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 line 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 percentage 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 potent inward 1963. There are over 30 Bemba clans, named afterwards animals or natural organisms, such equally the royal clan, "the people of the crocodile" (Bena Ng'andu) or the Bena Bowa (Mushroom Clan). They were the people who finally lay a stop to the northward march of the Nguni together with Sotho-Tswana descended Ngoni people, through Chief Chitapankwa Kaluba.
In contemporary Zambia, the give-and-take "Bemba" genuinely has several meanings. It may designate people of Bemba origin, regardless of where they live, e.g. whether they survive inward urban areas or inward the master copy rural Bemba area. Alternatively, it may screen a much larger population which includes some 'eighteen dissimilar ethnic groups', who together amongst the Bemba cast a closely related ethnolinguistic cluster of matrilineal-matrifocal agriculturalists known equally the Bemba-speaking peoples of Zambia.They may telephone telephone themselves past times the detail grouping name—Aushi, Bisa, Chishinga, Kunda, Lala, Lamba Lunda, Ng'umbo, Swaka, Tabwa, or Unga—but the style inward urban areas is to work the generic term "Bemba". In this broad feel the Bemba cast 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 province called Kola, in that location 1 time was a powerful, only evidently crazy primary called Mukulumpe. He had a number of sons past times dissimilar wives, only 1 twenty-four hr catamenia he heard of a adult woman amongst ears equally large equally an elephant's, who said she came from the heaven together with belonged to the crocodile clan. Her cite was Mumbi Mukasa, together with the primary 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 downwards 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 past times using his talking drum. When they arrived survive together with at the palace, the Rex humiliated them past times making them do menial work. Chiti together with Nkole left the kingdom for good, together with took amongst them their 3 maternal one-half brothers Kapasa, Chimba together with Kazembe together with their entourage.
The Bemba people late 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 past times 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 upward inward a theatre without doors. They despatched their one-half blood brother Kapasa to recess out Chilufya Mulenga, which he did ingeniously. But on the agency to Luapula, Kapasa fell inward dearest amongst Chilufya. When it turned out she was pregnant, Kapasa was disowned past times Chiti. The grouping meanwhile, had fallen inward amongst a 'white magician', Luchele Ng'anga. When they arrived at the Luapula, Kazembe decided to settle there, only Nkole together with Chiti were uncertain. When Luchele Ng'anga conjured upward a fish from a mortar, they took this to survive 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 ii 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 primary called Mwase. Mwase's wife, Chilimbulu, was really beautiful, together with her breadbasket was adorned amongst elegant cicatrisations. Chilimbulu at 1 time fell inward dearest amongst 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 amongst Chiti, he was enraged. He pulled Chilimbulu off of Chiti, the ii chiefs fought, together with amongst Mwase trying to kill Chiti, he was grazed past times a poisoned arrow, together with Chilimbulu cried out, ran to her Chiti, together with stabbed herself amongst the arrow too, afterwards which they both died.
Nkole together with his followers took Chiti's trunk amongst them together with stole Chilimbulu's body, looking for a grove suitable for their burial. They encountered the sorcerer Luchele Ng'anga again, together with he directed them toward a violet 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 abide by to Chimbala.
After Chimbala gave them permission to bury Chiti together with Chilimbulu, together with placed Chilumbulu side past times side to Chiti. But they managed to acquire Chimbala to espouse 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 primary 'Pilula' to provide an oxhide cover for Chiti. Then, he dispatched a political party to avenge Chiti's death, killing Mwase together with Chilimbulu. Their bodies were burned at Mwalule, only the smoke overcame Nkole, who also died, together with at 1 time also had to survive buried at Mwalule.
The Kola migrants adopted matrilineal succession, together with Chiti together with Nkole were succeeded past times their sis Chilufya Mulenga's son. He was also called Chilufya, together with was also immature to dominion equally 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 primary Kafwimbi together with his cattle.
The others traveled westward upward the Kalongwa River, where ii men, Kawba together with Chikunga found a dead crocodile. As the chiefs were of the crocodile clan, this was taken equally 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 past times the Kola migrants, who were past times at 1 time called the Bemba.
When Chilufya the Rex grew up, Chimba handed him the royal bows belonging to his uncles Nkole together with Chiti. Chilufya thereby gained the praise cite 'ca mata yabili' (of the ii bows). Chilufya however, insisted that Chimba kept Nkole's bow, allowing him to found his ain hamlet at Chatindubwi, a few miles northward of the Kalungu River.
Thereafter, the Bemba became many. New villages together with chiefs were founded, together with many chiefs succeeded Chilufya Kaluba. All of these paramount chiefs took the cite of the master copy founder, Chiti Mukulu (Chiti The Great). They are at 1 time inward today's Zambia.
Geography
The plateau heartland of the Bemba reaches a summit of around 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 S together with westward together with Lake Tanganyika together with the Luangwa Valley to the northward 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 former crystalline rocks that are rich inward minerals only make miserable 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 K one thousand people inward Zambia, 36 percentage (or 3.1 million) are Bemba or speak the Bemba language.
Language
The Bemba people speak a Bemba linguistic communication known equally 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 past times the Bemba people together with equally a tongue franca past times nearly 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 tongue 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 - how-do-you-do (informal)
Mulishani - how-do-you-do (formal)
shalenipo - goodbye
Ishina lyandi ni.. - My cite is...
umuntu - person
umunandi - friend
umwana - child
chiBemba - the Bemba language
na - and, with
nga - like, as
suma (adj.) - good
onse (adj.) - all
uluchelo (adj) - morning
Natotela - Thank you
Sana - Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot
Natotela sana - Thanks a lot
History
The oral tradition of the Bemba courtroom recalls a migration of chiefs from the province of the Luba (Kola). The Rex 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 amongst their father, Chiti together with Nkole fled eastward together with were joined past times their one-half brothers Chimba, Kapasa, together with Kazembe together with their sis Chilurya. After the expiry 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 equally Chitimukulu, or Chiti the Great.
Historians have got argued that this oral tradition is to a greater extent than a "mythical charter" that legitimizes the dominion of the Crocodile Clan than a tape of historical fact. The legend in all likelihood refers to a migration of Luba or Lunda chiefs that occurred before 1700. Before the migration in that location were autochthonous inhabitants who spoke a Bantu linguistic communication that resembled modern IchiBemba together with had for sure 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 K 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 eastward inward a serial of inconclusive wars until a decisive battle inward nearly 1870 led to a Ngoni retreat. Local exchanges of Fe together with tabular array salt were of import for the consolidation of political powerfulness past times chiefs, only the long-distance merchandise inward slaves, ivory, together with copper amongst the Portuguese together with Swahili on the eastward coast fortified together with centralized the Bemba polity, which reached its zenith inward the 1870s.
The foremost written reference to the Bemba is from 1798, when the Portuguese expedition to Mwata Kazembe led past times F. J.de Lacerda heard nearly the Bemba. The foremost 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 amongst the Bemba inward the 1860s, together with David Livingstone passed through the expanse inward 1867-1868 together with inward 1872 before long before his expiry 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 amongst 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 past times the colonial administration, yet for sure Bemba chiefs, including Chitimukulu, retained authorisation nether the colonial practise of indirect rule.
The Bemba supported the Cha Cha Cha struggle for independence led past times the United National Independence Party (UNIP). The foremost Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, was non of Bemba descent yet grew upward together with taught inward Bemba country. Bemba back upward for UNIP declined afterwards the savage 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 upward grew for the breakaway United Progressive Party (UPP) led past times Simon Kapwewe. Bemba back upward 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 percentage together with splits into ii roads leading to the Lake Tanganyika port of Mpulungu together with the border of Tanzania, respectively. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 railway occupation from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar es Salaam runs through Bemba country. Settlement is concentrated along the roads together with railway line, amongst 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 equally 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 cast 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 exclusively tree branches were burned, only at 1 time entire trees are burned for work equally both fertilizer together with charcoal. Without burning, fertilizer is required. Cassava grown on mounds (mputa) has go to a greater extent than widespread since lilliputian fertilizer is required together with it tin survive 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, the world into flour, together with cooked amongst 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 angling 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 lilliputian tourism, together with these products ordinarily are made for local use.
Trade. Trucks on the main route comport 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 develop passengers.
Division of Labor
In general, men ready the chitemene fields past times 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 individual migration to the copper mines afterwards the 1920s was a factor inward the replacement of millet tillage inward chitemene fields past times cassava. Men dominate hunting together with angling activities, piece women together with children get together wild make such equally mushrooms together with caterpillars. The Bemba speak nearly a sectionalization of project inward a stiff fashion, only inward practise it tin survive fluid.
Land Tenure
As a number of the traditionally depression population density together with shifting agricultural practices, uncultivated solid reason or bush (mpanga) had lilliputian intrinsic value together with was non strongly associated amongst private ownership. However, rights to the solid reason did be together with were regulated past times hamlet rulers. The colonial regime declared solid reason "Native Trust," to survive allocated past times chiefs. Despite the vesting of the solid reason inward the president nether the postcolonial government, chiefs silent allocated land. The introduction of private solid reason registration nether the post-1991 regime has non had an impact. In contrast to uncultivated land, in that location is a potent feel of private ownership of cultivated fields together with produce.
Kinship
Kin Groups together with Descent. The Bemba ordinarily are classified equally 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 survive a weakening of the matrilineal/matrilocal system; residence departs substantially from matrilocality at 1 time together with mightiness best survive described equally 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 cite together with ancestral spirit (umupashi), together with this is suggestive of a strengthening of patrilineal elements. In the past times a adult man worked for a catamenia inward the homestead of his novel married adult woman together with chose to remain amongst his wife's theatre unit of measurement or render amongst her to his woman parent or father's homestead. However, today newlywed couples may rest amongst 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 plain of written report to declension, for example, mayo (my mother), noko (thy mother), nyina (her mother). In ego's generation separate damage are used for siblings according to their sexual 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, spousal human relationship payments inward the cast of goods from the groom's theatre unit of measurement to the bride's theatre unit of measurement were little together with insignificant. The to a greater extent than of import aspect of the spousal human relationship contract was the project service performed past times 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 project service past times the son-in-law is increasingly rare. Polygamy is allowed only uncommon. Marriages are unstable, together with divorce or separation is common, specially if a adult man fails to provide labor, money, or goods to his wife's family. To a for sure extent Christianity has stabilized marital relations. While spousal human relationship 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 4 symbolic banquets inward relation to courtship together with marriage. These are
• Icisumina Nsalamu (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal),
• Icilanga Mulilo [Literal meaning: “The Showing of the Fire” or “Introduction to Cuisine” – Editor]
• Ukukonkola (Granting authority) and
• Amatebeto (Thanks offering),
It is non uncommon to uncovering a bride’s theatre unit of measurement preparing Icilanga Mulilo for the groom, inward the false belief that it is Amatebeto. Others may ready Icisumina Nsalamu believing it to survive Icilanga Mulilo. Some have got knowingly practiced a alternative together with mix version out of convenience. This fuzziness has been tolerated inward many cases, only exclusively adds to the confusion about these issues.
Bemba Wedding ceremony
According to Mr. Dyson Chalwe, a traditional spousal human relationship counselor together with long standing Shibukombe (a trustworthy individual who is appointed to survive the emissary together with confidant for the groom inward coming together the bride’s parents), in that location are 4 really distinct ceremonial banquets involving the taking of symbolic meals from the bride to the groom inward the catamenia leading to spousal human relationship together with afterwards start of marriage:
1. ICISUMINA NSALAMU (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal).
Icisumina Nsalamu is a repast prepared past times the bride’s family, which they deliver to the groom, to symbolize the credence of his spousal human relationship proposal.
According to Mr.Chalwe, the repast exclusively 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 theatre unit of measurement to demonstrate that they have got accepted the spousal human relationship proposal on behalf of their daughter. It’s less elaborate than the other 3 banquets.
2. ICILANGA MULILO (Permission granting the groom liberty to have got meals from the bride’s theatre 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 past times the bride’s theatre unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom to symbolize an opened upward invitation to the groom to dine amongst the bride’s theatre unit of measurement on time to come visits during their courtship. Traditionally, the groom is forbidden from eating whatever nutrient at the bride’s parents or guardian’s habitation before this symbolic gesture. Different types of dishes are prepared past times the bride’s to showcase their traditional cuisine.
The groom is expected to consume or gustation every food, including the nutrient that he is non familiar with.
The bride’s political party ready the meals at the theatre 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 theatre 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 recess together with hold off for an invitation to enter. This is inward the cast of coin that the groom’s theatre unit of measurement drib on the the world inward front end of them. In a lite 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, exclusively 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 theatre walking backwards, amongst their parcels silent balanced on their heads.
Once inward the house, the singing together with ululation continues. The women trip the lite fantastic inward the middle of the room. The political party waits for an invitation to laid downwards their nutrient parcels. Once more, this takes the cast 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 at 1 time assume the responsibilities of taking attention of his bride’s fiscal needs. The bride at this phase is also allowed to start cooking 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, equally 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 amongst friends- kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Shibukombe - Mr Dyson Chalwe
3. AMATEBETO (Thanks offering)
Amatebeto are prepared past times the bride’s theatre unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom afterwards spousal human relationship has taken place. Amatebeto tin survive prepared ii or to a greater extent than years into the marriage.
Amatebeto symbolizes the appreciation of the groom past times the bride’s parents for keeping a problem gratis marriage. It is an acknowledgement past times the bridge’s theatre 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 ii ceremonies most easily confused for each other.
4. UKUKONKOLA (Granting authority)
Ukukonkola is a repast that is prepared for the groom past times the bride’s parents. It is a repast that the groom eats at his in-law's house.
On this day, the repast symbolizes the authorisation that is given to the groom to brand theatre unit of measurement decisions affecting his wife’s side of the theatre 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 theatre unit of measurement also declare their commitment to abide by such decisions together with to consider them binding.
The groom is initiated past times foremost going to his begetter 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’ sleeping accommodation is traditionally regarded equally a sacred identify for a boy inward police push clit to enter.
On this really special occasion, the boy inward police push clit 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 convey anything that he finds there.
Thereafter he is led to the living room where he has to take away all the cushions on the sofa together with disclose anything hidden underneath them. He is allowed to maintain whatever he discovers.
He is together with then led into the kitchen where he is to opened upward all the pots together with pans, together with consume whatever he finds. He is non expected to go out whatever left-overs. He is to acquire all the nutrient that remains together with convey it to his habitation afterwards this initiation.
The repast symbolizes that the groom has go purpose of the theatre unit of measurement together with is at 1 time regarded equally 1 of their ain children. The groom is fifty-fifty authorized to personally tender a sick woman parent inward police push clit 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 y'all are marrying into the Bemba tribe, y'all at 1 time know what to expect.
Domestic Unit. In the past times a married dyad started out inward an extended matrilocal theatre unit of measurement unit together with formed an independent unit of measurement afterwards a number of years. The encouragement of nuclear families past times Christian churches together with the powerfulness to provide coin instead of project service to the wife's theatre unit of measurement has meant that a hubby tin accomplish this seat amongst greater ease. However, the traditional reason of domestic cooperation through woman individual relatives—mother together with immature lady or sisters—and ties betwixt woman parent together with children are silent strong.
Inheritance. Inheritance of goods is relatively unimportant, together with wealth tin top 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 begetter may survive involved. Children have got liberty together with autonomy only must abide by 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 individual initiation ceremonies. Children by together with large attend school.
Sociopolitical Organization
Social Organization.
Independent households, which cast the basic productive unit, bring together together to cast 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 past times hamlet elders or past times the primary 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 by together with large male, only it is non odd to uncovering women inward such positions. Chiefs have got their ain councilors elected past times the former men of the royal village. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu commands the abide by 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 dissimilar ritual duties.
The Bemba have got nearly xxx matrilineal clans by together with large named afterwards animals. All clans have got joking opposites. For example, the Goat Clan jokes amongst the Leopard Clan because leopards consume goats. An private tin rely on the back upward of his or her clan together with joking clan members. Joking betwixt the Bemba, who are known equally baboons (kolwe) for their reputation for eating baboons, together with the Ngoni, who are known equally rats (kwindi), is an chemical ingredient of social life together with a agency of overcoming former rivalries, specially inward urban areas where Ngoni together with Bemba survive together.
Political Organization
Political authorisation is divided betwixt the formal regime together with traditional chiefs. The regime follows the model of the British colonial bureaucracy. The Northern Province, amongst provincial headquarters at Kasama, has nine districts amongst elected district councils at district capitals called the Boma. Under the foremost 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 amongst 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 foremost postcolonial regime chiefs became involved inward formal district governance together with political parties. After 1991 chiefs were supposed to remain exterior formal politics, only their influence remains significant.
Social Control
Chiefs together with headmen are non instrumental inward the perpetuation of social norms. Responsibilities toward the extended theatre unit of measurement are entrenched through witchcraft (ubuloshi) accusations that deed equally an of import deterrent against breaking social together with ritual taboos. Didactic songs, including those associated amongst the girls' ichisungu ceremony, provide guidance for responsibilities toward husband, children, together with family.
Conflict
Before the colonial catamenia the Bemba were known equally 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 past times 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 solid 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 equally waterfalls together with springs. Such rituals occurred at of import economical events such equally the cutting of trees (ukutema) to ready chitemene fields or before hunting or angling expeditions. Although rare, these rituals are silent performed inward for sure 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 cite for God is Lesa, although the etymology of the term is unclear. Christianity has been fused amongst older religious practices. For example, the Lumpa Church, founded past times the prophetess Alice Lenshina, spread across Bemba province inward the 1950s together with was repressed past times 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 equally Bwembya claimed to derive their prophecies from the ancestral spirits of kings. Christian prophets such equally Alice Lenshina claimed to take heed the voices of God together with Jesus. Witchcraft purification together with detection are silent performed past times witchfinders (abashinganga), oftentimes on behalf of traditional chiefs together with councilors. Church congregations led past times elected church building elders be inward most villages.
Ceremonies. Traditional ceremonial activities include rites surrounding the training of chitemene fields together with foremost fruit ceremonies. Although it is no longer widely performed, the most of import semipublic ceremony is the ichisungu initiation for immature girls. When a immature lady begins to menstruate, she is taken into the bush past times 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 immature lady 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 lilliputian demand for Bemba artworks, together with works by together with large are made on commission. Musicians, specially guitarists together with singers, perform inward hamlet bars together with churches.
Medicine. Traditional remedies are made from bark, fruit, together with works life extracts. Knowledge of these remedies is widespread. However, if these remedies fail, a patient volition go to goodness herbalists who have got specialized cognition of remedies together with supernatural causes of illness.
Death together with Afterlife
The displace of expiry is believed to survive a curse or bewitchment past times a jealous friend or theatre unit of measurement member. After expiry the theatre unit of measurement volition employ a witchfinder to search for the source of the bewitchment. Spirits tin render to deed equally guardians of the bush or tin survive adopted past times newborn children. The Bemba combine beliefs inward ancestral spirits together with witchcraft amongst Christian beliefs nearly the afterlife.
source:http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Bemba.aspx
The Bemba are those who consider themselves subjects of the Chitimukulu, the Bemba's unmarried paramount chief. They lived inward villages of 100 to 200 people together with numbered 250,000 potent inward 1963. There are over 30 Bemba clans, named afterwards animals or natural organisms, such equally the royal clan, "the people of the crocodile" (Bena Ng'andu) or the Bena Bowa (Mushroom Clan). They were the people who finally lay a stop to the northward march of the Nguni together with Sotho-Tswana descended Ngoni people, through Chief Chitapankwa Kaluba.
In contemporary Zambia, the give-and-take "Bemba" genuinely has several meanings. It may designate people of Bemba origin, regardless of where they live, e.g. whether they survive inward urban areas or inward the master copy rural Bemba area. Alternatively, it may screen a much larger population which includes some 'eighteen dissimilar ethnic groups', who together amongst the Bemba cast a closely related ethnolinguistic cluster of matrilineal-matrifocal agriculturalists known equally the Bemba-speaking peoples of Zambia.They may telephone telephone themselves past times the detail grouping name—Aushi, Bisa, Chishinga, Kunda, Lala, Lamba Lunda, Ng'umbo, Swaka, Tabwa, or Unga—but the style inward urban areas is to work the generic term "Bemba". In this broad feel the Bemba cast 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 province called Kola, in that location 1 time was a powerful, only evidently crazy primary called Mukulumpe. He had a number of sons past times dissimilar wives, only 1 twenty-four hr catamenia he heard of a adult woman amongst ears equally large equally an elephant's, who said she came from the heaven together with belonged to the crocodile clan. Her cite was Mumbi Mukasa, together with the primary 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 downwards 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 past times using his talking drum. When they arrived survive together with at the palace, the Rex humiliated them past times making them do menial work. Chiti together with Nkole left the kingdom for good, together with took amongst them their 3 maternal one-half brothers Kapasa, Chimba together with Kazembe together with their entourage.
The Bemba people late 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 past times 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 upward inward a theatre without doors. They despatched their one-half blood brother Kapasa to recess out Chilufya Mulenga, which he did ingeniously. But on the agency to Luapula, Kapasa fell inward dearest amongst Chilufya. When it turned out she was pregnant, Kapasa was disowned past times Chiti. The grouping meanwhile, had fallen inward amongst a 'white magician', Luchele Ng'anga. When they arrived at the Luapula, Kazembe decided to settle there, only Nkole together with Chiti were uncertain. When Luchele Ng'anga conjured upward a fish from a mortar, they took this to survive 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 ii 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 primary called Mwase. Mwase's wife, Chilimbulu, was really beautiful, together with her breadbasket was adorned amongst elegant cicatrisations. Chilimbulu at 1 time fell inward dearest amongst 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 amongst Chiti, he was enraged. He pulled Chilimbulu off of Chiti, the ii chiefs fought, together with amongst Mwase trying to kill Chiti, he was grazed past times a poisoned arrow, together with Chilimbulu cried out, ran to her Chiti, together with stabbed herself amongst the arrow too, afterwards which they both died.
Nkole together with his followers took Chiti's trunk amongst them together with stole Chilimbulu's body, looking for a grove suitable for their burial. They encountered the sorcerer Luchele Ng'anga again, together with he directed them toward a violet 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 abide by to Chimbala.
After Chimbala gave them permission to bury Chiti together with Chilimbulu, together with placed Chilumbulu side past times side to Chiti. But they managed to acquire Chimbala to espouse 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 primary 'Pilula' to provide an oxhide cover for Chiti. Then, he dispatched a political party to avenge Chiti's death, killing Mwase together with Chilimbulu. Their bodies were burned at Mwalule, only the smoke overcame Nkole, who also died, together with at 1 time also had to survive buried at Mwalule.
The Kola migrants adopted matrilineal succession, together with Chiti together with Nkole were succeeded past times their sis Chilufya Mulenga's son. He was also called Chilufya, together with was also immature to dominion equally 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 primary Kafwimbi together with his cattle.
The others traveled westward upward the Kalongwa River, where ii men, Kawba together with Chikunga found a dead crocodile. As the chiefs were of the crocodile clan, this was taken equally 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 past times the Kola migrants, who were past times at 1 time called the Bemba.
When Chilufya the Rex grew up, Chimba handed him the royal bows belonging to his uncles Nkole together with Chiti. Chilufya thereby gained the praise cite 'ca mata yabili' (of the ii bows). Chilufya however, insisted that Chimba kept Nkole's bow, allowing him to found his ain hamlet at Chatindubwi, a few miles northward of the Kalungu River.
Thereafter, the Bemba became many. New villages together with chiefs were founded, together with many chiefs succeeded Chilufya Kaluba. All of these paramount chiefs took the cite of the master copy founder, Chiti Mukulu (Chiti The Great). They are at 1 time inward today's Zambia.
Geography
The plateau heartland of the Bemba reaches a summit of around 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 S together with westward together with Lake Tanganyika together with the Luangwa Valley to the northward 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 former crystalline rocks that are rich inward minerals only make miserable 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 K one thousand people inward Zambia, 36 percentage (or 3.1 million) are Bemba or speak the Bemba language.
Language
The Bemba people speak a Bemba linguistic communication known equally 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 past times the Bemba people together with equally a tongue franca past times nearly 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 tongue 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 - how-do-you-do (informal)
Mulishani - how-do-you-do (formal)
shalenipo - goodbye
Ishina lyandi ni.. - My cite is...
umuntu - person
umunandi - friend
umwana - child
chiBemba - the Bemba language
na - and, with
nga - like, as
suma (adj.) - good
onse (adj.) - all
uluchelo (adj) - morning
Natotela - Thank you
Sana - Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot
Natotela sana - Thanks a lot
History
The oral tradition of the Bemba courtroom recalls a migration of chiefs from the province of the Luba (Kola). The Rex 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 amongst their father, Chiti together with Nkole fled eastward together with were joined past times their one-half brothers Chimba, Kapasa, together with Kazembe together with their sis Chilurya. After the expiry 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 equally Chitimukulu, or Chiti the Great.
Historians have got argued that this oral tradition is to a greater extent than a "mythical charter" that legitimizes the dominion of the Crocodile Clan than a tape of historical fact. The legend in all likelihood refers to a migration of Luba or Lunda chiefs that occurred before 1700. Before the migration in that location were autochthonous inhabitants who spoke a Bantu linguistic communication that resembled modern IchiBemba together with had for sure 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 K 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 eastward inward a serial of inconclusive wars until a decisive battle inward nearly 1870 led to a Ngoni retreat. Local exchanges of Fe together with tabular array salt were of import for the consolidation of political powerfulness past times chiefs, only the long-distance merchandise inward slaves, ivory, together with copper amongst the Portuguese together with Swahili on the eastward coast fortified together with centralized the Bemba polity, which reached its zenith inward the 1870s.
The foremost written reference to the Bemba is from 1798, when the Portuguese expedition to Mwata Kazembe led past times F. J.de Lacerda heard nearly the Bemba. The foremost 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 amongst the Bemba inward the 1860s, together with David Livingstone passed through the expanse inward 1867-1868 together with inward 1872 before long before his expiry 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 amongst 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 past times the colonial administration, yet for sure Bemba chiefs, including Chitimukulu, retained authorisation nether the colonial practise of indirect rule.
The Bemba supported the Cha Cha Cha struggle for independence led past times the United National Independence Party (UNIP). The foremost Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, was non of Bemba descent yet grew upward together with taught inward Bemba country. Bemba back upward for UNIP declined afterwards the savage 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 upward grew for the breakaway United Progressive Party (UPP) led past times Simon Kapwewe. Bemba back upward 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 percentage together with splits into ii roads leading to the Lake Tanganyika port of Mpulungu together with the border of Tanzania, respectively. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 railway occupation from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar es Salaam runs through Bemba country. Settlement is concentrated along the roads together with railway line, amongst 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 equally 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 cast 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 exclusively tree branches were burned, only at 1 time entire trees are burned for work equally both fertilizer together with charcoal. Without burning, fertilizer is required. Cassava grown on mounds (mputa) has go to a greater extent than widespread since lilliputian fertilizer is required together with it tin survive 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, the world into flour, together with cooked amongst 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 angling 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 lilliputian tourism, together with these products ordinarily are made for local use.
Trade. Trucks on the main route comport 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 develop passengers.
Division of Labor
In general, men ready the chitemene fields past times 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 individual migration to the copper mines afterwards the 1920s was a factor inward the replacement of millet tillage inward chitemene fields past times cassava. Men dominate hunting together with angling activities, piece women together with children get together wild make such equally mushrooms together with caterpillars. The Bemba speak nearly a sectionalization of project inward a stiff fashion, only inward practise it tin survive fluid.
Land Tenure
As a number of the traditionally depression population density together with shifting agricultural practices, uncultivated solid reason or bush (mpanga) had lilliputian intrinsic value together with was non strongly associated amongst private ownership. However, rights to the solid reason did be together with were regulated past times hamlet rulers. The colonial regime declared solid reason "Native Trust," to survive allocated past times chiefs. Despite the vesting of the solid reason inward the president nether the postcolonial government, chiefs silent allocated land. The introduction of private solid reason registration nether the post-1991 regime has non had an impact. In contrast to uncultivated land, in that location is a potent feel of private ownership of cultivated fields together with produce.
Kinship
Kin Groups together with Descent. The Bemba ordinarily are classified equally 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 survive a weakening of the matrilineal/matrilocal system; residence departs substantially from matrilocality at 1 time together with mightiness best survive described equally 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 cite together with ancestral spirit (umupashi), together with this is suggestive of a strengthening of patrilineal elements. In the past times a adult man worked for a catamenia inward the homestead of his novel married adult woman together with chose to remain amongst his wife's theatre unit of measurement or render amongst her to his woman parent or father's homestead. However, today newlywed couples may rest amongst 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 plain of written report to declension, for example, mayo (my mother), noko (thy mother), nyina (her mother). In ego's generation separate damage are used for siblings according to their sexual 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 former man, Zambia
Marriage together with Family
Marriage. Traditionally, spousal human relationship payments inward the cast of goods from the groom's theatre unit of measurement to the bride's theatre unit of measurement were little together with insignificant. The to a greater extent than of import aspect of the spousal human relationship contract was the project service performed past times 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 project service past times the son-in-law is increasingly rare. Polygamy is allowed only uncommon. Marriages are unstable, together with divorce or separation is common, specially if a adult man fails to provide labor, money, or goods to his wife's family. To a for sure extent Christianity has stabilized marital relations. While spousal human relationship 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 4 symbolic banquets inward relation to courtship together with marriage. These are
• Icisumina Nsalamu (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal),
• Icilanga Mulilo [Literal meaning: “The Showing of the Fire” or “Introduction to Cuisine” – Editor]
• Ukukonkola (Granting authority) and
• Amatebeto (Thanks offering),
It is non uncommon to uncovering a bride’s theatre unit of measurement preparing Icilanga Mulilo for the groom, inward the false belief that it is Amatebeto. Others may ready Icisumina Nsalamu believing it to survive Icilanga Mulilo. Some have got knowingly practiced a alternative together with mix version out of convenience. This fuzziness has been tolerated inward many cases, only exclusively adds to the confusion about these issues.
Bemba Wedding ceremony
According to Mr. Dyson Chalwe, a traditional spousal human relationship counselor together with long standing Shibukombe (a trustworthy individual who is appointed to survive the emissary together with confidant for the groom inward coming together the bride’s parents), in that location are 4 really distinct ceremonial banquets involving the taking of symbolic meals from the bride to the groom inward the catamenia leading to spousal human relationship together with afterwards start of marriage:
1. ICISUMINA NSALAMU (Acceptance of spousal human relationship proposal).
Icisumina Nsalamu is a repast prepared past times the bride’s family, which they deliver to the groom, to symbolize the credence of his spousal human relationship proposal.
According to Mr.Chalwe, the repast exclusively 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 theatre unit of measurement to demonstrate that they have got accepted the spousal human relationship proposal on behalf of their daughter. It’s less elaborate than the other 3 banquets.
2. ICILANGA MULILO (Permission granting the groom liberty to have got meals from the bride’s theatre 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 past times the bride’s theatre unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom to symbolize an opened upward invitation to the groom to dine amongst the bride’s theatre unit of measurement on time to come visits during their courtship. Traditionally, the groom is forbidden from eating whatever nutrient at the bride’s parents or guardian’s habitation before this symbolic gesture. Different types of dishes are prepared past times the bride’s to showcase their traditional cuisine.
The groom is expected to consume or gustation every food, including the nutrient that he is non familiar with.
The bride’s political party ready the meals at the theatre 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 theatre 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 recess together with hold off for an invitation to enter. This is inward the cast of coin that the groom’s theatre unit of measurement drib on the the world inward front end of them. In a lite 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, exclusively 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 theatre walking backwards, amongst their parcels silent balanced on their heads.
Once inward the house, the singing together with ululation continues. The women trip the lite fantastic inward the middle of the room. The political party waits for an invitation to laid downwards their nutrient parcels. Once more, this takes the cast 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 at 1 time assume the responsibilities of taking attention of his bride’s fiscal needs. The bride at this phase is also allowed to start cooking 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, equally 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 amongst friends- kitweonline Icilanga Mulilo ceremony - The Shibukombe - Mr Dyson Chalwe
3. AMATEBETO (Thanks offering)
Amatebeto are prepared past times the bride’s theatre unit of measurement together with delivered to the groom afterwards spousal human relationship has taken place. Amatebeto tin survive prepared ii or to a greater extent than years into the marriage.
Amatebeto symbolizes the appreciation of the groom past times the bride’s parents for keeping a problem gratis marriage. It is an acknowledgement past times the bridge’s theatre 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 ii ceremonies most easily confused for each other.
4. UKUKONKOLA (Granting authority)
Ukukonkola is a repast that is prepared for the groom past times the bride’s parents. It is a repast that the groom eats at his in-law's house.
On this day, the repast symbolizes the authorisation that is given to the groom to brand theatre unit of measurement decisions affecting his wife’s side of the theatre 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 theatre unit of measurement also declare their commitment to abide by such decisions together with to consider them binding.
The groom is initiated past times foremost going to his begetter 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’ sleeping accommodation is traditionally regarded equally a sacred identify for a boy inward police push clit to enter.
On this really special occasion, the boy inward police push clit 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 convey anything that he finds there.
Thereafter he is led to the living room where he has to take away all the cushions on the sofa together with disclose anything hidden underneath them. He is allowed to maintain whatever he discovers.
He is together with then led into the kitchen where he is to opened upward all the pots together with pans, together with consume whatever he finds. He is non expected to go out whatever left-overs. He is to acquire all the nutrient that remains together with convey it to his habitation afterwards this initiation.
The repast symbolizes that the groom has go purpose of the theatre unit of measurement together with is at 1 time regarded equally 1 of their ain children. The groom is fifty-fifty authorized to personally tender a sick woman parent inward police push clit 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 y'all are marrying into the Bemba tribe, y'all at 1 time know what to expect.
Domestic Unit. In the past times a married dyad started out inward an extended matrilocal theatre unit of measurement unit together with formed an independent unit of measurement afterwards a number of years. The encouragement of nuclear families past times Christian churches together with the powerfulness to provide coin instead of project service to the wife's theatre unit of measurement has meant that a hubby tin accomplish this seat amongst greater ease. However, the traditional reason of domestic cooperation through woman individual relatives—mother together with immature lady or sisters—and ties betwixt woman parent together with children are silent strong.
Inheritance. Inheritance of goods is relatively unimportant, together with wealth tin top 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 begetter may survive involved. Children have got liberty together with autonomy only must abide by 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 individual initiation ceremonies. Children by together with large attend school.
Sociopolitical Organization
Social Organization.
Independent households, which cast the basic productive unit, bring together together to cast 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 past times hamlet elders or past times the primary 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 by together with large male, only it is non odd to uncovering women inward such positions. Chiefs have got their ain councilors elected past times the former men of the royal village. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu commands the abide by 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 dissimilar ritual duties.
The Bemba have got nearly xxx matrilineal clans by together with large named afterwards animals. All clans have got joking opposites. For example, the Goat Clan jokes amongst the Leopard Clan because leopards consume goats. An private tin rely on the back upward of his or her clan together with joking clan members. Joking betwixt the Bemba, who are known equally baboons (kolwe) for their reputation for eating baboons, together with the Ngoni, who are known equally rats (kwindi), is an chemical ingredient of social life together with a agency of overcoming former rivalries, specially inward urban areas where Ngoni together with Bemba survive together.
Political Organization
Political authorisation is divided betwixt the formal regime together with traditional chiefs. The regime follows the model of the British colonial bureaucracy. The Northern Province, amongst provincial headquarters at Kasama, has nine districts amongst elected district councils at district capitals called the Boma. Under the foremost 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 amongst 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 foremost postcolonial regime chiefs became involved inward formal district governance together with political parties. After 1991 chiefs were supposed to remain exterior formal politics, only their influence remains significant.
Social Control
Chiefs together with headmen are non instrumental inward the perpetuation of social norms. Responsibilities toward the extended theatre unit of measurement are entrenched through witchcraft (ubuloshi) accusations that deed equally an of import deterrent against breaking social together with ritual taboos. Didactic songs, including those associated amongst the girls' ichisungu ceremony, provide guidance for responsibilities toward husband, children, together with family.
Conflict
Before the colonial catamenia the Bemba were known equally 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 past times 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 solid 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 equally waterfalls together with springs. Such rituals occurred at of import economical events such equally the cutting of trees (ukutema) to ready chitemene fields or before hunting or angling expeditions. Although rare, these rituals are silent performed inward for sure 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 cite for God is Lesa, although the etymology of the term is unclear. Christianity has been fused amongst older religious practices. For example, the Lumpa Church, founded past times the prophetess Alice Lenshina, spread across Bemba province inward the 1950s together with was repressed past times 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 equally Bwembya claimed to derive their prophecies from the ancestral spirits of kings. Christian prophets such equally Alice Lenshina claimed to take heed the voices of God together with Jesus. Witchcraft purification together with detection are silent performed past times witchfinders (abashinganga), oftentimes on behalf of traditional chiefs together with councilors. Church congregations led past times 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 foremost fruit ceremonies. Although it is no longer widely performed, the most of import semipublic ceremony is the ichisungu initiation for immature girls. When a immature lady begins to menstruate, she is taken into the bush past times 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 immature lady 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 lilliputian demand for Bemba artworks, together with works by together with large are made on commission. Musicians, specially guitarists together with singers, perform inward hamlet bars together with churches.
Medicine. Traditional remedies are made from bark, fruit, together with works life extracts. Knowledge of these remedies is widespread. However, if these remedies fail, a patient volition go to goodness herbalists who have got specialized cognition of remedies together with supernatural causes of illness.
Death together with Afterlife
The displace of expiry is believed to survive a curse or bewitchment past times a jealous friend or theatre unit of measurement member. After expiry the theatre unit of measurement volition employ a witchfinder to search for the source of the bewitchment. Spirits tin render to deed equally guardians of the bush or tin survive adopted past times newborn children. The Bemba combine beliefs inward ancestral spirits together with witchcraft amongst Christian beliefs nearly the afterlife.
source:http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Bemba.aspx
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