Info For You Lot Tonga (Batonga) People: Africa`S River People

The Tonga are matrilineal together with  peace-loving  Bantu people living Zambia, North-Western Zimbabwe, northern Republic of Malaŵi together with Mozambique. The Tonga are known to live the firstly Bantu people to occupy Zimbezi Valley  at around 1100 AD earlier spreading to the various countries they occupy today. The Tonga people are identified strongly amongst the Zambezi River, calling themselves Bazilwizi, “the River People”. They had pelting shrines all along the river where they carried out ceremonies, mulende or mpunde, to ensure sufficient pelting together with goodness harvests

The Tonga are considered to live original Zambian inhabitants - sites dating dorsum to the 18th together with 19th centuries receive got been constitute on the Batoka Plateau every bit good every bit ancient hamlet sites close Kalomo together with Choma. The oldest site tin live constitute on Sebanzi Hill on Lochinvar Ranch which is on the border of the Kafue Flats.
Zambian history suggests that 600 years agone a thriving merchandise centre existed inwards the Zambezi valley. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 site christened Ingombe Ilede was unearthed past times Archaeologists together with it showed that people lived hither together with traded amongst the Arabs, Chinese together with India. Copper crosses of virtually 30cm inwards length receive got been constitute to receive got been the main currency unit.
 The Tonga are known to live the firstly Bantu people to occupy Zimbezi Valley  Info For You TONGA (BATONGA) PEOPLE: AFRICA`S RIVER PEOPLE
Tonga adult woman amongst kid on her dorsum pounding grain close the shore of Lake Kariba, a man-made dam betwixt Republic of Zambia together with Republic of Zimbabwe which is 220 km long together with upward to forty km broad together with which was built inwards the belatedly 1950s. Lake Kariba, Zambia.

The Tonga inwards Republic of Zambia tin live divided into iv categories. they are Ila of Namwala District, the Plataeu Tonga of the highlands along which the railway runs from Kafue to Kalomo; the Toka Leya of Livingstone together with component division of Kalomo, together with the Valley Tonga which occupy the Zimbezi River.
The Zambian Tonga people are the patrons of Kafue Twa. pygmy people.

Republic of Zimbabwe Tonga
The intriguing Tonga people of Republic of Zimbabwe lives inwards  remotest parts of northern Zimbabwe, an expanse that is hot, dry out together with arid. They reside exactly inwards together with around the Binga District, Binga hamlet the Kariba area, together with other parts of Matabeleland. They number upward to 5000,000 together with are mostly subsistence farmers. In Republic of Zimbabwe the linguistic communication of the Tonga people is called chitonga. The arrived inwards Republic of Zimbabwe virtually AD 300. Their forefathers favoured the riverine areas along the Zambezi, Kana, Mzola together with Tshongokwe Rivers inwards Zimbabwe. The Tonga People were settled along Lake Kariba after the construction of the Kariba Dam wall. They stretch from Chirundu, Kariba town, Mola,Binga to Victoria Falls.
 The Tonga are known to live the firstly Bantu people to occupy Zimbezi Valley  Info For You TONGA (BATONGA) PEOPLE: AFRICA`S RIVER PEOPLE
They cultivated alluvial soils based on recession agriculture which depended on the alluvion authorities of the river. The Tonga people could harvest crops twice a yr together with were seldom afflicted past times hunger together with famine. The river valley provided them amongst wild fauna every bit good every bit fruits.
Like whatsoever other tribes inwards Zimbabwe, the educated ones relocated to inner cities inwards search of jobs together with meliorate education
 The Tonga are known to live the firstly Bantu people to occupy Zimbezi Valley  Info For You TONGA (BATONGA) PEOPLE: AFRICA`S RIVER PEOPLE
Tonga Women pounding maize for cornbread inwards Republic of Zimbabwe village


Republic of Malaŵi Tonga
The Malwai Tonga also called Batonga, Lake Shore Tonga or Nyasa Tonga lives northern Malawi. The Tongaland is bordered past times the Vipya make of mountains to the west, extending northward together with due south of the Luwenda River every bit good every bit the Kawandama mount ranges inwards the south. The ground is broken past times high ridges of the foothills of Vipya. There are few large rivers together with numerous perennial streams. There is a strip of apartment ground along the lake inwards the shape of a wedge. Furthermore, its sparse terminate is a few kilometres due south of Nkhata-Bay together with it gradually broadens southwards. The neighbouring ethnic groups are; the patrilineal, cattle keeping Siska, who lived inwards some other bag to the north, silent across the lake, are the inhabitants of the Likoma together with Chizumulu Islands.
 The Tonga are known to live the firstly Bantu people to occupy Zimbezi Valley  Info For You TONGA (BATONGA) PEOPLE: AFRICA`S RIVER PEOPLE
  Tonga kids mending cyberspace at Lake shore, Malawi

Tongaland was also known administratively inwards the colonial days every bit West Nyasa district border, afterward every bit Chintheche together with today every bit Nkhata–Bay district, bordered on Tumbukaland to the North together with West, together with Chewaland (matrilineal club who are basically agriculturalists) to the South. Its southern vecino is Nkhotakota where Swahili Arab influences were strong during the nineteenth century.

Mozambique Tonga
Tonga people of Mozambique or Mozambiqucan Gitonga alive inwards the Inhambane Province of southeast Mozambique, from Inhambane due south to Morrumbane.

Tonga mythology on creation
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 local tradition suggests that earlier the arrival of the British at that spot was a powerful main inwards the town of Monze. According to oral tradition, the firstly Monze main descended from heaven. He called the Tonga people to bring together him together with settle inwards his chiefdom. Most people liked the main because he had the powerfulness to heal, to motion rain, together with to maintain the peace. He did that past times frustrating enemies through his communication amongst the spirits of the ancestors.

Language
Tonga people speaks a Bantu linguistic communication known every bit ChiTonga. It is spoken inwards Southern together with Western provinces of Zambia, northern Zimbabwe, together with inwards Maalwi,with a few inwards Mozambique together with some component division of Botswana. The linguistic communication is also spoken past times the Iwe, Toka together with Leya people, perhaps past times the Kafwe Twa (if that is non Ila), every bit good every bit many bilingual Zambians together with Zimbabweans. It is 1 of the major clapper francas inwards Zambia, together amongst Bemba, Lozi together with Nyanja. The Tonga of Republic of Malaŵi is non peculiarly close.
The Tonga speaking inhabitants are the oldest Bantu settlers, amongst the Tumbuka, a little tribe inwards the east, inwards what is known every bit Zambia. There are 2 distinctive dialects of the Tonga, Valley Tonga together with Plateau Tonga. Valley Tonga is mostly spoken inwards the Zambezi valley together with southern areas of the Batonga (Tonga People) piece Plateau Tonga is spoken to a greater extent than around Monze district together with the northern areas of the Batonga.
Tonga (Chitonga or iciTonga) developed every bit a spoken linguistic communication together with was non set into written shape until missionaries arrived inwards the area. The linguistic communication is non standardized, together with speakers of the same dialect may receive got different spellings for the same words 1 time set into written text.
It contains many words that are similar to those inwards other Bantu languages such every bit Bemba, Chichewa, together with Luyana. For example, "to write" inwards all iii languages is kulemba. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 chicken is known every bit a'nkoko inwards Bemba, nkuku inwards Luyana, nkhuku inwards Chichewa, together with inkuku inwards Tonga. In all iv languages, a traditional physician is called ng'anga.
At to the lowest degree some speakers receive got a bilabial nasal click where neighboring dialects receive got /mw/, every bit inwards mwana 'child' together with kumwa 'to drink'.
Maho (2009) removes Shanjo every bit a separate, together with non really closely related, language.
Some few Chitonga Expressions
"How are you?"    Mwapona
"Good, Fine."        kabotu
Thank You.         Twalumba
Left.                    "Chimwenhi'
Right.                   "Lulyo"

                            BaTonga girls

History
Tonga people are component division of the Great Bantu migration from the Great Lakes expanse (Congo Basin) inwards Central Africa together with from parts of equatorial forests of West Africa reaching the Zambezi Valley inwards Southern Africa via Lake Tanganyika together with Lake Nyasa. The Tonga were firstly Bantu people known to receive got been settled inwards the Zambezi valley at around 1100 AD. However, it is also believed that their ancestors may receive got occupied this part since Stone Age times. The evidence of their traditions succeeds those of the Kalamo Culture. Their descendants silent alive along the banks of the Zambezi higher upward together with below the Victoria Falls together with shape the largest tribal grouping occupying the immediate region.They were notable for non recognising the potency of chiefs but living inwards business solid unit of measurement groups.

                           Tonga woman. By youngrory.

Some historians claimed that the Tonga are a branch of the Chewa tribe, Dr David Mphande's ethnographic written report indicates that the Tonga together with the Chewa mightiness receive got migrated from the cardinal African plains together every bit they both ran away from the ruthlessness of the Chimtimkulu of nowadays solar daytime Zambia. However, due to their long fourth dimension association, the Tonga together with the Chewa percentage some linguistic concepts together with surnames or business solid unit of measurement names, such every bit Phiri (of the mountain) together with Bandawanda (of the plains). However, they receive got unique cultures together with cosmologies every bit expressed through their proverbs (thanthi), folktales (nthanu), together with dances (maguli)
It is clear that the Tonga were piffling bothered past times other tribes for many centuries, together with white colonialists were also happy to leave of absence them alone. David Livingstone encountered the Tonga on his journeying through the Kariba Gorge together with constitute them to live a peace-loving people. One argue for their isolation was that they occupied lands that others constitute extremely difficult, due to the climate both close the river together with on the barren plateau to the south. With nobody casting envious eyes on their territory, they were left lone to send on every bit their forefathers had done for hundreds of years, farming, raising livestock, hunting together with making items from wood, clay together with metal. The river was no obstruction to contacts betwixt the Tonga living on either side (in modern-day Republic of Zambia together with Zimbabwe)

                                BaTonga mother

Tonga's Nyaminyami, the "great River God" of the Zambezi, firstly documented past times Major A. St. Hill Gibbons inwards 1898-99. It is non clear what status Nyaminyami had every bit an ancestral shade, but it caused those foolish plenty to shoot the rapids of Kariba Gorge to disappear from confront of the earth, together with its tail was blamed for the 1957-58 devastation of bridges together with coffer dams during the construction of Kariba Dam (Clements 1959:12-13, 18, 22, 88-89, 143-44).

Tonga's Nyaminyami, the "great River God" of the Zambezi,

Because of their mutual linguistic communication together with civilisation they are grouped together amongst a similar large tribal group, the Ila, living inwards the part of the Kafue Flats (Zambia), together with together they are known every bit the Tonga-Ila speaking peoples. This large grouping is inwards turn split into smaller groups, including the Valley together with Plateau Tonga, the We of the Middle Zambezi (or Gwembe Valley), together with the Toka together with Leya people of the immediate Falls region.
The Tonga, Ila together with associated Lenje (from the part of Kabwe) are sometimes grouped together every bit the Bantu Botatwe ('three people').

                                              Tonga kids
Economy
The Tonga are agricultural together with fishery people. Their occupational practices has been modeled along the dictates of their environmental conditions. They do mixed agriculture around the river banks together with those Tonga people whose land/soil are non suitable for growing crops engage inwards livestock rearing. Thus, their culture, to a large extent, emanates from cattle keeping.

                            Tonga farmer, Zimbabwe

 The Tonga rarely heighten cattle, goats, together with sheep- except the few that tin live seen. There are few cash crops of modest importance such every bit rice, bananas, maize, tobacco, millet, java together with tea. Most of the millet, java together with tea are cultivated inwards the hills.
The riverine Tonga people of Republic of Malaŵi are known for their line-fishing activities amongst cassava every bit their staple food. Through mission education, they were able to earn higher reward during colonial times together with worked primarily every bit porters, skilled or semi-skilled workers, together with armed auxiliaries during the assault on Kimaurunga.
The Tonga women are handbasket weavers.

                            BaTonga adult woman winnowing basket

Food
The staple nutrient of the Tonga is cassava. The tillage of cassava requires comparatively hard labour together with tin live done exclusively past times women. Cassava is usually served every bit a thick porridge (sima/kondole) together amongst a side dish relish (dende). The favourite relish consists of, chicken meat, or fish together with this is the variety of relish which every host strives to offering his/her visitors

The Tonga Social Structure
It is an egalitarian club made upward of equals; a main is firstly amid equals. One dot to live noted virtually the Tonga club is that every private has 2 mutual business solid unit of measurement names. One is derived from the begetter together with represents his 'chiwongo' whilst 'fuko' (clan) represents the mothers side of the family.
 The Tonga are known to live the firstly Bantu people to occupy Zimbezi Valley  Info For You TONGA (BATONGA) PEOPLE: AFRICA`S RIVER PEOPLE
Tonga elderberry smoking from H2O pipage at Binga close Lake Kariba inwards Zimbabwe. By http://thevagabondadventures.com/

 In cases of inheritance or succession, it is the latter or mother's championship that is to a greater extent than frequently than non adopted. In the pre colonial past times where a cluster of chiefs resided inwards a item locality, tell due south of the Luweya river amid the Kapunda Banda, seniority amid the chiefs was arrived past times observing inwards whose Mphara or world coming together identify the initiation ceremony rites for girls or the nkhole was held. Gradually these rites became distributed amid all the chiefs together with thus the only mensurate past times which seniority was judged ceased to exist, thus adding to the egalitarian nature of Tonga societies.
In improver to that, the little groups attached inwards various ways to the grouping hamlet headman (fumu) may claim a straight or primary link amongst his /her, children or through membership of the headman's matrilineage. The category tin farther live divided into patrilocal residents whose ties amongst the hamlet are patrilateral throughout, that is, the headman's children together with his son's children, together with those villagers whose link amongst the hamlet silent do non follow either line. This interaction has an influence on moral attitudes to their closed neighbours.

Tonga's Kinship together with Locality
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Tonga hamlet constitutes of around 20-50 houses based on kinship or genealogy. Furthermore, people's distribution is highly determined past times the geographical position. For instance, it is densely populated along the lakeshore together with depression population along inwards higher footing areas. Getting to the villages tin live reached via steep winding paths upward which both visitors together with residents must negotiate to achieve their settled community at the top, silent non to forget that these paths are used past times the Tonga women daily amongst their H2O containers balanced on their heads from a good or from a running current below the hill. Kabunduli together with Timbiri areas are typical of such features.

                                         Tonga hamlet of Bingu,  By http://thevagabondadventures.com/

In improver to that the Tonga telephone telephone all the settlements muzi (plural mizi). The human face for hamlet leader together with hamlet headman shows the same flexibility. For instance, fumu (plural mafumu) tin refer to either office. The word fumu or its abstract counter ufumu (headmanship/chieftainship) is sometimes used every bit synonymous amongst munangwa (freeman), every bit opposed to kapolo (slave). Furthermore, the Tonga kinship designing puts stress on the bond betwixt men together with women inside the same patrilineage. They distinguish 2 primary categories of kinsmen; kuchinthurumi (on the man's side), together with kuchinthukazi (on the woman's side) telephone telephone their daughter-in-law mkumwana. Tonga wives alive virilocally, dissimilar the matrilineal Chewa where the hubby lives uxorilocally. However, amid the Tonga uxorilocality is really rare. The words mkumwana (daughter-in-law) together with mkosano (son-in-law) also receive got the same implications every bit mlanda (orphan) together with kaporo (slave).


Marriage
Marriage is the most of import component integrating otherwise independent groups of kinsmen. Marriage serves non only the terminate of ordered procreation but has emotional, domestic, economical together with political functions.To the Tonga marriages create bonds which extend beyond hamlet or other geographical boundaries, they create a mutual focus for individuals or groups who may live spread over a broad area. Marriage rituals are powerful. For example, a wedding ceremony is an occasion which attracts the inhabitants inside the neighbourhood of the village. Polygamy is also practiced past times other Tonga clans.

    Beautiful Tonga fille from Bingu, Zimbabwe. By http://thevagabondadventures.com/

According to Tonga folklorist “Long agone union was conducted inwards a uncomplicated manner. Thefirst thing to do for someone wanting to larn married was to larn a mediator, someone to locomote between, together with this soul was called sityombo. The sityombo would together with so live asked to locomote to the business solid unit of measurement of the bride-to-be to brand the request. If the reply was positive, he would together with so live . . . told that the bridegroom-to-be must take a package of firewood to the parents-in-law to-be. Sityombo would assist the human being to larn that firewood which would live set downwards at the door of the mother-in-law-to-be. The firewood had to live nicely cutting together with arranged.. .. The next solar daytime sityombo would accompany the bridegroom to live dorsum to his in-laws-to-be.. .. Food would live specially prepared together with served to the groom-to-be. Nevertheless, the bride would non live seen, allow lone come inwards the business solid where the human being was. She would instead set the nutrient past times the doorway.. . There was no inquiry of having a total persuasion of the wife-to-be at that stage.
“The process.. . would live set on concur till the rainy season. During that fourth dimension the mother-in-law-to-be would live asked to set upward afield.. .. That acre was for the son-in-law to weed, harvest, build an opened upward storage shed for maize to dry out inwards together with and so build a bin for eventual storage of that maize.. .. When the fourth dimension for actual union came, the dowry would together with so live paid inwards part. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 caprine animal would live paid initially together with that was called cuuma kkhoma. The side past times side to live paid was component division of the dowry to enable the bride to live collected. This
was a hoe, traditional hoe, accompanied past times pieces of beads .... By belatedly evening, a squad from the human being ’s side would larn inwards at the girl’s habitation secretly.. Someone from the girl’s side would grab her together with telephone telephone out for the people from her husband-to-be to come upward together with larn her. The fille would call out. . .. There would live a lot of singing especially from the woman’s side.. .. The squad from the adult woman ’s side would live demanding to live paid for every few brusk steps they make. Pieces of beads were used every bit payment. You would discovery that by
the fourth dimension they would larn inwards at the bridegroom’s business solid the cock would receive got crowed several times together with mayhap it would live towards early on morning. That dark at that spot would live no inquiry of existent sleeping every bit such..
“The next dark is when the bride would live taken to the bridegroom’s house. She would live clad inwards . . . underwear that were extremely hard to remove. These are for the human being to take away but non without a long struggle, maybe the whole dark .... The next solar daytime inwards the evening, the married adult woman is required to serve nutrient to her husband. She was required to walk amongst knees together with elbows towards where he was seated amongst his fellow menfolk. The hubby was required to encounter the married adult woman halfway, where he would live given a launder of the hands past times the wife.. ..
Her mother in law would live seated together with anxiously waiting her return. This is the variety of abide by nosotros had then. You discovery that, fifty-fifty to date,h omes that went through such marriages are silent intact. Not similar it is nowadays whereby fifty-fifty strangers.. .are easily together with cordially greeted past times girls or women. That was a taboo.”
The Tonga political organisation is basically a organisation of overlapping networks of kin groups together with kin interests. Furthermore, the transactions which precede a formal union should fulfil several stages such as;
According to the Tonga tradition, at that spot are 2 ways inwards which a human being tin approach his bride’s parents to suggest marriage.

KUTIZYA (Eloping)
 Kutizya is commonly practiced inwards the villages. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 human being amongst an intention to accept a married adult woman arranges amongst his friends or relatives to "ambush" or "abduct"  the targeted fille inwards the dark amongst or without her consent. In Tonga tradition abducting a fille for union is non a crime, provided that the abductor reveals the whereabouts of the fille to her relatives. Tonga men that usually usage this method of union proposal are those that are shy or fearfulness to profess their dearest to the girl.
After taking the fille to the groom’s home, his representatives are sent to the bride’s business solid unit of measurement to inform them that she was inwards the groom’s custody. The bride’s business solid unit of measurement together with so asks the groom to pay a fine for eloping amongst their fille every bit the firstly payment. Later on, the groom is asked to pay dowry which is known every bit Kulunga (Making things right).
The dowry takes iii forms, which are Chiko, Maamba together with Kufwenezya.

CHIKO
Chiko is the bride cost which is paid inwards shape of cattle especially inwards the villages. The bride cost for a virgin is valued betwixt five together with 8 cows. According to Tonga custom, payment of Chiko is of import for the groom. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 groom who has non paid Chiko cannot receive got whatsoever claim over the children that he may receive got amongst his wife. Children, who are born without the settlement of Chiko, belong to the wife.

MAAMBA
Maamba   is the accuse for the value of labour that the bride volition expend inwards terms of cultivating her groom’s together with her in-laws fields. It is paid inwards shape of cash. In the village, a Tonga adult woman is expected to assist her spouse inwards cultivating the land. The word maamba agency hoes or ox driven ploughs inwards Tonga, tools mainly used for tilling the land.

KUFWENEZYA
Kufwenezya is the cost that the groom pays for the labour that the bride volition undergo inwards cooking for him every bit a hubby together with his extended family. In Tonga culture, closed together with extended families alive closely every bit a business solid unit of measurement unit. The bride is expected to set upward meals for the family. In this process, the bride’s aunt lights upward the burn wood together with puts a pot of relish which is left to cook. When the relish is cooked together with ready, the aunt to the groom is expected to take away the pot from the fire. To do that, she is made to pay some cash. This ceremonial  process is repeated iii or iv times until the required amount of coin is raised.

KUSELA ( Marriage Proposal Through a Representative)
This is a procedure that is commonly practised inwards most other Zambian traditions. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 man, who chooses to accept a married adult woman inwards a to a greater extent than opened upward trend every bit opposed to eloping, may post his representative to the bride’s business solid unit of measurement to inform them virtually his intentions to hook upward amongst their daughter. According to mutual Tonga practice, Kusela is frequently practiced inwards urban areas, especially where a Tonga is marrying some other tribe.
The firstly footstep to live taken is Chijalula mulomo. The other steps explained inwards the preceding paragraphs may live skipped inwards the instance of intermarriage or may live followed inwards the trial that the union is betwixt fellow Tongas.

CHIJALULA MULOMO (Permission to Speak together with Propose Marriage)
In most Zambian traditions, the groom or his representatives are non expected to utter whatsoever word to the bride’s business solid unit of measurement without payment of a token inwards shape of cash, which symbolises permission to talk. Before asking for blessings for a mitt inwards union together with to commence whatsoever discussions, the groom’s representatives inquire for a hollow little plate where they set inwards a sure enough amount of cash which is known every bit chijalula mulomo.
Upon payment of chijalula mulomo, the groom is asked to pay his bride cost which is traditionally valued inwards shape of cattle. Payment inwards shape of cattle happens mainly when both the bride together with the groom are Tonga.
In a province of affairs where at that spot is inter-marriage, the bride cost may live converted into cash to the total value of the number of cows beingness demanded for dowry. For example, at the moment, a cows costs betwixt 1 together with one-half 1 M one thousand together with 2 1 M one thousand Zambian Kwacha. If the groom is expected to pay half dozen cows together with the value of 1 moo-cow is Two 1 M one thousand Kwacha, together with so he volition live expected to pay twelve 1 M one thousand Kwacha every bit his bride price.
Chilowola/chimalo (bride wealth) – is the legal payment inwards a formal marriage. The full general dominion is that at that spot should live a go-between (thenga), who comes from the hamlet where the suitor is resident together with ever sent past times the attorney (nkhoswe). In recent years the amount of chilowola has gone upward from MK1000.00 to MK 5000.00 at times fifty-fifty more.
Cattle are a mensurate of wealth inwards the Tonga tradition.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 human being who has daughters is to a greater extent than frequently than non respected, because of the symbolic value that his daughters represent; value that is measured past times the number of cattle that he volition larn upon marrying them off.
Tonga fille carrying a baby

Religious belief
Religion for the Tonga is "practice that works rather than a closed dogmatic system. It is perpetually at attempt out together with thus ever inwards flux". African traditional organized faith permeates  many aspects of Tonga life from nascency to death. many of the rites of passage are concerned amongst ancestral spirits, to maintain harmonious human relationship betwixt the living together with the dead.
 The Tonga believe inwards many spirits that are organized inwards hierarchy together with at the apex of the organisation is an abstract creator spirit (God), Leza "The supreme One," which is their final resort. Lesser gods similar the spiritual animating force, a breath of life, muuya, are sent past times Leza to assist inwards everyday-affairs of man. Closer to the living is the muzimo, the ancestral shade or spirit, together with the basangu spirit of nature. All people engage amongst these spiritual forces, although specialists or "mediums" are expert at their propitiation together with manipulation.
Spirit possession is an of import component division of the ritual, every bit is worshiping at pelting shrine to ensure rains together with goodness harvests. Spirit possession has 2 of import types- possession past times basangu, who sent the message or masabe, who limited their personality through the medium.
 Aside from some modest linguistic together with ritual differences, such spiritual forces seem similar to those constitute amid surrounding Bantu-speakers. Perhaps what distinguishes the Tonga from many of their neighbors is their insistence on private relationships amongst the spirit world, together with the profusion of personal together with local ground shrines, spirit gates, together with ancestors—to such an extent that at that spot are no unifying myths, no national shrines, together with no temples. Neither prophets nor regal clans managed to impose—or amalgamate—the many personal ancestral forms into a national religious structure. It is, then, exactly the lack of a Tonga organized faith that characterizes Tonga religious life.
                            Tonga elderberry at Bingu,Zimbabwe. By http://thevagabondadventures.com/

Rainmaking ceremonies
Rainmaking ceremonies malende or mpande, are some of the most important traditions inwards Tonga culture. Many Tonga believe that special skills are bestowed upon rainmakers, the sikatongo- these are spiritual leaders who preside over agricultural shrines. It is these men together with women who communicate amongst the ancestral spirits to ensure sufficient rains together with goodness harvests. They are inheritors of the spirits of the founding Tonga people.
 Rain ceremony is carried out inwards times of drought: ‘ sure enough yr rains do non come upward inwards time, perhaps at that spot is a severe drought, [the rainmaker] is consulted past times the elders every bit to what the work could live together with what needs to live done if the province of affairs is to live corrected. Once consulted, he advises every bit to whether or non pelting volition live at that spot that flavor together with what needs to live done past times the people past times way of carrying out a rainmaking ceremony. ”
The actual rainmaking ceremony would include the sacrifice of a caprine animal together with the participation of all community members: “[The rainmaker] normally, inwards such a situation, advises that the people heighten a dark caprine animal for slaughter for sacrifice at a specially made shrine at his house. Offals are taken to the hot springs (mbila) where they are duly offered to the pelting spirits past times dipping them inwards hot salty water. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 solar daytime would usually live appointed performing this ceremony. All participants walk to the rainmaker’s habitation together with at that spot is no 1 allowed to set on white attire every bit white scares away pelting together with white clouds do non take pelting anyway. People locomote at that spot every bit a grouping together with sing every bit they walk to his house.. . ”
The participants sing together with trip the calorie-free fantastic together with usage sure enough colours to appease the pelting spirits: “As people larn to the rainmaker‘s place, they locomote along singing together with the tempo is usually raised together with they trip the calorie-free fantastic too, around the pelting shrine. Meanwhile the rainmaker would live lying inwards his business solid communicating amongst the pelting spirits. At an appropriate time, he gets out of the business solid dressed inwards his rainmaking ceremony attire. These are 2 pieces of cloth, a dark 1 together with a reddish one. The reddish 1 is strapped around his waist piece the other is strung across his shoulder together with he holds 2 ceremonial sticks of kafir corn stock inwards his hands. These are called “misfunko” inwards the local language. He also carries a ceremonial axe called “bukano” inwards Tonga. This is an arch-shaped axe.”
The role of the rainmaker is really important because he communicates the data of the spirits virtually pelting together with harvests to the community: “He joins the dances around the pelting shrine. At that point, he volition denote to
the people what the pelting province of affairs is. He volition tell them whether at that spot volition live just a piffling pelting together with warn people to twosome themselves for hard times ahead inwards persuasion of the would-be impending hunger. He volition tell or warn them what to do - similar grow plenty or just a piffling nutrient - depending on his observation virtually the pelting that season. Accordingly, appointed elders volition nowadays peoples requests that they live given H2O for drinking, both for themselves together with their animals, every bit good every bit H2O for their crops. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 procession together with so follows fromh is
business solid to the pelting shrine at the hot springs. The rainmaker joins the people every bit they walk piece singing together with dancing. They fifty-fifty ululate. At the hot springs, the singing together with ululating continues every bit good every bit clapping piece the rainmaker together with so performs his duties of calling upon the pelting spirits to accede to people‘s requests. Once the ritual is over, the rainmaker directs that the people walk dorsum to their homes, but taking the route through the rainmaker’s home.
Somewhere on the way, he tells those staying far to interruption off from the repose of the people together with walk fast to their homes every bit pelting was going to discovery them on the way. You volition discovery earlier people achieve their homes pelting falls down. When this happens, people are required to walk on together with singing happily that the much needed pelting has come upward at last.”

Tonga woman soul initiation rite
According to Tonga tradition, when a fille is virtually to achieve puberty, she is  told that she is  expected to start crying without whatsoever reasonable motion forthwith she sees blood soiling her underwear, which signals the commencement of her menstrual cycle. This is a signal for the parents to know that their fille has come upward of age. Upon hearing her daughter’s cry, the woman parent has to telephone telephone the paternal aunt (Father’s elderberry or younger sis or father’s woman soul cousin). She volition instruct the fille how to appear after herself each fourth dimension she has her menses.
The immature fille is strongly warned against having gender activity amongst virile soul companions. Falling meaning out of wedlock is strictly forbidden inwards Tonga tradition every bit this robs parents of potential mensurate of wealth when the fourth dimension to hook upward amongst off their fille comes. Tongas hook upward amongst off their daughters past times charging their bride cost inwards shape of herds of cattle. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Tonga virgin known every bit NAKALINDU, tin live paid for at every bit 10 herds of cattle every bit bride price.
When a fille comes of age, an initiation ceremony is held, which is known every bit KUVUNDIKA (Seclusion) immature fille beingness indicted into the initiation is called KAMWALE, which only means’ 1 who has come upward of age’. The other word is KUYALUKA. The initiation ceremony, KUVUNDIKA, takes betwixt 1 to 2 months of initiation. During the period of time of seclusion, girls are non expected to leave of absence together with play after schoolhouse work. When fourth dimension comes for the secluded girls to accept a bath, the girls are sneaked into the darkness of the early-morning hours to the river earlier everyone else inwards the hamlet works up. This is so because according to Tonga tradition, these girls are non to live seen past times the other people anyhow during the period of time of their initiation.
Girls who are inwards solar daytime schools are allowed to locomote to schoolhouse together with forthwith render to the initiation hut after schoolhouse work. Those that attend boarding schoolhouse are initiated during holidays.
In the village, the message of initiation of a KAMWALE is spread across the hamlet together with close past times villages past times beating a traditional drum called” NDANDALA.”The people inwards the hamlet together with nearby hamlet would know that at that spot is a fille or a grouping of girls who has come upward of historic period of time at the audio of the drum. Even during repast times, the elderly women who are expected to alive amongst the girls during the initiation set upward nutrient that is taken to the girls inwards their secluded hut.
 During their seclusion, the fille or girls are taught past times elderly women on how to traditional demonstrate abide by to their in-laws when they larn married. Other issues such every bit hygiene, abstinence from gender activity together with how to send themselves inwards adult life are also taught.
The climax reaches when the appointment for release of the fille or girls from seclusion is set. The closing of the initiation occurs at an occasion known every bit NKOLOLA. Events leading to the closing of the initiation start out 2 days earlier the girls are released from seclusion.
Two days earlier the terminate of the initiation, elderly women set H2O inwards a clay port which is known every bit CHIBIYA. The H2O is poured on the unsuspecting fille who is non expected to shriek or demonstrate shock, but only remain quiet, calm together with composed. Doing this, for a girl, symbolizes a strong grapheme of a growing courageous adult woman who volition live able to bargain amongst impervious obstacles inwards her adult life.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dark earlier release, people get together to celebrate past times singing together with beating drums such every bit NDANDALA, which is made of wood together with moo-cow skin; MPITO together with NYELE, traditional instruments made of clay together with reeds respectively. The dances performed during this dark are called KULINDA NKOLOLA (Waiting for the final solar daytime of initiation) together with CHIN’GANDE.
At this occasion, a cow, chickens together with goats are slaughtered for people to feed during celebrations.
Then the morn that everyone would receive got been waiting for arrives: the KAMWALE is led out of the secluded hut past times the elderly women, covered inwards a blanket. She is led to sit down on a reed mat at the arena of the occasion of her release amongst 2 elderly women seated past times her side. Her begetter is called upon to uncover the blanket to break the KAMWALE to the public. Before he does this, he beats the NDANDALA drum together with sings a vocal of self-praise inwards shape of a poetry form known every bit KUYABILA. He side past times side puts a sure enough amount of coin on the reed mat where his fille is seated together with uncovers the girl. He afterward gives her advice together with showers her amongst his blessings. After him, the repose of the people on the occasion nowadays their various gifts to the KAMWALE, together with thereafter, the ceremony ends. The immature adult woman has begun her journeying to into adult life.
 Importance of Coming of historic period of time ceremony: nkolola 
Stanard says: “The initiation ceremony is held when a fille or girls achieve puberty. It is aimed at grooming a fille into together with preparing her to come inwards womanhood, allow lone motherhood. The ceremony is to demonstrate that the girl
is at nowadays grown up. The ancestral spirits are also informed accordingly through conducting this ceremony together with are asked, inwards their ain way, to bring together inwards the celebration. As for the boys, especially if that fille has a boyfriend, they likewise are informed virtually the novel status of the girl. As for the preparation component division itself the fille is confined inwards a house, for weeks or days, where she undergoes instruction virtually what is expected of her every bit a woman, together with mayhap every bit a mother. So I would tell the initiation ceremony is a schoolhouse whereby a fille is trained to live a woman, together with a woman parent possibly.. . The trainers are elderly women of high reputation inwards society. ’’

Ceremonies to accolade the dead
The Tonga also perform ceremonies to commemorate the spirits of the dead, which are called budima or ngoma buntibe. The spirits are perceived to play a beneficial role inwards the lives of the living every bit protectors but they tin also motion illnesses together with misfortunes if they are neglected. Some narrators tell that these ceremonies are silent performed; other people tell they receive got changed or disappeared. Many narrators believe that these changes are a trial of the social disruption caused past times the resettlement, every bit good every bit the influence of Christian together with western beliefs.
Siabalombe vividly describes a budima ceremony: “Budima is performed when at that spot is a death. If the decease is inwards some other hamlet some distance from hither for instance, the large drum would live sounded verye arly inwards the morn together with the men amongst bells together with rattles would together with so perform a state of war cry... The whole hamlet would together with so hear us together with know that come upward sunrise, the budima is going to that funeral inwards that village.. . the whole hamlet would get together at the base of operations where the large drum was sounding. Details virtually the procession would live given out.. . The preparations would include haircuts inwards readiness for a state of war situation. Appropriate dressing in, for example, loincloths for men.. . You would discovery that maybe iii or iv budima troupes would converge at the funeral site that day. The dot is that only 1 budima troupe has to perform at whatsoever 1 given time, non 2 or more. If to a greater extent than than 1 budima troupe perform simultaneously, together with so at that spot is a really high probability
of contrary performers’ spears spearing each other.. .. You volition appreciate that [in a budima troupe] at that spot are drummers, at that spot are nyeele players together with at that spot are thosew ho trip the calorie-free fantastic amongst spears.. .. The women sing togetherw ith men.
The women also larn heated upward amongst their rattles.. .. Once the drums sound.. . it is a serious business.”

Tonga Traditional Music
Tonga traditional music is really rich together with diverse, but it is also inwards a ground of constant transition inwards which much of the traditional music has been lost together with novel music has been introduced, which elders would consider every bit a wretched difference from the traditional music which they knew.
Perhaps the best way to elbow grease together with sympathise Tonga music is to accept each musical human face together with give an business organisation human relationship of exactly how it is performed. In this labor nosotros receive got sought the noesis of the elders inwards what nosotros receive got written. We receive got taken every musical item together with described it every bit best nosotros can.

                                    BaTonga human being Lifting railway rails amongst his teeth.

Traditional Styles:
Kutwa
This is traditional music which is connected amongst work, inwards item pounding songs (kutwa). In the past times much of a woman's life was pass on pounding: it took a lot of fourth dimension to pound for the ordinary meals of the day. When a adult woman was pounding she was usually singing, so over the years she built upward quite an extensive repertoire of pounding songs. If y'all examine the content of these songs y'all would larn a consummate film of Tonga life, for instance she would sing virtually problems of marriage, different characters (such every bit her mother-in-law, the local headman etc.) together with virtually her ain emotions. Nowadays pounding has decreased compared to the past. Women also sang during grinding.

Kuyabila
The Kuyabila vocal is really of import to a Tonga person. It was sung past times 1 soul lone (man or woman) accompanied past times the friction drum (Namalwa) or a rattle (Muyuwa). It could live also accompanied past times an ordinary drum (Ngoma) using a special rhythm. It could live performed at a funeral or whatsoever fourth dimension inwards every-day-life inwards monastic enjoin to release personal feelings. When somebody sang inwards this way people would hear carefully to what was beingness sung, because when a soul sang similar this they revealed some hidden experiences, which would non live expressed at other times. For instance a human being could sing inwards praise of his cattle, of a hard journeying he had undertaken or to give himself courage together with bravery when facing fear. Like the pounding vocal it could comprehend many different experiences of life. In the middle of the vocal the listeners would telephone telephone out, encouraging him every bit he sings (Kumutembula). At the terminate of the Kuyabila the performer would conclude past times calling downwards praise names on himself (Kulibanda). To the Tonga this is non a variety of conceit, but a way to encourage oneself inwards enduring the difficulties of life.

Kalumbu & Kankobela
The Kalumbu is a 1 stringed musical bow used past times the men. Attached to it is a gourd which is used every bit a resonator together with tin alter the audio according to the motion to or from the chest. Like the pounding songs for the adult woman it is performed to limited inner feelings or different experiences of life. There is 1 of import business office of the Kalumbu. When the fourth dimension comes for a immature human being to live married, he volition live constitute continuously playing this instrument. To his parents this volition live a sign of his wishing to discovery a companion together with marry. The Kankobela is a little wooden keyboard into which are inserted virtually 8 metallic keys, beneath them a hole is pierced which inwards turn is covered amongst a white meat which covers the spiders eggs, (Namundelele), used to alter the audio of the pianoforte according to the preference of the musician. The keys are tuned according to a pentatonic scale. Like the Kalumbu the instrumentalist uses the Kankobela to pull his feelings together with different experiences of life.

Chikaambe-kaambe
Cikaambe-kaambe is a trip the calorie-free fantastic which is performed during the initiation preparation of a girl. There were different styles of dancing Cikaambe-kaambe which were connected amongst item songs:

Mulupumbe: One fille would come inwards speedily followed past times some other fille together with so on until all had danced. The movements of this trend of dancing concentrated on the shoulders together with the legs.
Hiya mwana mwana: The right leg was lifted high inwards the air next the beat of the drum. The hands were thrown forwards together with backwards piece the performer looked from side to side.
Ndikiti
This trip the calorie-free fantastic could live performed at initiation, every bit good every bit for funerals together with beer parties. At initiation it was danced during the previous dark of the coming out of the fille together with the next solar daytime of the actual feast. At the funeral it was danced earlier the deceased was buried together with at the actual burial. It was danced piece encircling the grave together with the drum was inwards the middle. Apart from that it was danced at the months hear (Mweesyo). The songs together with the trend of dancing of Ndikiti at a funeral were performed to suit the sorrowful occasion. Ndikiti was also danced amongst to a greater extent than liberty at beer parties, when people had imbibed plenty of alcohol together with had larn happy. In full general nosotros tin tell that the lyrics of Ndikiti were good developed compared to other to a greater extent than uncomplicated forms of Tonga singing. In different areas Ndikiti tin live called Haamatika, Mayanze together with Bukonkoolo.

Kukambilana
This trip the calorie-free fantastic was also performed at initiation, funerals together with beer parties, inwards each instance suiting the mood of the occasion. The dancers formed a circle together with so each 1 would come inwards in turn to dance. Mime was 1 of the characteristics of this dance: the dancer would mimic people or animals, frequently inwards amusing situations.

Makwaya
It was performed for initiation, during the wedding ceremony together with for full general entertainment. The people would stand upward inwards a circle amongst the drum inwards the middle.

Bukonkoolo
At the commencement this trip the calorie-free fantastic was really much connected amongst funerals. The musical instrument used was the pestle, this was placed on the footing together with several women would sit down on either side together with trounce out an integrated beat amongst sticks. Other women would encircle them piece dancing.

Budima
This trip the calorie-free fantastic was firstly of all connected amongst the funeral of a main or a rich person. This trip the calorie-free fantastic originated inwards the Gwembe Valley. It was accompanied past times flutes (Nyeele) together with a large ensemble of special drums, each amongst their specific name.

Masabe
This trip the calorie-free fantastic was connected amongst sickness: the sick soul was asked to trip the calorie-free fantastic together with that is how recovery came. There was a special beat connected amongst each type of sickness. There were iii drums played.

Ngoma Yabukali
The Ngoma Yabudali was originally connected amongst unsafe situations, for instance if the villages were raided past times other tribes (such every bit the Lozi, Matebele or the Makololo). It was beaten to warn the people of the impending attacks, similarly if at that spot was a king of beasts inwards the district it was beaten, to inform the people of its presence. So the beat of the Ngoma Yabudali was really vigorous. In modern times it's to a greater extent than associated amongst expressions of joy. The trip the calorie-free fantastic accompanying it was called Kutambala. People silent usage spears every bit they trip the calorie-free fantastic it. It is also used when an elderly soul dies; it is played inwards the morn together with inwards the evening. The drums would live accompanied past times rattles together with what is called Kuzemba.

Kalyaba
This in all likelihood is the most pop trip the calorie-free fantastic of the Batonga at present. It tin live played at different occasions such every bit funerals, initiation together with at beer parties. It is danced past times men together with women. Two drums are inwards the centre of the arena together with the dancers trip the calorie-free fantastic inwards a circle.

The next categories are non traditional together with mightiness live described every bit modern music

Seesa
This music is associated amongst malende (shrine) trounce although many Seesa players do non know this. It is characterised past times the usage of 2 drums. The master copy drum together with a little “kasunto” drum. The Seesa mention is genuinely where 2 dancers, woman soul together with male, would larn engaged inwards a closed waist-wriggling dance. This has silent changed every bit dancers at nowadays displace inwards a circle around the drummers. Seesa is a drum trip the calorie-free fantastic that is modern to the Tonga culture. The drums receive got a fast jive that tin live beaten inwards whatsoever beat the drummer chooses. Professional drummers tin fifty-fifty brand the drum ‘talk’, chirrup similar a bird, bark similar a domestic dog together with fifty-fifty weep similar a child. One goodness instance was the Gonde Culture Troupe from the saccharide plantation town of Mazabuka. No word hither fits a description of their performance.

Chigome
Chigome is a contemporary type of music that imploys the usage of guitars or banjos to accompany the singers. The mention comes from the activeness of the fingers hitting inwards the trunk of the guitar close the audio hall. In Tonga this is known every bit Chigome. This music developed from Masabe (therapeutic) music that was used to heal those that were possessed amongst evil spirits. Peter Nangulu popularised this trend together with Short Mazabuka is the champion inwards this category hither inwards Southern Zambia. Chigome on the other hand, took people to times of ritual dances known every bit MASABE. This string sound, which goes along amongst a ‘gong’ audio hence chigome – has a fast beat together with usually the Pb vocalist needs a dorsum upward vocalist.

Kalindula
Kalindula music is derived from the Kalindula trip the calorie-free fantastic of Serenje district inwards cardinal Zambia. It was popularised past times the Serenje Kalindula Band who begun past times using habitation made guitars to make their music. The notable musical instrument inwards this music is the large bass string musical instrument that uses iii stretched chords over a large resonator made from the metallic component division of a drum. The melodies are composed inwards the African trend of telephone telephone together with response.

Ma Guitar
Music performed amongst a classical looking guitar. These are wooden, mitt made guitars, amongst different sets of strings: 3, 4, five or 6 strings guitars. Cords beingness played are really original, different from participant to player.

FreeStyle
Music that is of Tonga-land but non amid the 1 described above.
 The Tonga are known to live the firstly Bantu people to occupy Zimbezi Valley  Info For You TONGA (BATONGA) PEOPLE: AFRICA`S RIVER PEOPLE
Tonga adult woman amongst kid on her dorsum pounding grain close the shore of Lake Kariba, a man-made dam betwixt Republic of Zambia together with Republic of Zimbabwe which is 220 km long together with upward to forty km broad together with which was built inwards the belatedly 1950s. Lake Kariba, Zambia.

http://chikuniradio.org/Concert/Concert.php
http://kitweonline.com/kitweonline/discover-kitwe/culture/ceremonies/tonga_initiation_ceremonies.html


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