laws. The bride’s identify unit of measurement also declare their commitment to observe such decisions as well as to consider them binding.
The groom is initiated yesteryear initiatory of all going to his manful mortal parent as well as woman parent in-law’s bedroom. Traditionally, teenagers as well as adult children are non allowed to come inwards their parents’ bedroom, much less an inwards law’s! The parents’ chamber is traditionally regarded every bit a sacred identify for a boy inwards constabulary to enter.
On this real special occasion, the boy inwards constabulary is allowed access. He is expected to take away the beddings found on his in-law’s bed as well as to acquire whatever valuables are exposed. He also has got to peep nether the bed as well as to convey anything that he finds there.
Thereafter he is led to the living room where he has to take away all the cushions on the sofa as well as reveal anything hidden underneath them. He is allowed to maintain whatever he discovers.
He is thence led into the kitchen where he is to opened upwards all the pots as well as pans, as well as swallow whatever he finds. He is non expected to exit whatsoever left-overs. He is to acquire all the nutrient that remains as well as convey it to his domicile later this initiation.
The repast symbolizes that the groom has acquire business office of the identify unit of measurement as well as is at 1 time regarded every bit 1 of their ain children. The groom is fifty-fifty authorized to personally tender a sick woman parent inwards constabulary later this symbolic gesture.
According to Mr. Chalwe, this is the lastly inwards the process, of all symbolic banquets for a groom from his in-laws. The ceremonies are practiced to varying extents alongside Zambians of Bemba extraction. If y'all are marrying into the Bemba tribe, y'all at 1 time know what to expect.
Domestic Unit. In the yesteryear a married twosome started out inwards an extended matrilocal identify unit of measurement unit as well as formed an independent unit of measurement later a number of years. The encouragement of nuclear families yesteryear Christian churches as well as the powerfulness to provide coin instead of task service to the wife's identify unit of measurement has meant that a hubby tin accomplish this seat with greater ease. However, the traditional reason of domestic cooperation through woman mortal relatives—mother as well as immature lady or sisters—and ties betwixt woman parent as well as children are soundless strong.
Inheritance. Inheritance of goods is relatively unimportant, as well as wealth tin go yesteryear from a dead adult man to his boy or to his sister's son. The inheritance of a championship or a married adult woman is of to a greater extent than significance as well as follows the matrilineage.
Socialization. Children acquire household, agricultural, as well as hunting skills from their woman parent or her relatives, although the manful mortal parent may live involved. Children have got liberty as well as autonomy simply must observe their elders. Although the practise has declined inwards recent years, initiation (ichisungu) at puberty teaches girls duties toward their households as well as husbands. There are no equivalent manful mortal initiation ceremonies. Children mostly attend school.
Sociopolitical Organization
Social Organization.
Independent households, which shape the basic productive unit, bring together together to shape villages. The membership of a hamlet is fluid, as well as households migrate inwards search of novel land. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hamlet headman who is appointed yesteryear hamlet elders or yesteryear the main runs each hamlet as well as mediates conflicts as well as access to land. Chiefs are drawn from the royal matrilineal Crocodile Clan, as well as this has contributed to greater centralization than is found alongside the neighboring groups. Chiefs as well as headmen are mostly male, simply it is non odd to uncovering women inwards such positions. Chiefs have got their ain councilors elected yesteryear the onetime men of the royal village. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu commands the observe of a number of lesser chiefs across the plateau as well as rules his ain district (Lubemba). Chitimukulu's tribal council consists of a number of royal hereditary officials called abakabilo who have got dissimilar ritual duties.
The Bemba have got nearly 30 matrilineal clans mostly named later animals. All clans have got joking opposites. For example, the Goat Clan jokes with the Leopard Clan because leopards swallow goats. An private tin rely on the back upwards of his or her clan as well as joking clan members. Joking betwixt the Bemba, who are known every bit baboons (kolwe) for their reputation for eating baboons, as well as the Ngoni, who are known every bit rats (kwindi), is an chemical constituent of social life as well as a agency of overcoming onetime rivalries, peculiarly inwards urban areas where Ngoni as well as Bemba live together.
Political Organization
Political authorisation is divided betwixt the formal authorities as well as traditional chiefs. The authorities follows the model of the British colonial bureaucracy. The Northern Province, with provincial headquarters at Kasama, has nine districts with elected district councils at district capitals called the Boma. Under the initiatory of all postcolonial regime of Kaunda, UNIP political party structures played an of import purpose inwards running district affairs. After 1991, nether the successor regime of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), political party structures were non meant to play the same role, although their de facto political influence has been great.
During colonialism chiefs collaborated closely with the colonial officials based at the Boma. In the postcolonial menses the formal judicial as well as executive powers of the chiefs were handed over to the district government. Nevertheless, during the initiatory of all postcolonial regime chiefs became involved inwards formal district governance as well as political parties. After 1991 chiefs were supposed to remain exterior formal politics, simply their influence remains significant.
Social Control
Chiefs as well as headmen are non instrumental inwards the perpetuation of social norms. Responsibilities toward the extended identify unit of measurement are entrenched through witchcraft (ubuloshi) accusations that deed every bit an of import deterrent against breaking social as well as ritual taboos. Didactic songs, including those associated with the girls' ichisungu ceremony, provide guidance for responsibilities toward husband, children, as well as family.
Conflict
Before the colonial menses the Bemba were known every bit a "warrior" people who raided their neighbors for slaves as well as tribute. Conflict betwixt Bemba chiefs as well as betwixt the Bemba as well as the Ngoni was frequent. Praise songs of chiefs as well as clan elders celebrate battles as well as yesteryear conquests. After colonialism, raiding as well as local conflict ceased, as well as political stability inwards Republic of Zambia has contributed to a long era of peace.
Religious Belief
Religious Beliefs. Precolonial religious beliefs revolved about the worship of ancestral spirits (imipashi) as well as nature spirits (ngulu). These spirits controlled uncultivated reason as well as were responsible for the harvest. Chiefs as well as clan elders prayed as well as offered sacrifices to the spirits at shrines, which were miniature huts housing relics or natural sites such every bit waterfalls as well as springs. Such rituals occurred at of import economical events such every bit the cutting of trees (ukutema) to laid upwards chitemene fields or before hunting or line-fishing expeditions. Although rare, these rituals are soundless performed inwards for certain areas.
Most Bemba are Christians. The United Church of Republic of Zambia (previously the London Missionary Society), Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as Seventh-Day Adventists are of import denominations. Biblical stories as well as proverbs are popular. The mention for God is Lesa, although the etymology of the term is unclear. Christianity has been fused with older religious practices. For example, the Lumpa Church, founded yesteryear the prophetess Alice Lenshina, spread across Bemba province inwards the 1950s as well as was repressed yesteryear authorities inwards the 1960s. At to the lowest degree since the spread of the bamuchapi witchfinders inwards the 1930s, witchcraft accusations have got combined ancestral as well as Christian belief systems.
Religious Practitioners. Chiefs, clan elders, as well as other ritual specialists prayed as well as made sacrifices to the spirits. Precolonial prophets such every bit Bwembya claimed to derive their prophecies from the ancestral spirits of kings. Christian prophets such every bit Alice Lenshina claimed to take heed the voices of God as well as Jesus. Witchcraft purification as well as detection are soundless performed yesteryear witchfinders (abashinganga), frequently on behalf of traditional chiefs as well as councilors. Church congregations led yesteryear elected church building elders be inwards most villages.
Ceremonies. Traditional ceremonial activities include rites surrounding the training of chitemene fields as well as initiatory of all fruit ceremonies. Although it is no longer widely performed, the most of import semipublic ceremony is the ichisungu initiation for immature girls. When a immature lady begins to menstruate, she is taken into the bush yesteryear a ritual specialist called Nachimbusa (the woman parent of sacred emblems) as well as instructed inwards the duties of womanhood through songs as well as sacred clay figurines as well as paintings called mbusa. Men are non allowed to attend the ceremony. After initiation the immature lady is considered ready for marriage.
Arts. Tatoos as well as other forms of scarification were mutual inwards the pre-Christian period. Hairstyling alongside women is soundless popular. Painting as well as ornamental arts illustrating biblical themes or clan jokes adorn houses as well as world places. There is fiddling demand for Bemba artworks, as well as works mostly are made on commission. Musicians, peculiarly guitarists as well as singers, perform inwards hamlet bars as well as churches.
Medicine. Traditional remedies are made from bark, fruit, as well as flora extracts. Knowledge of these remedies is widespread. However, if these remedies fail, a patient volition go to proficient herbalists who have got specialized noesis of remedies as well as supernatural causes of illness.
Death as well as Afterlife
The effort of decease is believed to live a curse or bewitchment yesteryear a jealous friend or identify unit of measurement member. After decease the identify unit of measurement volition employ a witchfinder to search for the source of the bewitchment. Spirits tin render to deed every bit guardians of the bush or tin live adopted yesteryear newborn children. The Bemba combine beliefs inwards ancestral spirits as well as witchcraft with Christian beliefs nearly the afterlife.
source:http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Bemba.aspx
The Bemba are those who consider themselves subjects of the Chitimukulu, the Bemba's unmarried paramount chief. They lived inwards villages of 100 to 200 people as well as numbered 250,000 potent inwards 1963. There are over 30 Bemba clans, named later animals or natural organisms, such every bit the royal clan, "the people of the crocodile" (Bena Ng'andu) or the Bena Bowa (Mushroom Clan). They were the people who finally position a stop to the northward march of the Nguni as well as Sotho-Tswana descended Ngoni people, through Chief Chitapankwa Kaluba.
In contemporary Zambia, the discussion "Bemba" genuinely has several meanings. It may designate people of Bemba origin, regardless of where they live, e.g. whether they live inwards urban areas or inwards the master rural Bemba area. Alternatively, it may comprehend a much larger population which includes some 'eighteen dissimilar ethnic groups', who together with the Bemba shape a closely related ethnolinguistic cluster of matrilineal-matrifocal agriculturalists known every bit the Bemba-speaking peoples of Zambia.They may telephone call upwards themselves yesteryear the detail grouping name—Aushi, Bisa, Chishinga, Kunda, Lala, Lamba Lunda, Ng'umbo, Swaka, Tabwa, or Unga—but the style inwards urban areas is to exercise the generic term "Bemba". In this broad feel the Bemba shape the most of import ethnic grouping inwards the urban areas of the Copperbelt, including Kitwe, Ndola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Chingola, as well as Chililabombwe inwards Republic of Zambia as well as a important minority inwards Lubumbashi inwards the DRC.
Bemba family
Bemba Folklore/Mythology
In a province called Kola, at that spot 1 time was a powerful, simply manifestly crazy main called Mukulumpe. He had a number of sons yesteryear dissimilar wives, simply 1 twenty-four hr menses he heard of a adult woman with ears every bit large every bit an elephant's, who said she came from the heaven as well as belonged to the crocodile clan. Her mention was Mumbi Mukasa, as well as the main married her. They had iii sons, Katongo, Chiti as well as Nkole, as well as a daughter, Chilufya Mulenga. The impetuous immature men built a tower that fell downwardly as well as killed many people. King Mukulumpe was furious. He discover Katongo's eyes, as well as banished Chiti as well as Nkole. Mukulumpe pretended to relent as well as called dorsum the exiles. However, he had dug a game pit to kill the iii of them. Katongo, though blind, warned his brothers yesteryear using his talking drum. When they arrived live as well as at the palace, the manful mortal monarch humiliated them yesteryear making them do menial work. Chiti as well as Nkole left the kingdom for good, as well as took with them their iii maternal one-half brothers Kapasa, Chimba as well as Kazembe as well as their entourage.
The Bemba people lately celebrated Ukusefya Pangwena, which re-enacts the journeying from the Luba-Lunda Kingdom into Bembaland. The photograph to a higher identify depicts Chitimukulu beingness carried on a hammock yesteryear a grouping of men at the ceremony.
They fled east, until they came to the middle reaches of the Luapula river. Chief Mapalo Matanda of the Bena Mukulo ferried them across. In their haste, they left behind their blind blood brother Katongo as well as their sis Chilufya Mulenga, who Mukulumpu had locked upwards inwards a theater without doors. They despatched their one-half blood brother Kapasa to recess out Chilufya Mulenga, which he did ingeniously. But on the agency to Luapula, Kapasa fell inwards dear with Chilufya. When it turned out she was pregnant, Kapasa was disowned yesteryear Chiti. The grouping meanwhile, had fallen inwards with a 'white magician', Luchele Ng'anga. When they arrived at the Luapula, Kazembe decided to settle there, simply Nkole as well as Chiti were uncertain. When Luchele Ng'anga conjured upwards a fish from a mortar, they took this to live an omen to caput eastwards, as well as moved toward the plateau of the Chambeshi river, nigh Lake Bangweulu.
They crossed the Safwa rapids, as well as the Luchindashi river, where at that spot was a quarrel betwixt ii women, as well as business office of the grouping stayed behind, forming the Bena Nona (Mushroom Clan), the royal clan of the Bisa people.
The others continued southwards where they encountered the Lala people, who asked them for a chief, as well as were given a adult man called Kankomba. The migrants thence turned eastwards to the Luangwa Valley as well as alongside the Senga (or Nsenga) people, they encountered a main called Mwase. Mwase's wife, Chilimbulu, was real beautiful, as well as her tummy was adorned with elegant cicatrisations. Chilimbulu at 1 time fell inwards dear with Chiti, as well as thence did he. She seduced him breathless when Mwase was out hunting. When he returned as well as saw Chilimbulu naked, doing it with Chiti, he was enraged. He pulled Chilimbulu off of Chiti, the ii chiefs fought, as well as with Mwase trying to kill Chiti, he was grazed yesteryear a poisoned arrow, as well as Chilimbulu cried out, ran to her Chiti, as well as stabbed herself with the arrow too, later which they both died.
Nkole as well as his followers took Chiti's torso with them as well as stole Chilimbulu's body, looking for a grove suitable for their burial. They encountered the wizard Luchele Ng'anga again, as well as he directed them toward a imperial grove, called Mwalule or Milemba. At Mwalule, they found a adult woman called Chimbala. They also found some other visitor, the Bisa headman Kabotwe, who was at that spot to merchandise as well as pay observe to Chimbala.
After Chimbala gave them permission to bury Chiti as well as Chilimbulu, as well as placed Chilumbulu adjacent to Chiti. But they managed to acquire Chimbala to hook upwards with Kabotwe, ensuring Chimbala's ritual powerfulness to purify those who buried Chiti. Kabotwe became the keeper of the grove, as well as received the championship Shimwalule, which his matrilineal descendants inherited. However, Nkole had sent out a political party to raid cattle from Fipa main 'Pilula' to provide an oxhide cover for Chiti. Then, he dispatched a political party to avenge Chiti's death, killing Mwase as well as Chilimbulu. Their bodies were burned at Mwalule, simply the smoke overcame Nkole, who also died, as well as at 1 time also had to live buried at Mwalule.
The Kola migrants adopted matrilineal succession, as well as Chiti as well as Nkole were succeeded yesteryear their sis Chilufya Mulenga's son. He was also called Chilufya, as well as was also immature to dominion every bit chief, thence Chiti's one-half blood brother Chimba ruled inwards his place. The Kola migrants left Mulambalala, their site nigh Mwalule as well as crossed the Chambesi River north. The disgraced Kapasa however, settled on his ain inwards Bulombwa, driving out Iwa main Kafwimbi as well as his cattle.
The others traveled westward upwards the Kalongwa River, where ii men, Kawba as well as Chikunga found a dead crocodile. As the chiefs were of the crocodile clan, this was taken every bit a goodness sign. Here, the Kola migrants made their capital, Ng'wena (Crocodile) on the Kalungu River as well as settled the surrounding country. The groups thence living inwards the expanse were called Sukuma, Musukwa, Kalelelya as well as Ngalagansa. They were driven off or killed yesteryear the Kola migrants, who were yesteryear at 1 time called the Bemba.
When Chilufya the manful mortal monarch grew up, Chimba handed him the royal bows belonging to his uncles Nkole as well as Chiti. Chilufya thereby gained the praise mention 'ca mata yabili' (of the ii bows). Chilufya however, insisted that Chimba kept Nkole's bow, allowing him to found his ain hamlet at Chatindubwi, a few miles northward of the Kalungu River.
Thereafter, the Bemba became many. New villages as well as chiefs were founded, as well as many chiefs succeeded Chilufya Kaluba. All of these paramount chiefs took the mention of the master founder, Chiti Mukulu (Chiti The Great). They are at 1 time inwards today's Zambia.
Geography
The plateau heartland of the Bemba reaches a pinnacle of roughly 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) as well as is located from 10° to 12° S as well as 30° to 32° E. It rises from the lowlands of Lake Bangweulu as well as the Luapula Valley to the southward as well as W as well as Lake Tanganyika as well as the Luangwa Valley to the northward as well as east. The Chambeshi River, which feeds Lake Bangweulu as well as forms business office of the southern Congo drainage basin, meanders through its center. The plateau is made of onetime crystalline rocks that are rich inwards minerals simply create piteous soil fertility. The natural vegetation consists of sparse forests of tall trees termed savanna woodland.
It is estimated that of the 8 as well as 1 one-half meg people inwards Zambia, 36 pct (or 3.1 million) are Bemba or speak the Bemba language.
Language
The Bemba people speak a Bemba linguistic communication known every bit ChiBemba (Cibemba, Ichibemba, Icibemba as well as Chiwemba). It is a major Bantu linguistic communication which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. ChiBemba is spoken primarily inwards north-eastern Republic of Zambia yesteryear the Bemba people as well as every bit a clapper franca yesteryear nearly 18 related ethnic groups, including the Bisa people of Mpika as well as Lake Bangweulu, as well as to a lesser extent inwards Katanga inwards the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, as well as Botswana. Including all its dialects, Bemba is the most spoken indigenous linguistic communication inwards Zambia. The Lamba linguistic communication is closely related, some people consider it a dialect of Bemba.
An urban dialect called Town Bemba (ichiTauni or ichiKopebeelti) is a widely used clapper franca inwards the Copperbelt towns as well as consists of a number of loan words from English linguistic communication inwards Republic of Zambia as well as from French as well as Swahili inwards the southern DRC. Portuguese as well as Swahili loan words signal nineteenth-century trading contacts.
Basic Vocabulary as well as Phrases
ee - yes
awe - no
ulishani - hi (informal)
Mulishani - hi (formal)
shalenipo - goodbye
Ishina lyandi ni.. - My mention is...
umuntu - person
umunandi - friend
umwana - child
chiBemba - the Bemba language
na - and, with
nga - like, as
suma (adj.) - good
onse (adj.) - all
uluchelo (adj) - morning
Natotela - Thank you
Sana - Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot
Natotela sana - Thanks a lot
History
The oral tradition of the Bemba courtroom recalls a migration of chiefs from the province of the Luba (Kola). The manful mortal monarch of Kola, Mukulumpe, married a adult woman who belonged to the Crocodile Clan (Abena Ngandu) as well as had ears similar an elephant. She had iii sons—Katongo, Chiti, as well as Nkole—and a daughter, Chilufya. After a acquire by with their father, Chiti as well as Nkole fled eastward as well as were joined yesteryear their one-half brothers Chimba, Kapasa, as well as Kazembe as well as their sis Chilurya. After the decease inwards battle of Chiti as well as Nkole, the boy of Chilufya became chief. When they came across a dead crocodile, they decided to settle, for they were of the Crocodile Clan. Chilurya became known every bit Chitimukulu, or Chiti the Great.
Historians have got argued that this oral tradition is to a greater extent than a "mythical charter" that legitimizes the dominion of the Crocodile Clan than a tape of historical fact. The legend in all likelihood refers to a migration of Luba or Lunda chiefs that occurred before 1700. Before the migration at that spot were autochthonous inhabitants who spoke a Bantu linguistic communication that resembled modern IchiBemba as well as had for certain cultural as well as economical practices similar to those found later the Luba/Lunda conquest. They had settled inwards the expanse to a greater extent than than a K years earlier. The Luba/Lunda chiefs did non alter the cultural as well as economical practices of the master inhabitants, adapting them spell proclaiming descent from royalty to legitimize their rule.
Before the 1840s the greatest challenge to the Bemba came from Mwata Kazembe's Eastern Lunda Kingdom based inwards the Luapula Valley; later 1840 the Ngoni from southern Africa challenged the Bemba from the due east inwards a serial of inconclusive wars until a decisive battle inwards nearly 1870 led to a Ngoni retreat. Local exchanges of Fe as well as common salt were of import for the consolidation of political powerfulness yesteryear chiefs, simply the long-distance merchandise inwards slaves, ivory, as well as copper with the Portuguese as well as Swahili on the due east coast fortified as well as centralized the Bemba polity, which reached its zenith inwards the 1870s.
The initiatory of all written reference to the Bemba is from 1798, when the Portuguese expedition to Mwata Kazembe led yesteryear F. J.de Lacerda heard nearly the Bemba. The initiatory of all recorded contact betwixt Portuguese traders as well as Bemba chiefs took identify inwards 1831, when some other expedition to Mwata Kazembe nether A. C. P. Garnitto encountered Bemba chiefs expanding to the south. Tippu Tip, a Swahili slave trader, had contact with the Bemba inwards the 1860s, as well as David Livingstone passed through the expanse inwards 1867-1868 as well as inwards 1872 soon before his decease nigh Bemba country.
In the 1880s as well as 1890s European conquest as well as colonization began. The London Missionary Society as well as the Catholic White Fathers established mission stations on the border of the Bemba polity. By the 1890s agents of the British South African Company had begun signing treaties with chiefs. Europeans widened internal fissures betwixt the competing chiefships of Chitimukulu as well as Mwamba, as well as this contributed to the lack of organized resistance to European colonialism. During the colonial menses the Bemba territory became an of import labor-supply hinterland for the copper mines. The powers of the Bemba chiefs were reduced yesteryear the colonial administration, yet for certain Bemba chiefs, including Chitimukulu, retained authorisation nether the colonial practise of indirect rule.
The Bemba supported the Cha Cha Cha struggle for independence led yesteryear the United National Independence Party (UNIP). The initiatory of all Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, was non of Bemba descent yet grew upwards as well as taught inwards Bemba country. Bemba back upwards for UNIP declined later the fell repression of the pop Lumpa Church as well as the perception that the one-party regime discriminated against the Bemba as well as favored easterners. In the 1970s back upwards grew for the breakaway United Progressive Party (UPP) led yesteryear Simon Kapwewe. Bemba back upwards for the authorities of Frederick Chiluba that took over from Kaunda later democratic elections inwards 1991 was high. In urban areas President Chiluba is considered a Bemba fifty-fifty though he comes from Luapula Province as well as is non a fellow member of the meat Bemba group.
Settlements
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 tarmac route called the Great North Road runs from the Copperbelt through the plateau portion as well as splits into ii roads leading to the Lake Tanganyika port of Mpulungu as well as the border of Tanzania, respectively. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 railway problem from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar es Salaam runs through Bemba country. Settlement is concentrated along the roads as well as railway line, with farms extending for several miles into the interior. Northern Province is divided into nine districts, each of which has an administrative upper-case missive of the alphabet that also serves every bit a trading center. The most of import towns nigh the Bemba heartland are Chinsali as well as Kasama. Houses constructed of bricks as well as corrugated Fe are replacing those made of the traditional clay as well as thatch. Except inwards the towns, piped H2O as well as electricity are rare. Small toilets as well as granaries are situated exterior the main houses. The population density is low.
Economy
Subsistence. Subsistence agriculture makes an of import contribution to livelihood since work levels are depression as well as payoff as well as pensions are below the subsistence level. In many areas cassava as well as maize have got replaced the traditional staple, millet. The Bemba are known for a shifting shape of agriculture termed chitemene, inwards which the branches of trees are cutting as well as burned to provide the nutrients needed to cultivate millet as well as maize.
Forms of chitemene have got changed over time. For example, traditionally alone tree branches were burned, simply at 1 time entire trees are burned for exercise every bit both fertilizer as well as charcoal. Without burning, fertilizer is required. Cassava grown on mounds (mputa) has acquire to a greater extent than widespread since fiddling fertilizer is required as well as it tin live grown without chitemene. However, chitemene has non disappeared as well as soundless is an of import business office of Bemba survival strategies. Cassava, millet, as well as maize are dried, Earth into flour, as well as cooked with H2O to brand a thick porridge called ubwali. Vegetables include pumpkin, squash, cabbage, spinach, rape, as well as cassava leaves. Cattle traditionally were non domesticated because of the tsetse wing as well as are soundless rare. Sources of poly peptide include beans, groundnuts, caterpillars, fish, game meat, poultry, as well as goat.
Commercial Activities. Maize as well as cassava are exported to urban areas. Coffee estates inwards the highlands export high-quality beans. Small-scale gemstone as well as mineral mining occurs. Before the decline of the copper mines inwards the 1980s, most income was derived from urban remittances.
Industrial Arts. Handicraft products include clay pots, reed mats as well as baskets, hunting as well as line-fishing nets, wood as well as Fe agricultural implements, canoes, stools, as well as drums. Wood is the most of import as well as versatile raw material. There is fiddling tourism, as well as these products commonly are made for local use.
Trade. Trucks on the main route acquit merchandise goods to as well as from the Mpulungu harbor on Lake Tanganyika as well as the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. Locals sell nutrient as well as refreshments as well as provide services to passing truck drivers as well as prepare passengers.
Division of Labor
In general, men laid upwards the chitemene fields yesteryear cutting as well as burning the branches. Women are responsible for planting, harvesting, drying, pounding the dried grain or root into flour, as well as cooking. Increased manful mortal migration to the copper mines later the 1920s was a factor inwards the replacement of millet tillage inwards chitemene fields yesteryear cassava. Men dominate hunting as well as line-fishing activities, spell women as well as children get together wild create such every bit mushrooms as well as caterpillars. The Bemba speak nearly a sectionalization of task inwards a stiff fashion, simply inwards practise it tin live fluid.
Land Tenure
As a lawsuit of the traditionally depression population density as well as shifting agricultural practices, uncultivated reason or bush (mpanga) had fiddling intrinsic value as well as was non strongly associated with private ownership. However, rights to the reason did be as well as were regulated yesteryear hamlet rulers. The colonial authorities declared reason "Native Trust," to live allocated yesteryear chiefs. Despite the vesting of the reason inwards the president nether the postcolonial government, chiefs soundless allocated land. The introduction of private reason registration nether the post-1991 authorities has non had an impact. In contrast to uncultivated land, at that spot is a potent feel of private ownership of cultivated fields as well as produce.
Kinship
Kin Groups as well as Descent. The Bemba commonly are classified every bit matrilineal as well as matrilocal. This is an idealized version of Bemba kinship relations that mightiness have got existed inwards the past, yet fifty-fifty this seems unclear. Currently, at that spot seems to live a weakening of the matrilineal/matrilocal system; residence departs substantially from matrilocality at 1 time as well as mightiness best live described every bit bilocal. Membership inwards a clan (umukowa; plural imikowa) as well as positional succession are soundless matrilineal. However, it is mutual for a kid to adopt the father's mention as well as ancestral spirit (umupashi), as well as this is suggestive of a strengthening of patrilineal elements. In the yesteryear a adult man worked for a menses inwards the homestead of his novel married adult woman as well as chose to remain with his wife's identify unit of measurement or render with her to his woman parent or father's homestead. However, today newlywed couples may remain with the husband's family. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 coin economic scheme as well as Christianity have got strengthened the command of men over their children as well as weakened attachment to uterine kin.
Kinship Terminology
Kin damage are of the Iroquois type. Close kinship damage are champaign of written report to declension, for example, mayo (my mother), noko (thy mother), nyina (her mother). In ego's generation separate damage are used for siblings according to their sexual practice as well as age. Because of positional succession (ukupyanika) kin terminology for an private tin change. For example, through succession ego tin acquire his mother's blood brother as well as all women who were his woman parent (mayo) acquire his sis (nkashi).
Bemba onetime man, Zambia
Marriage as well as Family
Marriage. Traditionally, spousal human relationship payments inwards the shape of goods from the groom's identify unit of measurement to the bride's identify unit of measurement were little as well as insignificant. The to a greater extent than of import aspect of the spousal human relationship contract was the task service performed yesteryear the son-in-law. With the increasing importance of coin as well as goods, payments are becoming of to a greater extent than importance as well as task service yesteryear the son-in-law is increasingly rare. Polygamy is allowed simply uncommon. Marriages are unstable, as well as divorce or separation is common, peculiarly if a adult man fails to provide labor, money, or goods to his wife's family. To a for certain extent Christianity has stabilized marital relations. While spousal human relationship inside a clan is non allowed, cross-cousin marriages are permitted as well as strengthen the bonds betwixt blood brother as well as sister.
The Bemba tradition recognizes 4 symbolic banquets inwards relation to courtship as well as marriage. These are
• Icisumina Nsalamu (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal),
• Icilanga Mulilo [Literal meaning: “The Showing of the Fire” or “Introduction to Cuisine” – Editor]
• Ukukonkola (Granting authority) and
• Amatebeto (Thanks offering),
It is non uncommon to uncovering a bride’s identify unit of measurement preparing Icilanga Mulilo for the groom, inwards the false belief that it is Amatebeto. Others may laid upwards Icisumina Nsalamu believing it to live Icilanga Mulilo. Some have got knowingly practiced a alternative as well as mix version out of convenience. This fuzziness has been tolerated inwards many cases, simply alone adds to the confusion about these issues.
Bemba Wedding ceremony
According to Mr. Dyson Chalwe, a traditional spousal human relationship counselor as well as long standing Shibukombe (a trustworthy mortal who is appointed to live the emissary as well as confidant for the groom inwards coming together the bride’s parents), at that spot are 4 real distinct ceremonial banquets involving the taking of symbolic meals from the bride to the groom inwards the menses leading to spousal human relationship as well as later start of marriage:
1. ICISUMINA NSALAMU (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal).
Icisumina Nsalamu is a repast prepared yesteryear the bride’s family, which they deliver to the groom, to symbolize the credence of his spousal human relationship proposal.
According to Mr.Chalwe, the repast alone consists of 1 plate of Nshima (the traditional thick porridge made from maize meal) as well as a plate of whole chicken. The groom does non have got to give dorsum anything inwards return. The object of this gesture is for the bride’s identify unit of measurement to demonstrate that they have got accepted the spousal human relationship proposal on behalf of their daughter. It’s less elaborate than the other iii banquets.
2. ICILANGA MULILO (Permission granting the groom liberty to have got meals from the bride’s identify unit of measurement during courtship visits).
[Literal meaning: “The Showing of the Fire” or “Introduction to Cuisine” – Editor]
Mr. Chalwe says that Icilanga Mulilo is nutrient that is prepared yesteryear the bride’s identify unit of measurement as well as delivered to the groom to symbolize an opened upwards invitation to the groom to dine with the bride’s identify unit of measurement on hereafter visits during their courtship. Traditionally, the groom is forbidden from eating whatsoever nutrient at the bride’s parents or guardian’s domicile before this symbolic gesture. Different types of dishes are prepared yesteryear the bride’s to showcase their traditional cuisine.
The groom is expected to swallow or sense of savor every food, including the nutrient that he is non familiar with.
The bride’s political party laid upwards the meals at the theater of 1 of their relatives. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large grouping of women thence charge the nutrient parcels on their heads amid singing as well as drumming. They caput to the theater where the groom as well as his political party are waiting. The bride is non involved inwards this.
When the political party arrives at the gate at the grooms location, they recess as well as hold back for an invitation to enter. This is inwards the shape of coin that the groom’s identify unit of measurement drib on the Earth inwards front end of them. In a low-cal hearted display, the political party may reject to come inwards until to a greater extent than coin is offered. The amounts of coin involved are non large, alone symbolic.
Once the invitation to come inwards is accepted, the singing political party thence proceed to the house. At the door, they volition plow about as well as come inwards the theater walking backwards, with their parcels soundless balanced on their heads.
Once inwards the house, the singing as well as ululation continues. The women trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards the middle of the room. The political party waits for an invitation to laid downwardly their nutrient parcels. Once more, this takes the shape of coin offerings from the groom’s family.
Finally at that spot is to a greater extent than dancing as well as singing. Those who are gathered thence tuck into the feast.
This occasion, other than beingness a” showcase” of the bride's menu, also symbolizes that the groom is responsible for the welfare of his bride from thence on. He tin at 1 time assume the responsibilities of taking attention of his bride’s fiscal needs. The bride at this phase is also allowed to start cooking as well as doing laundry for the groom.
Mr. Chalwe farther revealed that later the Icilanga Mulilo ceremony, the groom is allowed to give dorsum something, commonly money, every bit a token of appreciation for the repast when delivering dorsum the empty plates to the bride.
Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - Food dishes 1 - kitweonlineIcilanga Mulilo ceremony - Food dishes 2 - kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - Meat dish - kitweonlineIcilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Groom with friends- kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Shibukombe - Mr Dyson Chalwe
3. AMATEBETO (Thanks offering)
Amatebeto are prepared yesteryear the bride’s identify unit of measurement as well as delivered to the groom later spousal human relationship has taken place. Amatebeto tin live prepared ii or to a greater extent than years into the marriage.
Amatebeto symbolizes the appreciation of the groom yesteryear the bride’s parents for keeping a problem costless marriage. It is an acknowledgement yesteryear the bridge’s identify unit of measurement that the groom is capable of looking later his married adult woman good as well as that they have got re-affirmed their approbation of the marriage
In today’s practice, Amatebeto as well as Icilanga Mulilo have got been used interchangeably. They are also the ii ceremonies most easily confused for each other.
4. UKUKONKOLA (Granting authority)
Ukukonkola is a repast that is prepared for the groom yesteryear the bride’s parents. It is a repast that the groom eats at his in-law's house.
On this day, the repast symbolizes the authorisation that is given to the groom to brand identify unit of measurement decisions affecting his wife’s side of the identify unit of measurement on behalf of elders inwards the bride’s family. The groom is allowed to brand some decisions “without consulting” his in-laws. The bride’s identify unit of measurement also declare their commitment to observe such decisions as well as to consider them binding.
The groom is initiated yesteryear initiatory of all going to his manful mortal parent as well as woman parent in-law’s bedroom. Traditionally, teenagers as well as adult children are non allowed to come inwards their parents’ bedroom, much less an inwards law’s! The parents’ chamber is traditionally regarded every bit a sacred identify for a boy inwards constabulary to enter.
On this real special occasion, the boy inwards constabulary is allowed access. He is expected to take away the beddings found on his in-law’s bed as well as to acquire whatever valuables are exposed. He also has got to peep nether the bed as well as to convey anything that he finds there.
Thereafter he is led to the living room where he has to take away all the cushions on the sofa as well as reveal anything hidden underneath them. He is allowed to maintain whatever he discovers.
He is thence led into the kitchen where he is to opened upwards all the pots as well as pans, as well as swallow whatever he finds. He is non expected to exit whatsoever left-overs. He is to acquire all the nutrient that remains as well as convey it to his domicile later this initiation.
The repast symbolizes that the groom has acquire business office of the identify unit of measurement as well as is at 1 time regarded every bit 1 of their ain children. The groom is fifty-fifty authorized to personally tender a sick woman parent inwards constabulary later this symbolic gesture.
According to Mr. Chalwe, this is the lastly inwards the process, of all symbolic banquets for a groom from his in-laws. The ceremonies are practiced to varying extents alongside Zambians of Bemba extraction. If y'all are marrying into the Bemba tribe, y'all at 1 time know what to expect.
Domestic Unit. In the yesteryear a married twosome started out inwards an extended matrilocal identify unit of measurement unit as well as formed an independent unit of measurement later a number of years. The encouragement of nuclear families yesteryear Christian churches as well as the powerfulness to provide coin instead of task service to the wife's identify unit of measurement has meant that a hubby tin accomplish this seat with greater ease. However, the traditional reason of domestic cooperation through woman mortal relatives—mother as well as immature lady or sisters—and ties betwixt woman parent as well as children are soundless strong.
Inheritance. Inheritance of goods is relatively unimportant, as well as wealth tin go yesteryear from a dead adult man to his boy or to his sister's son. The inheritance of a championship or a married adult woman is of to a greater extent than significance as well as follows the matrilineage.
Bemba woman
Socialization. Children acquire household, agricultural, as well as hunting skills from their woman parent or her relatives, although the manful mortal parent may live involved. Children have got liberty as well as autonomy simply must observe their elders. Although the practise has declined inwards recent years, initiation (ichisungu) at puberty teaches girls duties toward their households as well as husbands. There are no equivalent manful mortal initiation ceremonies. Children mostly attend school.
Sociopolitical Organization
Social Organization.
Independent households, which shape the basic productive unit, bring together together to shape villages. The membership of a hamlet is fluid, as well as households migrate inwards search of novel land. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hamlet headman who is appointed yesteryear hamlet elders or yesteryear the main runs each hamlet as well as mediates conflicts as well as access to land. Chiefs are drawn from the royal matrilineal Crocodile Clan, as well as this has contributed to greater centralization than is found alongside the neighboring groups. Chiefs as well as headmen are mostly male, simply it is non odd to uncovering women inwards such positions. Chiefs have got their ain councilors elected yesteryear the onetime men of the royal village. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu commands the observe of a number of lesser chiefs across the plateau as well as rules his ain district (Lubemba). Chitimukulu's tribal council consists of a number of royal hereditary officials called abakabilo who have got dissimilar ritual duties.
The Bemba have got nearly 30 matrilineal clans mostly named later animals. All clans have got joking opposites. For example, the Goat Clan jokes with the Leopard Clan because leopards swallow goats. An private tin rely on the back upwards of his or her clan as well as joking clan members. Joking betwixt the Bemba, who are known every bit baboons (kolwe) for their reputation for eating baboons, as well as the Ngoni, who are known every bit rats (kwindi), is an chemical constituent of social life as well as a agency of overcoming onetime rivalries, peculiarly inwards urban areas where Ngoni as well as Bemba live together.
Political Organization
Political authorisation is divided betwixt the formal authorities as well as traditional chiefs. The authorities follows the model of the British colonial bureaucracy. The Northern Province, with provincial headquarters at Kasama, has nine districts with elected district councils at district capitals called the Boma. Under the initiatory of all postcolonial regime of Kaunda, UNIP political party structures played an of import purpose inwards running district affairs. After 1991, nether the successor regime of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), political party structures were non meant to play the same role, although their de facto political influence has been great.
During colonialism chiefs collaborated closely with the colonial officials based at the Boma. In the postcolonial menses the formal judicial as well as executive powers of the chiefs were handed over to the district government. Nevertheless, during the initiatory of all postcolonial regime chiefs became involved inwards formal district governance as well as political parties. After 1991 chiefs were supposed to remain exterior formal politics, simply their influence remains significant.
Social Control
Chiefs as well as headmen are non instrumental inwards the perpetuation of social norms. Responsibilities toward the extended identify unit of measurement are entrenched through witchcraft (ubuloshi) accusations that deed every bit an of import deterrent against breaking social as well as ritual taboos. Didactic songs, including those associated with the girls' ichisungu ceremony, provide guidance for responsibilities toward husband, children, as well as family.
Conflict
Before the colonial menses the Bemba were known every bit a "warrior" people who raided their neighbors for slaves as well as tribute. Conflict betwixt Bemba chiefs as well as betwixt the Bemba as well as the Ngoni was frequent. Praise songs of chiefs as well as clan elders celebrate battles as well as yesteryear conquests. After colonialism, raiding as well as local conflict ceased, as well as political stability inwards Republic of Zambia has contributed to a long era of peace.
Religious Belief
Religious Beliefs. Precolonial religious beliefs revolved about the worship of ancestral spirits (imipashi) as well as nature spirits (ngulu). These spirits controlled uncultivated reason as well as were responsible for the harvest. Chiefs as well as clan elders prayed as well as offered sacrifices to the spirits at shrines, which were miniature huts housing relics or natural sites such every bit waterfalls as well as springs. Such rituals occurred at of import economical events such every bit the cutting of trees (ukutema) to laid upwards chitemene fields or before hunting or line-fishing expeditions. Although rare, these rituals are soundless performed inwards for certain areas.
Most Bemba are Christians. The United Church of Republic of Zambia (previously the London Missionary Society), Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as Seventh-Day Adventists are of import denominations. Biblical stories as well as proverbs are popular. The mention for God is Lesa, although the etymology of the term is unclear. Christianity has been fused with older religious practices. For example, the Lumpa Church, founded yesteryear the prophetess Alice Lenshina, spread across Bemba province inwards the 1950s as well as was repressed yesteryear authorities inwards the 1960s. At to the lowest degree since the spread of the bamuchapi witchfinders inwards the 1930s, witchcraft accusations have got combined ancestral as well as Christian belief systems.
Religious Practitioners. Chiefs, clan elders, as well as other ritual specialists prayed as well as made sacrifices to the spirits. Precolonial prophets such every bit Bwembya claimed to derive their prophecies from the ancestral spirits of kings. Christian prophets such every bit Alice Lenshina claimed to take heed the voices of God as well as Jesus. Witchcraft purification as well as detection are soundless performed yesteryear witchfinders (abashinganga), frequently on behalf of traditional chiefs as well as councilors. Church congregations led yesteryear elected church building elders be inwards most villages.
Bemba adult man performing traditional ritual
Ceremonies. Traditional ceremonial activities include rites surrounding the training of chitemene fields as well as initiatory of all fruit ceremonies. Although it is no longer widely performed, the most of import semipublic ceremony is the ichisungu initiation for immature girls. When a immature lady begins to menstruate, she is taken into the bush yesteryear a ritual specialist called Nachimbusa (the woman parent of sacred emblems) as well as instructed inwards the duties of womanhood through songs as well as sacred clay figurines as well as paintings called mbusa. Men are non allowed to attend the ceremony. After initiation the immature lady is considered ready for marriage.
Arts. Tatoos as well as other forms of scarification were mutual inwards the pre-Christian period. Hairstyling alongside women is soundless popular. Painting as well as ornamental arts illustrating biblical themes or clan jokes adorn houses as well as world places. There is fiddling demand for Bemba artworks, as well as works mostly are made on commission. Musicians, peculiarly guitarists as well as singers, perform inwards hamlet bars as well as churches.
Medicine. Traditional remedies are made from bark, fruit, as well as flora extracts. Knowledge of these remedies is widespread. However, if these remedies fail, a patient volition go to proficient herbalists who have got specialized noesis of remedies as well as supernatural causes of illness.
Death as well as Afterlife
The effort of decease is believed to live a curse or bewitchment yesteryear a jealous friend or identify unit of measurement member. After decease the identify unit of measurement volition employ a witchfinder to search for the source of the bewitchment. Spirits tin render to deed every bit guardians of the bush or tin live adopted yesteryear newborn children. The Bemba combine beliefs inwards ancestral spirits as well as witchcraft with Christian beliefs nearly the afterlife.
source:http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Bemba.aspx
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