Info For Y'all Bemba People: Matrilineal, Agrarian In Addition To The The Largest Ethnic Grouping Inwards The Zambia
The Bemba ('BaBemba or 'Awemba' or 'BaWemba') are a cluster of matrilineal together with agriculturalist ChiBemba-speaking ethnolinguistic grouping of Bantu extraction living inward the northeastern high plateau of Zambia. They reside mainly inward the Northern, Luapula together with Copperbelt Provinces of Republic of Zambia who delineate their origins to the Luba together with Lunda states of the upper Congo basin, inward what became Katanga Province inward southern Congo-Kinshasa (DRC). They are the largest ethnic grouping inward Zambia. Bemba history is a major historical phenomenon inward the evolution of chieftainship inward a large together with culturally homogeneous share of key Africa.
The Bemba are those who consider themselves subjects of the Chitimukulu, the Bemba's unmarried paramount chief. They lived inward villages of 100 to 200 people together with numbered 250,000 stiff inward 1963. There are over 30 Bemba clans, named afterwards 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 set a stop to the northward march of the Nguni together with Sotho-Tswana descended Ngoni people, through Chief Chitapankwa Kaluba.
In contemporary Zambia, the discussion "Bemba" truly has several meanings. It may designate people of Bemba origin, regardless of where they live, e.g. whether they endure inward urban areas or inward the master copy rural Bemba area. Alternatively, it may concealment a much larger population which includes some 'eighteen unlike ethnic groups', who together alongside the Bemba shape a closely related ethnolinguistic cluster of matrilineal-matrifocal agriculturalists known every bit the Bemba-speaking peoples of Zambia.They may telephone telephone themselves yesteryear the detail grouping name—Aushi, Bisa, Chishinga, Kunda, Lala, Lamba Lunda, Ng'umbo, Swaka, Tabwa, or Unga—but the vogue inward urban areas is to usage the generic term "Bemba". In this broad feel the Bemba shape the most of import ethnic grouping inward the urban areas of the Copperbelt, including Kitwe, Ndola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Chingola, together with Chililabombwe inward Republic of Zambia together with a important minority inward Lubumbashi inward the DRC.
Bemba family
Bemba Folklore/Mythology
In a reason called Kola, in that location 1 time was a powerful, merely acre crazy main called Mukulumpe. He had a number of sons yesteryear unlike wives, merely 1 solar daytime he heard of a adult woman alongside ears every bit large every bit an elephant's, who said she came from the heaven together with belonged to the crocodile clan. Her advert was Mumbi Mukasa, together with the main married her. They had 3 sons, Katongo, Chiti together with Nkole, together with a daughter, Chilufya Mulenga. The impetuous immature men built a tower that fell downwardly together with killed many people. King Mukulumpe was furious. He release Katongo's eyes, together with banished Chiti together with Nkole. Mukulumpe pretended to relent together with called dorsum the exiles. However, he had dug a game pit to kill the 3 of them. Katongo, though blind, warned his brothers yesteryear using his talking drum. When they arrived endure together with at the palace, the manlike mortal monarch humiliated them yesteryear making them do menial work. Chiti together with Nkole left the kingdom for good, together with took alongside them their 3 maternal one-half brothers Kapasa, Chimba together with Kazembe together with 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 together with their sis Chilufya Mulenga, who Mukulumpu had locked upwards inward a theater without doors. They despatched their one-half blood brother Kapasa to time out out Chilufya Mulenga, which he did ingeniously. But on the agency to Luapula, Kapasa fell inward honey alongside Chilufya. When it turned out she was pregnant, Kapasa was disowned yesteryear Chiti. The grouping meanwhile, had fallen inward alongside a 'white magician', Luchele Ng'anga. When they arrived at the Luapula, Kazembe decided to settle there, merely Nkole together with Chiti were uncertain. When Luchele Ng'anga conjured upwards a fish from a mortar, they took this to endure an omen to caput eastwards, together with moved toward the plateau of the Chambeshi river, nigh Lake Bangweulu.
They crossed the Safwa rapids, together with the Luchindashi river, where in that location was a quarrel betwixt 2 women, together with purpose 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, together with were given a adult man called Kankomba. The migrants together with then turned eastwards to the Luangwa Valley together with amid the Senga (or Nsenga) people, they encountered a main called Mwase. Mwase's wife, Chilimbulu, was really beautiful, together with her tummy was adorned alongside elegant cicatrisations. Chilimbulu at 1 time fell inward honey alongside Chiti, together with hence did he. She seduced him breathless when Mwase was out hunting. When he returned together with saw Chilimbulu naked, doing it alongside Chiti, he was enraged. He pulled Chilimbulu off of Chiti, the 2 chiefs fought, together with alongside Mwase trying to kill Chiti, he was grazed yesteryear a poisoned arrow, together with Chilimbulu cried out, ran to her Chiti, together with stabbed herself alongside the arrow too, afterwards which they both died.
Nkole together with his followers took Chiti's trunk alongside them together with stole Chilimbulu's body, looking for a grove suitable for their burial. They encountered the wizard Luchele Ng'anga again, together with he directed them toward a purplish 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 in that location to merchandise together with pay honour to Chimbala.
After Chimbala gave them permission to bury Chiti together with Chilimbulu, together with placed Chilumbulu side yesteryear side to Chiti. But they managed to acquire Chimbala to hook upwards alongside Kabotwe, ensuring Chimbala's ritual powerfulness to purify those who buried Chiti. Kabotwe became the keeper of the grove, together with 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 hide for Chiti. Then, he dispatched a political party to avenge Chiti's death, killing Mwase together with Chilimbulu. Their bodies were burned at Mwalule, merely the smoke overcame Nkole, who also died, together with instantly also had to endure buried at Mwalule.
The Kola migrants adopted matrilineal succession, together with Chiti together with Nkole were succeeded yesteryear their sis Chilufya Mulenga's son. He was also called Chilufya, together with was besides immature to dominion every bit chief, hence Chiti's one-half blood brother Chimba ruled inward his place. The Kola migrants left Mulambalala, their site nigh Mwalule together with crossed the Chambesi River north. The disgraced Kapasa however, settled on his ain inward Bulombwa, driving out Iwa main Kafwimbi together with his cattle.
The others traveled westward upwards the Kalongwa River, where 2 men, Kawba together with 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 together with settled the surrounding country. The groups together with then living inward the expanse were called Sukuma, Musukwa, Kalelelya together with Ngalagansa. They were driven off or killed yesteryear the Kola migrants, who were yesteryear instantly called the Bemba.
When Chilufya the manlike mortal monarch grew up, Chimba handed him the royal bows belonging to his uncles Nkole together with Chiti. Chilufya thereby gained the praise advert 'ca mata yabili' (of the 2 bows). Chilufya however, insisted that Chimba kept Nkole's bow, allowing him to found his ain hamlet at Chatindubwi, a few miles due north of the Kalungu River.
Thereafter, the Bemba became many. New villages together with chiefs were founded, together with many chiefs succeeded Chilufya Kaluba. All of these paramount chiefs took the advert of the master copy founder, Chiti Mukulu (Chiti The Great). They are instantly inward today's Zambia.
Geography
The plateau heartland of the Bemba reaches a meridian of about 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) together with is located from 10° to 12° S together with 30° to 32° E. It rises from the lowlands of Lake Bangweulu together with the Luapula Valley to the southward together with due west together with Lake Tanganyika together with the Luangwa Valley to the due north together with east. The Chambeshi River, which feeds Lake Bangweulu together with forms purpose of the southern Congo drainage basin, meanders through its center. The plateau is made of quondam crystalline rocks that are rich inward minerals merely create pitiable soil fertility. The natural vegetation consists of sparse forests of tall trees termed savanna woodland.
It is estimated that of the 8 together with 1 one-half 1 grand 1000 people inward Zambia, 36 per centum (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 together with Chiwemba). It is a major Bantu linguistic communication which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. ChiBemba is spoken primarily inward north-eastern Republic of Zambia yesteryear the Bemba people together with every bit a glossa franca yesteryear nigh 18 related ethnic groups, including the Bisa people of Mpika together with Lake Bangweulu, together with to a lesser extent inward Katanga inward the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, together with Botswana. Including all its dialects, Bemba is the most spoken indigenous linguistic communication inward 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 glossa franca inward the Copperbelt towns together with consists of a number of loan words from English linguistic communication inward Republic of Zambia together with from French together with Swahili inward the southern DRC. Portuguese together with Swahili loan words betoken nineteenth-century trading contacts.
Basic Vocabulary together with Phrases
ee - yes
awe - no
ulishani - hullo (informal)
Mulishani - hullo (formal)
shalenipo - goodbye
Ishina lyandi ni.. - My advert 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 reason of the Luba (Kola). The manlike mortal monarch of Kola, Mukulumpe, married a adult woman who belonged to the Crocodile Clan (Abena Ngandu) together with had ears similar an elephant. She had 3 sons—Katongo, Chiti, together with Nkole—and a daughter, Chilufya. After a struggle alongside their father, Chiti together with Nkole fled eastward together with were joined yesteryear their one-half brothers Chimba, Kapasa, together with Kazembe together with their sis Chilurya. After the decease inward battle of Chiti together with 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 probability refers to a migration of Luba or Lunda chiefs that occurred before 1700. Before the migration in that location were autochthonous inhabitants who spoke a Bantu linguistic communication that resembled modern IchiBemba together with had surely cultural together with economical practices similar to those found afterwards the Luba/Lunda conquest. They had settled inward the expanse to a greater extent than than a grand years earlier. The Luba/Lunda chiefs did non alter the cultural together with economical practices of the master copy inhabitants, adapting them piece 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 inward the Luapula Valley; afterwards 1840 the Ngoni from southern Africa challenged the Bemba from the E inward a serial of inconclusive wars until a decisive battle inward nigh 1870 led to a Ngoni retreat. Local exchanges of Fe together with common salt were of import for the consolidation of political powerfulness yesteryear chiefs, merely the long-distance merchandise inward slaves, ivory, together with copper alongside the Portuguese together with Swahili on the E coast fortified together with centralized the Bemba polity, which reached its zenith inward the 1870s.
The firstly written reference to the Bemba is from 1798, when the Portuguese expedition to Mwata Kazembe led yesteryear F. J.de Lacerda heard nigh the Bemba. The firstly recorded contact betwixt Portuguese traders together with Bemba chiefs took identify inward 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 alongside the Bemba inward the 1860s, together with David Livingstone passed through the expanse inward 1867-1868 together with inward 1872 presently before his decease nigh Bemba country.
In the 1880s together with 1890s European conquest together with colonization began. The London Missionary Society together with 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 alongside chiefs. Europeans widened internal fissures betwixt the competing chiefships of Chitimukulu together with Mwamba, together with this contributed to the lack of organized resistance to European colonialism. During the colonial catamenia 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 surely Bemba chiefs, including Chitimukulu, retained authorization 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 firstly Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, was non of Bemba descent yet grew upwards together with taught inward Bemba country. Bemba back upwards for UNIP declined afterwards the vicious repression of the pop Lumpa Church together with the perception that the one-party regime discriminated against the Bemba together with favored easterners. In the 1970s back upwards grew for the breakaway United Progressive Party (UPP) led yesteryear Simon Kapwewe. Bemba back upwards for the regime of Frederick Chiluba that took over from Kaunda afterwards democratic elections inward 1991 was high. In urban areas President Chiluba is considered a Bemba fifty-fifty though he comes from Luapula Province together with is non a fellow member of the nub Bemba group.
Settlements
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 tarmac route called the Great North Road runs from the Copperbelt through the plateau share together with splits into 2 roads leading to the Lake Tanganyika port of Mpulungu together with the border of Tanzania, respectively. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 railway line of piece of work from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar es Salaam runs through Bemba country. Settlement is concentrated along the roads together with railway line, alongside farms extending for several miles into the interior. Northern Province is divided into nine districts, each of which has an administrative uppercase that also serves every bit a trading center. The most of import towns nigh the Bemba heartland are Chinsali together with Kasama. Houses constructed of bricks together with corrugated Fe are replacing those made of the traditional clay together with thatch. Except inward the towns, piped H2O together with electricity are rare. Small toilets together with 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 together with reward together with pensions are below the subsistence level. In many areas cassava together with maize have got replaced the traditional staple, millet. The Bemba are known for a shifting shape of agriculture termed chitemene, inward which the branches of trees are cutting together with burned to furnish the nutrients needed to cultivate millet together with maize.
Forms of chitemene have got changed over time. For example, traditionally alone tree branches were burned, merely instantly entire trees are burned for usage every bit both fertilizer together with charcoal. Without burning, fertilizer is required. Cassava grown on mounds (mputa) has go to a greater extent than widespread since footling fertilizer is required together with it tin endure grown without chitemene. However, chitemene has non disappeared together with silent is an of import purpose of Bemba survival strategies. Cassava, millet, together with maize are dried, Blue Planet into flour, together with cooked alongside H2O to brand a thick porridge called ubwali. Vegetables include pumpkin, squash, cabbage, spinach, rape, together with cassava leaves. Cattle traditionally were non domesticated because of the tsetse wing together with are silent rare. Sources of poly peptide include beans, groundnuts, caterpillars, fish, game meat, poultry, together with goat.
Commercial Activities. Maize together with cassava are exported to urban areas. Coffee estates inward the highlands export high-quality beans. Small-scale gemstone together with mineral mining occurs. Before the decline of the copper mines inward the 1980s, most income was derived from urban remittances.
Industrial Arts. Handicraft products include clay pots, reed mats together with baskets, hunting together with line-fishing nets, wood together with Fe agricultural implements, canoes, stools, together with drums. Wood is the most of import together with versatile raw material. There is footling tourism, together with these products ordinarily are made for local use.
Trade. Trucks on the main route bear merchandise goods to together with from the Mpulungu harbor on Lake Tanganyika together with the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. Locals sell nutrient together with refreshments together with provide services to passing truck drivers together with prepare passengers.
Division of Labor
In general, men laid upwards the chitemene fields yesteryear cutting together with burning the branches. Women are responsible for planting, harvesting, drying, pounding the dried grain or root into flour, together with cooking. Increased manlike mortal migration to the copper mines afterwards the 1920s was a factor inward the replacement of millet tillage inward chitemene fields yesteryear cassava. Men dominate hunting together with line-fishing activities, piece women together with children get together wild create such every bit mushrooms together with caterpillars. The Bemba speak nigh a sectionalization of undertaking inward a stiff fashion, merely inward practise it tin endure fluid.
Land Tenure
As a effect of the traditionally depression population density together with shifting agricultural practices, uncultivated reason or bush (mpanga) had footling intrinsic value together with was non strongly associated alongside private ownership. However, rights to the reason did be together with were regulated yesteryear hamlet rulers. The colonial regime declared reason "Native Trust," to endure allocated yesteryear chiefs. Despite the vesting of the reason inward the president nether the postcolonial government, chiefs silent allocated land. The introduction of private reason registration nether the post-1991 regime has non had an impact. In contrast to uncultivated land, in that location is a stiff feel of private ownership of cultivated fields together with produce.
Kinship
Kin Groups together with Descent. The Bemba ordinarily are classified every bit matrilineal together with matrilocal. This is an idealized version of Bemba kinship relations that mightiness have got existed inward the past, yet fifty-fifty this seems unclear. Currently, in that location seems to endure a weakening of the matrilineal/matrilocal system; residence departs substantially from matrilocality instantly together with mightiness best endure described every bit bilocal. Membership inward a clan (umukowa; plural imikowa) together with positional succession are silent matrilineal. However, it is mutual for a kid to adopt the father's advert together with ancestral spirit (umupashi), together with this is suggestive of a strengthening of patrilineal elements. In the yesteryear a adult man worked for a catamenia inward the homestead of his novel married adult woman together with chose to remain alongside his wife's theater unit of measurement or render alongside her to his woman parent or father's homestead. However, today newlywed couples may remain alongside the husband's family. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 coin economic scheme together with Christianity have got strengthened the command of men over their children together with weakened attachment to uterine kin.
Kinship Terminology
Kin damage are of the Iroquois type. Close kinship damage are bailiwick 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 gender activity together with age. Because of positional succession (ukupyanika) kin terminology for an private tin change. For example, through succession ego tin go his mother's blood brother together with all women who were his woman parent (mayo) go his sis (nkashi).
Marriage together with Family
Marriage. Traditionally, union payments inward the shape of goods from the groom's theater unit of measurement to the bride's theater unit of measurement were little together with insignificant. The to a greater extent than of import aspect of the union contract was the undertaking service performed yesteryear the son-in-law. With the increasing importance of coin together with goods, payments are becoming of to a greater extent than importance together with undertaking service yesteryear the son-in-law is increasingly rare. Polygamy is allowed merely uncommon. Marriages are unstable, together with divorce or separation is common, peculiarly if a adult man fails to provide labor, money, or goods to his wife's family. To a surely extent Christianity has stabilized marital relations. While union inside a clan is non allowed, cross-cousin marriages are permitted together with strengthen the bonds betwixt blood brother together with sister.
The Bemba tradition recognizes iv symbolic banquets inward relation to courtship together with marriage. These are
• Icisumina Nsalamu (Acceptance of union 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 theater unit of measurement preparing Icilanga Mulilo for the groom, inward the false belief that it is Amatebeto. Others may laid upwards Icisumina Nsalamu believing it to endure Icilanga Mulilo. Some have got knowingly practiced a selection together with mix version out of convenience. This fuzziness has been tolerated inward many cases, merely alone adds to the confusion about these issues.
Bemba Wedding ceremony
According to Mr. Dyson Chalwe, a traditional union counselor together with long standing Shibukombe (a trustworthy mortal who is appointed to endure the emissary together with confidant for the groom inward coming together the bride’s parents), in that location are iv really distinct ceremonial banquets involving the taking of symbolic meals from the bride to the groom inward the catamenia leading to union together with afterwards offset of marriage:
1. ICISUMINA NSALAMU (Acceptance of union proposal).
Icisumina Nsalamu is a repast prepared yesteryear the bride’s family, which they deliver to the groom, to symbolize the credence of his union proposal.
According to Mr.Chalwe, the repast alone consists of 1 plate of Nshima (the traditional thick porridge made from maize meal) together with a plate of whole chicken. The groom does non have got to give dorsum anything inward return. The object of this gesture is for the bride’s theater unit of measurement to exhibit that they have got accepted the union proposal on behalf of their daughter. It’s less elaborate than the other 3 banquets.
2. ICILANGA MULILO (Permission granting the groom liberty to have got meals from the bride’s theater 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 theater unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom to symbolize an opened upwards invitation to the groom to dine alongside the bride’s theater unit of measurement on time to come visits during their courtship. Traditionally, the groom is forbidden from eating whatsoever nutrient at the bride’s parents or guardian’s dwelling before this symbolic gesture. Different types of dishes are prepared yesteryear the bride’s to showcase their traditional cuisine.
The groom is expected to consume or sense of savour 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 together with then charge the nutrient parcels on their heads amid singing together with drumming. They caput to the theater where the groom together with his political party are waiting. The bride is non involved inward this.
When the political party arrives at the gate at the grooms location, they interruption together with hold back for an invitation to enter. This is inward the shape of coin that the groom’s theater unit of measurement drib on the Blue Planet inward front end of them. In a low-cal hearted display, the political party may turn down to acquire inward until to a greater extent than coin is offered. The amounts of coin involved are non large, alone symbolic.
Once the invitation to acquire inward is accepted, the singing political party together with then proceed to the house. At the door, they volition plow about together with acquire inward the theater walking backwards, alongside their parcels silent balanced on their heads.
Once inward the house, the singing together with ululation continues. The women trip the low-cal fantastic toe inward 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 in that location is to a greater extent than dancing together with singing. Those who are gathered together with then 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 together with then on. He tin instantly assume the responsibilities of taking attention of his bride’s fiscal needs. The bride at this phase is also allowed to start cooking together with doing laundry for the groom.
Mr. Chalwe farther revealed that afterwards the Icilanga Mulilo ceremony, the groom is allowed to give dorsum something, ordinarily 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 alongside friends- kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Shibukombe - Mr Dyson Chalwe
3. AMATEBETO (Thanks offering)
Amatebeto are prepared yesteryear the bride’s theater unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom afterwards union has taken place. Amatebeto tin endure prepared 2 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 theater unit of measurement that the groom is capable of looking afterwards his married adult woman good together with that they have got re-affirmed their approving of the marriage
In today’s practice, Amatebeto together with Icilanga Mulilo have got been used interchangeably. They are also the 2 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 authorization that is given to the groom to brand theater unit of measurement decisions affecting his wife’s side of the theater unit of measurement on behalf of elders inward the bride’s family. The groom is allowed to brand some decisions “without consulting” his in-laws. The bride’s theater unit of measurement also declare their commitment to honour such decisions together with to consider them binding.
The groom is initiated yesteryear firstly going to his manlike mortal parent together with woman parent in-law’s bedroom. Traditionally, teenagers together with adult children are non allowed to acquire inward their parents’ bedroom, much less an inward law’s! The parents’ chamber is traditionally regarded every bit a sacred identify for a boy inward police to enter.
On this really special occasion, the boy inward police is allowed access. He is expected to take away the beddings found on his in-law’s bed together with to acquire whatever valuables are exposed. He also has got to peep nether the bed together with to bring 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 together with discover anything hidden underneath them. He is allowed to hold whatever he discovers.
He is together with then led into the kitchen where he is to opened upwards all the pots together with pans, together with consume whatever he finds. He is non expected to exit whatsoever left-overs. He is to acquire all the nutrient that remains together with bring it to his dwelling afterwards this initiation.
The repast symbolizes that the groom has go purpose of the theater unit of measurement together with is instantly regarded every bit 1 of their ain children. The groom is fifty-fifty authorized to personally tender a sick woman parent inward police afterwards this symbolic gesture.
According to Mr. Chalwe, this is the in conclusion inward the process, of all symbolic banquets for a groom from his in-laws. The ceremonies are practiced to varying extents amid Zambians of Bemba extraction. If you lot are marrying into the Bemba tribe, you lot instantly know what to expect.
Domestic Unit. In the yesteryear a married pair started out inward an extended matrilocal theater unit of measurement unit together with formed an independent unit of measurement afterwards a number of years. The encouragement of nuclear families yesteryear Christian churches together with the powerfulness to provide coin instead of undertaking service to the wife's theater unit of measurement has meant that a married adult man tin attain this seat alongside greater ease. However, the traditional reason of domestic cooperation through woman mortal relatives—mother together with missy or sisters—and ties betwixt woman parent together with children are silent strong.
Inheritance. Inheritance of goods is relatively unimportant, together with wealth tin overstep 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 together with follows the matrilineage.
Socialization. Children larn household, agricultural, together with hunting skills from their woman parent or her relatives, although the manlike mortal parent may endure involved. Children have got liberty together with autonomy merely must honour their elders. Although the practise has declined inward recent years, initiation (ichisungu) at puberty teaches girls duties toward their households together with husbands. There are no equivalent manlike mortal initiation ceremonies. Children to a greater extent than frequently than non 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, together with households migrate inward search of novel land. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hamlet headman who is appointed yesteryear hamlet elders or yesteryear the main runs each hamlet together with mediates conflicts together with access to land. Chiefs are drawn from the royal matrilineal Crocodile Clan, together with this has contributed to greater centralization than is found amid the neighboring groups. Chiefs together with headmen are to a greater extent than frequently than non male, merely it is non odd to uncovering women inward such positions. Chiefs have got their ain councilors elected yesteryear the quondam men of the royal village. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu commands the honour of a number of lesser chiefs across the plateau together with rules his ain district (Lubemba). Chitimukulu's tribal council consists of a number of royal hereditary officials called abakabilo who have got unlike ritual duties.
The Bemba have got nigh xxx matrilineal clans to a greater extent than frequently than non named afterwards animals. All clans have got joking opposites. For example, the Goat Clan jokes alongside the Leopard Clan because leopards consume goats. An private tin rely on the back upwards of his or her clan together with joking clan members. Joking betwixt the Bemba, who are known every bit baboons (kolwe) for their reputation for eating baboons, together with the Ngoni, who are known every bit rats (kwindi), is an chemical factor of social life together with a agency of overcoming quondam rivalries, peculiarly inward urban areas where Ngoni together with Bemba endure together.
Political Organization
Political authorization is divided betwixt the formal regime together with traditional chiefs. The regime follows the model of the British colonial bureaucracy. The Northern Province, alongside provincial headquarters at Kasama, has nine districts alongside elected district councils at district capitals called the Boma. Under the firstly postcolonial regime of Kaunda, UNIP political party structures played an of import role inward 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 alongside the colonial officials based at the Boma. In the postcolonial catamenia the formal judicial together with executive powers of the chiefs were handed over to the district government. Nevertheless, during the firstly postcolonial regime chiefs became involved inward formal district governance together with political parties. After 1991 chiefs were supposed to remain exterior formal politics, merely their influence remains significant.
Social Control
Chiefs together with headmen are non instrumental inward the perpetuation of social norms. Responsibilities toward the extended theater unit of measurement are entrenched through witchcraft (ubuloshi) accusations that human activity every bit an of import deterrent against breaking social together with ritual taboos. Didactic songs, including those associated alongside the girls' ichisungu ceremony, provide guidance for responsibilities toward husband, children, together with family.
Conflict
Before the colonial catamenia the Bemba were known every bit a "warrior" people who raided their neighbors for slaves together with tribute. Conflict betwixt Bemba chiefs together with betwixt the Bemba together with the Ngoni was frequent. Praise songs of chiefs together with clan elders celebrate battles together with yesteryear conquests. After colonialism, raiding together with local conflict ceased, together with political stability inward 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) together with nature spirits (ngulu). These spirits controlled uncultivated reason together with were responsible for the harvest. Chiefs together with clan elders prayed together with offered sacrifices to the spirits at shrines, which were miniature huts housing relics or natural sites such every bit waterfalls together with 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 silent performed inward surely areas.
Most Bemba are Christians. The United Church of Republic of Zambia (previously the London Missionary Society), Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, together with Seventh-Day Adventists are of import denominations. Biblical stories together with proverbs are popular. The advert for God is Lesa, although the etymology of the term is unclear. Christianity has been fused alongside older religious practices. For example, the Lumpa Church, founded yesteryear the prophetess Alice Lenshina, spread across Bemba reason inward the 1950s together with was repressed yesteryear regime inward the 1960s. At to the lowest degree since the spread of the bamuchapi witchfinders inward the 1930s, witchcraft accusations have got combined ancestral together with Christian belief systems.
Religious Practitioners. Chiefs, clan elders, together with other ritual specialists prayed together with 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 listen the voices of God together with Jesus. Witchcraft purification together with detection are silent performed yesteryear witchfinders (abashinganga), frequently on behalf of traditional chiefs together with councilors. Church congregations led yesteryear elected church building elders be inward most villages.
Ceremonies. Traditional ceremonial activities include rites surrounding the training of chitemene fields together with firstly fruit ceremonies. Although it is no longer widely performed, the most of import semipublic ceremony is the ichisungu initiation for immature girls. When a missy begins to menstruate, she is taken into the bush yesteryear a ritual specialist called Nachimbusa (the woman parent of sacred emblems) together with instructed inward the duties of womanhood through songs together with sacred clay figurines together with paintings called mbusa. Men are non allowed to attend the ceremony. After initiation the missy is considered ready for marriage.
Arts. Tatoos together with other forms of scarification were mutual inward the pre-Christian period. Hairstyling amid women is silent popular. Painting together with ornamental arts illustrating biblical themes or clan jokes adorn houses together with populace places. There is footling demand for Bemba artworks, together with works to a greater extent than frequently than non are made on commission. Musicians, peculiarly guitarists together with singers, perform inward hamlet bars together with churches.
Medicine. Traditional remedies are made from bark, fruit, together with industrial plant life extracts. Knowledge of these remedies is widespread. However, if these remedies fail, a patient volition go to practiced herbalists who have got specialized noesis of remedies together with supernatural causes of illness.
Death together with Afterlife
The drive of decease is believed to endure a curse or bewitchment yesteryear a jealous friend or theater unit of measurement member. After decease the theater unit of measurement volition employ a witchfinder to search for the source of the bewitchment. Spirits tin render to human activity every bit guardians of the bush or tin endure adopted yesteryear newborn children. The Bemba combine beliefs inward ancestral spirits together with witchcraft alongside Christian beliefs nigh 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 inward villages of 100 to 200 people together with numbered 250,000 stiff inward 1963. There are over 30 Bemba clans, named afterwards 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 set a stop to the northward march of the Nguni together with Sotho-Tswana descended Ngoni people, through Chief Chitapankwa Kaluba.
In contemporary Zambia, the discussion "Bemba" truly has several meanings. It may designate people of Bemba origin, regardless of where they live, e.g. whether they endure inward urban areas or inward the master copy rural Bemba area. Alternatively, it may concealment a much larger population which includes some 'eighteen unlike ethnic groups', who together alongside the Bemba shape a closely related ethnolinguistic cluster of matrilineal-matrifocal agriculturalists known every bit the Bemba-speaking peoples of Zambia.They may telephone telephone themselves yesteryear the detail grouping name—Aushi, Bisa, Chishinga, Kunda, Lala, Lamba Lunda, Ng'umbo, Swaka, Tabwa, or Unga—but the vogue inward urban areas is to usage the generic term "Bemba". In this broad feel the Bemba shape the most of import ethnic grouping inward the urban areas of the Copperbelt, including Kitwe, Ndola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Chingola, together with Chililabombwe inward Republic of Zambia together with a important minority inward Lubumbashi inward the DRC.
Bemba family
Bemba Folklore/Mythology
In a reason called Kola, in that location 1 time was a powerful, merely acre crazy main called Mukulumpe. He had a number of sons yesteryear unlike wives, merely 1 solar daytime he heard of a adult woman alongside ears every bit large every bit an elephant's, who said she came from the heaven together with belonged to the crocodile clan. Her advert was Mumbi Mukasa, together with the main married her. They had 3 sons, Katongo, Chiti together with Nkole, together with a daughter, Chilufya Mulenga. The impetuous immature men built a tower that fell downwardly together with killed many people. King Mukulumpe was furious. He release Katongo's eyes, together with banished Chiti together with Nkole. Mukulumpe pretended to relent together with called dorsum the exiles. However, he had dug a game pit to kill the 3 of them. Katongo, though blind, warned his brothers yesteryear using his talking drum. When they arrived endure together with at the palace, the manlike mortal monarch humiliated them yesteryear making them do menial work. Chiti together with Nkole left the kingdom for good, together with took alongside them their 3 maternal one-half brothers Kapasa, Chimba together with Kazembe together with 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 together with their sis Chilufya Mulenga, who Mukulumpu had locked upwards inward a theater without doors. They despatched their one-half blood brother Kapasa to time out out Chilufya Mulenga, which he did ingeniously. But on the agency to Luapula, Kapasa fell inward honey alongside Chilufya. When it turned out she was pregnant, Kapasa was disowned yesteryear Chiti. The grouping meanwhile, had fallen inward alongside a 'white magician', Luchele Ng'anga. When they arrived at the Luapula, Kazembe decided to settle there, merely Nkole together with Chiti were uncertain. When Luchele Ng'anga conjured upwards a fish from a mortar, they took this to endure an omen to caput eastwards, together with moved toward the plateau of the Chambeshi river, nigh Lake Bangweulu.
They crossed the Safwa rapids, together with the Luchindashi river, where in that location was a quarrel betwixt 2 women, together with purpose 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, together with were given a adult man called Kankomba. The migrants together with then turned eastwards to the Luangwa Valley together with amid the Senga (or Nsenga) people, they encountered a main called Mwase. Mwase's wife, Chilimbulu, was really beautiful, together with her tummy was adorned alongside elegant cicatrisations. Chilimbulu at 1 time fell inward honey alongside Chiti, together with hence did he. She seduced him breathless when Mwase was out hunting. When he returned together with saw Chilimbulu naked, doing it alongside Chiti, he was enraged. He pulled Chilimbulu off of Chiti, the 2 chiefs fought, together with alongside Mwase trying to kill Chiti, he was grazed yesteryear a poisoned arrow, together with Chilimbulu cried out, ran to her Chiti, together with stabbed herself alongside the arrow too, afterwards which they both died.
Nkole together with his followers took Chiti's trunk alongside them together with stole Chilimbulu's body, looking for a grove suitable for their burial. They encountered the wizard Luchele Ng'anga again, together with he directed them toward a purplish 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 in that location to merchandise together with pay honour to Chimbala.
After Chimbala gave them permission to bury Chiti together with Chilimbulu, together with placed Chilumbulu side yesteryear side to Chiti. But they managed to acquire Chimbala to hook upwards alongside Kabotwe, ensuring Chimbala's ritual powerfulness to purify those who buried Chiti. Kabotwe became the keeper of the grove, together with 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 hide for Chiti. Then, he dispatched a political party to avenge Chiti's death, killing Mwase together with Chilimbulu. Their bodies were burned at Mwalule, merely the smoke overcame Nkole, who also died, together with instantly also had to endure buried at Mwalule.
The Kola migrants adopted matrilineal succession, together with Chiti together with Nkole were succeeded yesteryear their sis Chilufya Mulenga's son. He was also called Chilufya, together with was besides immature to dominion every bit chief, hence Chiti's one-half blood brother Chimba ruled inward his place. The Kola migrants left Mulambalala, their site nigh Mwalule together with crossed the Chambesi River north. The disgraced Kapasa however, settled on his ain inward Bulombwa, driving out Iwa main Kafwimbi together with his cattle.
The others traveled westward upwards the Kalongwa River, where 2 men, Kawba together with 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 together with settled the surrounding country. The groups together with then living inward the expanse were called Sukuma, Musukwa, Kalelelya together with Ngalagansa. They were driven off or killed yesteryear the Kola migrants, who were yesteryear instantly called the Bemba.
When Chilufya the manlike mortal monarch grew up, Chimba handed him the royal bows belonging to his uncles Nkole together with Chiti. Chilufya thereby gained the praise advert 'ca mata yabili' (of the 2 bows). Chilufya however, insisted that Chimba kept Nkole's bow, allowing him to found his ain hamlet at Chatindubwi, a few miles due north of the Kalungu River.
Thereafter, the Bemba became many. New villages together with chiefs were founded, together with many chiefs succeeded Chilufya Kaluba. All of these paramount chiefs took the advert of the master copy founder, Chiti Mukulu (Chiti The Great). They are instantly inward today's Zambia.
Geography
The plateau heartland of the Bemba reaches a meridian of about 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) together with is located from 10° to 12° S together with 30° to 32° E. It rises from the lowlands of Lake Bangweulu together with the Luapula Valley to the southward together with due west together with Lake Tanganyika together with the Luangwa Valley to the due north together with east. The Chambeshi River, which feeds Lake Bangweulu together with forms purpose of the southern Congo drainage basin, meanders through its center. The plateau is made of quondam crystalline rocks that are rich inward minerals merely create pitiable soil fertility. The natural vegetation consists of sparse forests of tall trees termed savanna woodland.
It is estimated that of the 8 together with 1 one-half 1 grand 1000 people inward Zambia, 36 per centum (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 together with Chiwemba). It is a major Bantu linguistic communication which belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. ChiBemba is spoken primarily inward north-eastern Republic of Zambia yesteryear the Bemba people together with every bit a glossa franca yesteryear nigh 18 related ethnic groups, including the Bisa people of Mpika together with Lake Bangweulu, together with to a lesser extent inward Katanga inward the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, together with Botswana. Including all its dialects, Bemba is the most spoken indigenous linguistic communication inward 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 glossa franca inward the Copperbelt towns together with consists of a number of loan words from English linguistic communication inward Republic of Zambia together with from French together with Swahili inward the southern DRC. Portuguese together with Swahili loan words betoken nineteenth-century trading contacts.
Basic Vocabulary together with Phrases
ee - yes
awe - no
ulishani - hullo (informal)
Mulishani - hullo (formal)
shalenipo - goodbye
Ishina lyandi ni.. - My advert 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 reason of the Luba (Kola). The manlike mortal monarch of Kola, Mukulumpe, married a adult woman who belonged to the Crocodile Clan (Abena Ngandu) together with had ears similar an elephant. She had 3 sons—Katongo, Chiti, together with Nkole—and a daughter, Chilufya. After a struggle alongside their father, Chiti together with Nkole fled eastward together with were joined yesteryear their one-half brothers Chimba, Kapasa, together with Kazembe together with their sis Chilurya. After the decease inward battle of Chiti together with 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 probability refers to a migration of Luba or Lunda chiefs that occurred before 1700. Before the migration in that location were autochthonous inhabitants who spoke a Bantu linguistic communication that resembled modern IchiBemba together with had surely cultural together with economical practices similar to those found afterwards the Luba/Lunda conquest. They had settled inward the expanse to a greater extent than than a grand years earlier. The Luba/Lunda chiefs did non alter the cultural together with economical practices of the master copy inhabitants, adapting them piece 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 inward the Luapula Valley; afterwards 1840 the Ngoni from southern Africa challenged the Bemba from the E inward a serial of inconclusive wars until a decisive battle inward nigh 1870 led to a Ngoni retreat. Local exchanges of Fe together with common salt were of import for the consolidation of political powerfulness yesteryear chiefs, merely the long-distance merchandise inward slaves, ivory, together with copper alongside the Portuguese together with Swahili on the E coast fortified together with centralized the Bemba polity, which reached its zenith inward the 1870s.
The firstly written reference to the Bemba is from 1798, when the Portuguese expedition to Mwata Kazembe led yesteryear F. J.de Lacerda heard nigh the Bemba. The firstly recorded contact betwixt Portuguese traders together with Bemba chiefs took identify inward 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 alongside the Bemba inward the 1860s, together with David Livingstone passed through the expanse inward 1867-1868 together with inward 1872 presently before his decease nigh Bemba country.
In the 1880s together with 1890s European conquest together with colonization began. The London Missionary Society together with 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 alongside chiefs. Europeans widened internal fissures betwixt the competing chiefships of Chitimukulu together with Mwamba, together with this contributed to the lack of organized resistance to European colonialism. During the colonial catamenia 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 surely Bemba chiefs, including Chitimukulu, retained authorization 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 firstly Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, was non of Bemba descent yet grew upwards together with taught inward Bemba country. Bemba back upwards for UNIP declined afterwards the vicious repression of the pop Lumpa Church together with the perception that the one-party regime discriminated against the Bemba together with favored easterners. In the 1970s back upwards grew for the breakaway United Progressive Party (UPP) led yesteryear Simon Kapwewe. Bemba back upwards for the regime of Frederick Chiluba that took over from Kaunda afterwards democratic elections inward 1991 was high. In urban areas President Chiluba is considered a Bemba fifty-fifty though he comes from Luapula Province together with is non a fellow member of the nub Bemba group.
Settlements
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 tarmac route called the Great North Road runs from the Copperbelt through the plateau share together with splits into 2 roads leading to the Lake Tanganyika port of Mpulungu together with the border of Tanzania, respectively. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 railway line of piece of work from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar es Salaam runs through Bemba country. Settlement is concentrated along the roads together with railway line, alongside farms extending for several miles into the interior. Northern Province is divided into nine districts, each of which has an administrative uppercase that also serves every bit a trading center. The most of import towns nigh the Bemba heartland are Chinsali together with Kasama. Houses constructed of bricks together with corrugated Fe are replacing those made of the traditional clay together with thatch. Except inward the towns, piped H2O together with electricity are rare. Small toilets together with 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 together with reward together with pensions are below the subsistence level. In many areas cassava together with maize have got replaced the traditional staple, millet. The Bemba are known for a shifting shape of agriculture termed chitemene, inward which the branches of trees are cutting together with burned to furnish the nutrients needed to cultivate millet together with maize.
Forms of chitemene have got changed over time. For example, traditionally alone tree branches were burned, merely instantly entire trees are burned for usage every bit both fertilizer together with charcoal. Without burning, fertilizer is required. Cassava grown on mounds (mputa) has go to a greater extent than widespread since footling fertilizer is required together with it tin endure grown without chitemene. However, chitemene has non disappeared together with silent is an of import purpose of Bemba survival strategies. Cassava, millet, together with maize are dried, Blue Planet into flour, together with cooked alongside H2O to brand a thick porridge called ubwali. Vegetables include pumpkin, squash, cabbage, spinach, rape, together with cassava leaves. Cattle traditionally were non domesticated because of the tsetse wing together with are silent rare. Sources of poly peptide include beans, groundnuts, caterpillars, fish, game meat, poultry, together with goat.
Commercial Activities. Maize together with cassava are exported to urban areas. Coffee estates inward the highlands export high-quality beans. Small-scale gemstone together with mineral mining occurs. Before the decline of the copper mines inward the 1980s, most income was derived from urban remittances.
Industrial Arts. Handicraft products include clay pots, reed mats together with baskets, hunting together with line-fishing nets, wood together with Fe agricultural implements, canoes, stools, together with drums. Wood is the most of import together with versatile raw material. There is footling tourism, together with these products ordinarily are made for local use.
Trade. Trucks on the main route bear merchandise goods to together with from the Mpulungu harbor on Lake Tanganyika together with the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. Locals sell nutrient together with refreshments together with provide services to passing truck drivers together with prepare passengers.
Division of Labor
In general, men laid upwards the chitemene fields yesteryear cutting together with burning the branches. Women are responsible for planting, harvesting, drying, pounding the dried grain or root into flour, together with cooking. Increased manlike mortal migration to the copper mines afterwards the 1920s was a factor inward the replacement of millet tillage inward chitemene fields yesteryear cassava. Men dominate hunting together with line-fishing activities, piece women together with children get together wild create such every bit mushrooms together with caterpillars. The Bemba speak nigh a sectionalization of undertaking inward a stiff fashion, merely inward practise it tin endure fluid.
Land Tenure
As a effect of the traditionally depression population density together with shifting agricultural practices, uncultivated reason or bush (mpanga) had footling intrinsic value together with was non strongly associated alongside private ownership. However, rights to the reason did be together with were regulated yesteryear hamlet rulers. The colonial regime declared reason "Native Trust," to endure allocated yesteryear chiefs. Despite the vesting of the reason inward the president nether the postcolonial government, chiefs silent allocated land. The introduction of private reason registration nether the post-1991 regime has non had an impact. In contrast to uncultivated land, in that location is a stiff feel of private ownership of cultivated fields together with produce.
Kinship
Kin Groups together with Descent. The Bemba ordinarily are classified every bit matrilineal together with matrilocal. This is an idealized version of Bemba kinship relations that mightiness have got existed inward the past, yet fifty-fifty this seems unclear. Currently, in that location seems to endure a weakening of the matrilineal/matrilocal system; residence departs substantially from matrilocality instantly together with mightiness best endure described every bit bilocal. Membership inward a clan (umukowa; plural imikowa) together with positional succession are silent matrilineal. However, it is mutual for a kid to adopt the father's advert together with ancestral spirit (umupashi), together with this is suggestive of a strengthening of patrilineal elements. In the yesteryear a adult man worked for a catamenia inward the homestead of his novel married adult woman together with chose to remain alongside his wife's theater unit of measurement or render alongside her to his woman parent or father's homestead. However, today newlywed couples may remain alongside the husband's family. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 coin economic scheme together with Christianity have got strengthened the command of men over their children together with weakened attachment to uterine kin.
Kinship Terminology
Kin damage are of the Iroquois type. Close kinship damage are bailiwick 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 gender activity together with age. Because of positional succession (ukupyanika) kin terminology for an private tin change. For example, through succession ego tin go his mother's blood brother together with all women who were his woman parent (mayo) go his sis (nkashi).
Bemba quondam man, Zambia
Marriage together with Family
Marriage. Traditionally, union payments inward the shape of goods from the groom's theater unit of measurement to the bride's theater unit of measurement were little together with insignificant. The to a greater extent than of import aspect of the union contract was the undertaking service performed yesteryear the son-in-law. With the increasing importance of coin together with goods, payments are becoming of to a greater extent than importance together with undertaking service yesteryear the son-in-law is increasingly rare. Polygamy is allowed merely uncommon. Marriages are unstable, together with divorce or separation is common, peculiarly if a adult man fails to provide labor, money, or goods to his wife's family. To a surely extent Christianity has stabilized marital relations. While union inside a clan is non allowed, cross-cousin marriages are permitted together with strengthen the bonds betwixt blood brother together with sister.
The Bemba tradition recognizes iv symbolic banquets inward relation to courtship together with marriage. These are
• Icisumina Nsalamu (Acceptance of union 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 theater unit of measurement preparing Icilanga Mulilo for the groom, inward the false belief that it is Amatebeto. Others may laid upwards Icisumina Nsalamu believing it to endure Icilanga Mulilo. Some have got knowingly practiced a selection together with mix version out of convenience. This fuzziness has been tolerated inward many cases, merely alone adds to the confusion about these issues.
Bemba Wedding ceremony
According to Mr. Dyson Chalwe, a traditional union counselor together with long standing Shibukombe (a trustworthy mortal who is appointed to endure the emissary together with confidant for the groom inward coming together the bride’s parents), in that location are iv really distinct ceremonial banquets involving the taking of symbolic meals from the bride to the groom inward the catamenia leading to union together with afterwards offset of marriage:
1. ICISUMINA NSALAMU (Acceptance of union proposal).
Icisumina Nsalamu is a repast prepared yesteryear the bride’s family, which they deliver to the groom, to symbolize the credence of his union proposal.
According to Mr.Chalwe, the repast alone consists of 1 plate of Nshima (the traditional thick porridge made from maize meal) together with a plate of whole chicken. The groom does non have got to give dorsum anything inward return. The object of this gesture is for the bride’s theater unit of measurement to exhibit that they have got accepted the union proposal on behalf of their daughter. It’s less elaborate than the other 3 banquets.
2. ICILANGA MULILO (Permission granting the groom liberty to have got meals from the bride’s theater 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 theater unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom to symbolize an opened upwards invitation to the groom to dine alongside the bride’s theater unit of measurement on time to come visits during their courtship. Traditionally, the groom is forbidden from eating whatsoever nutrient at the bride’s parents or guardian’s dwelling before this symbolic gesture. Different types of dishes are prepared yesteryear the bride’s to showcase their traditional cuisine.
The groom is expected to consume or sense of savour 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 together with then charge the nutrient parcels on their heads amid singing together with drumming. They caput to the theater where the groom together with his political party are waiting. The bride is non involved inward this.
When the political party arrives at the gate at the grooms location, they interruption together with hold back for an invitation to enter. This is inward the shape of coin that the groom’s theater unit of measurement drib on the Blue Planet inward front end of them. In a low-cal hearted display, the political party may turn down to acquire inward until to a greater extent than coin is offered. The amounts of coin involved are non large, alone symbolic.
Once the invitation to acquire inward is accepted, the singing political party together with then proceed to the house. At the door, they volition plow about together with acquire inward the theater walking backwards, alongside their parcels silent balanced on their heads.
Once inward the house, the singing together with ululation continues. The women trip the low-cal fantastic toe inward 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 in that location is to a greater extent than dancing together with singing. Those who are gathered together with then 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 together with then on. He tin instantly assume the responsibilities of taking attention of his bride’s fiscal needs. The bride at this phase is also allowed to start cooking together with doing laundry for the groom.
Mr. Chalwe farther revealed that afterwards the Icilanga Mulilo ceremony, the groom is allowed to give dorsum something, ordinarily 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 alongside friends- kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Shibukombe - Mr Dyson Chalwe
3. AMATEBETO (Thanks offering)
Amatebeto are prepared yesteryear the bride’s theater unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom afterwards union has taken place. Amatebeto tin endure prepared 2 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 theater unit of measurement that the groom is capable of looking afterwards his married adult woman good together with that they have got re-affirmed their approving of the marriage
In today’s practice, Amatebeto together with Icilanga Mulilo have got been used interchangeably. They are also the 2 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 authorization that is given to the groom to brand theater unit of measurement decisions affecting his wife’s side of the theater unit of measurement on behalf of elders inward the bride’s family. The groom is allowed to brand some decisions “without consulting” his in-laws. The bride’s theater unit of measurement also declare their commitment to honour such decisions together with to consider them binding.
The groom is initiated yesteryear firstly going to his manlike mortal parent together with woman parent in-law’s bedroom. Traditionally, teenagers together with adult children are non allowed to acquire inward their parents’ bedroom, much less an inward law’s! The parents’ chamber is traditionally regarded every bit a sacred identify for a boy inward police to enter.
On this really special occasion, the boy inward police is allowed access. He is expected to take away the beddings found on his in-law’s bed together with to acquire whatever valuables are exposed. He also has got to peep nether the bed together with to bring 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 together with discover anything hidden underneath them. He is allowed to hold whatever he discovers.
He is together with then led into the kitchen where he is to opened upwards all the pots together with pans, together with consume whatever he finds. He is non expected to exit whatsoever left-overs. He is to acquire all the nutrient that remains together with bring it to his dwelling afterwards this initiation.
The repast symbolizes that the groom has go purpose of the theater unit of measurement together with is instantly regarded every bit 1 of their ain children. The groom is fifty-fifty authorized to personally tender a sick woman parent inward police afterwards this symbolic gesture.
According to Mr. Chalwe, this is the in conclusion inward the process, of all symbolic banquets for a groom from his in-laws. The ceremonies are practiced to varying extents amid Zambians of Bemba extraction. If you lot are marrying into the Bemba tribe, you lot instantly know what to expect.
Domestic Unit. In the yesteryear a married pair started out inward an extended matrilocal theater unit of measurement unit together with formed an independent unit of measurement afterwards a number of years. The encouragement of nuclear families yesteryear Christian churches together with the powerfulness to provide coin instead of undertaking service to the wife's theater unit of measurement has meant that a married adult man tin attain this seat alongside greater ease. However, the traditional reason of domestic cooperation through woman mortal relatives—mother together with missy or sisters—and ties betwixt woman parent together with children are silent strong.
Inheritance. Inheritance of goods is relatively unimportant, together with wealth tin overstep 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 together with follows the matrilineage.
Bemba woman
Socialization. Children larn household, agricultural, together with hunting skills from their woman parent or her relatives, although the manlike mortal parent may endure involved. Children have got liberty together with autonomy merely must honour their elders. Although the practise has declined inward recent years, initiation (ichisungu) at puberty teaches girls duties toward their households together with husbands. There are no equivalent manlike mortal initiation ceremonies. Children to a greater extent than frequently than non 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, together with households migrate inward search of novel land. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hamlet headman who is appointed yesteryear hamlet elders or yesteryear the main runs each hamlet together with mediates conflicts together with access to land. Chiefs are drawn from the royal matrilineal Crocodile Clan, together with this has contributed to greater centralization than is found amid the neighboring groups. Chiefs together with headmen are to a greater extent than frequently than non male, merely it is non odd to uncovering women inward such positions. Chiefs have got their ain councilors elected yesteryear the quondam men of the royal village. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu commands the honour of a number of lesser chiefs across the plateau together with rules his ain district (Lubemba). Chitimukulu's tribal council consists of a number of royal hereditary officials called abakabilo who have got unlike ritual duties.
The Bemba have got nigh xxx matrilineal clans to a greater extent than frequently than non named afterwards animals. All clans have got joking opposites. For example, the Goat Clan jokes alongside the Leopard Clan because leopards consume goats. An private tin rely on the back upwards of his or her clan together with joking clan members. Joking betwixt the Bemba, who are known every bit baboons (kolwe) for their reputation for eating baboons, together with the Ngoni, who are known every bit rats (kwindi), is an chemical factor of social life together with a agency of overcoming quondam rivalries, peculiarly inward urban areas where Ngoni together with Bemba endure together.
Political Organization
Political authorization is divided betwixt the formal regime together with traditional chiefs. The regime follows the model of the British colonial bureaucracy. The Northern Province, alongside provincial headquarters at Kasama, has nine districts alongside elected district councils at district capitals called the Boma. Under the firstly postcolonial regime of Kaunda, UNIP political party structures played an of import role inward 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 alongside the colonial officials based at the Boma. In the postcolonial catamenia the formal judicial together with executive powers of the chiefs were handed over to the district government. Nevertheless, during the firstly postcolonial regime chiefs became involved inward formal district governance together with political parties. After 1991 chiefs were supposed to remain exterior formal politics, merely their influence remains significant.
Social Control
Chiefs together with headmen are non instrumental inward the perpetuation of social norms. Responsibilities toward the extended theater unit of measurement are entrenched through witchcraft (ubuloshi) accusations that human activity every bit an of import deterrent against breaking social together with ritual taboos. Didactic songs, including those associated alongside the girls' ichisungu ceremony, provide guidance for responsibilities toward husband, children, together with family.
Conflict
Before the colonial catamenia the Bemba were known every bit a "warrior" people who raided their neighbors for slaves together with tribute. Conflict betwixt Bemba chiefs together with betwixt the Bemba together with the Ngoni was frequent. Praise songs of chiefs together with clan elders celebrate battles together with yesteryear conquests. After colonialism, raiding together with local conflict ceased, together with political stability inward 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) together with nature spirits (ngulu). These spirits controlled uncultivated reason together with were responsible for the harvest. Chiefs together with clan elders prayed together with offered sacrifices to the spirits at shrines, which were miniature huts housing relics or natural sites such every bit waterfalls together with 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 silent performed inward surely areas.
Most Bemba are Christians. The United Church of Republic of Zambia (previously the London Missionary Society), Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, together with Seventh-Day Adventists are of import denominations. Biblical stories together with proverbs are popular. The advert for God is Lesa, although the etymology of the term is unclear. Christianity has been fused alongside older religious practices. For example, the Lumpa Church, founded yesteryear the prophetess Alice Lenshina, spread across Bemba reason inward the 1950s together with was repressed yesteryear regime inward the 1960s. At to the lowest degree since the spread of the bamuchapi witchfinders inward the 1930s, witchcraft accusations have got combined ancestral together with Christian belief systems.
Religious Practitioners. Chiefs, clan elders, together with other ritual specialists prayed together with 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 listen the voices of God together with Jesus. Witchcraft purification together with detection are silent performed yesteryear witchfinders (abashinganga), frequently on behalf of traditional chiefs together with councilors. Church congregations led yesteryear elected church building elders be inward most villages.
Bemba adult man performing traditional ritual
Ceremonies. Traditional ceremonial activities include rites surrounding the training of chitemene fields together with firstly fruit ceremonies. Although it is no longer widely performed, the most of import semipublic ceremony is the ichisungu initiation for immature girls. When a missy begins to menstruate, she is taken into the bush yesteryear a ritual specialist called Nachimbusa (the woman parent of sacred emblems) together with instructed inward the duties of womanhood through songs together with sacred clay figurines together with paintings called mbusa. Men are non allowed to attend the ceremony. After initiation the missy is considered ready for marriage.
Arts. Tatoos together with other forms of scarification were mutual inward the pre-Christian period. Hairstyling amid women is silent popular. Painting together with ornamental arts illustrating biblical themes or clan jokes adorn houses together with populace places. There is footling demand for Bemba artworks, together with works to a greater extent than frequently than non are made on commission. Musicians, peculiarly guitarists together with singers, perform inward hamlet bars together with churches.
Medicine. Traditional remedies are made from bark, fruit, together with industrial plant life extracts. Knowledge of these remedies is widespread. However, if these remedies fail, a patient volition go to practiced herbalists who have got specialized noesis of remedies together with supernatural causes of illness.
Death together with Afterlife
The drive of decease is believed to endure a curse or bewitchment yesteryear a jealous friend or theater unit of measurement member. After decease the theater unit of measurement volition employ a witchfinder to search for the source of the bewitchment. Spirits tin render to human activity every bit guardians of the bush or tin endure adopted yesteryear newborn children. The Bemba combine beliefs inward ancestral spirits together with witchcraft alongside Christian beliefs nigh the afterlife.
source:http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Bemba.aspx
0 Response to "Info For Y'all Bemba People: Matrilineal, Agrarian In Addition To The The Largest Ethnic Grouping Inwards The Zambia"
Post a Comment