The Bemba Kingdom of Chitimukulu

THE BEMBA KINGDOM OF CHITIMUKULU
References
Oral sources of the Bena Ng’andu royal clan.
White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) Archives at FENZA in Bauleni, Lusaka.
Andrew Roberts, PhD Thesis and Book.
Harry Langworthy, Zambia before 1890.
Origin
The history of this kingdom begins from mainstream Luba kingdom. Their migration
from Kola began in around 1650. It started with a man called Chiti and his brothers who
quarrelled with their father, Chief Mukulumpe, who feared his sons’ ambition to become
leaders. The siblings then decided to move away and migrated eastwards. Jan Vansina
(1966: 88-90) suggests that Chiti and his group followed Kabinda Ilunga when he left
Lubaland and established himself amongst the Lunda. Having arrived in the land of the
Lunda, the siblings felt neglected and a dispute arose after which they moved away.
Both accounts justify the Luba origin of the Bemba, and that they migrated due to
position disputes. The last account can explain the close relationship between the Bemba
and the Lunda of Kazembe whom they refer to traditionally as brothers.
On their migration east they crossed the Luapula and continued to the land of the Senga
where Chiti was killed in fighting Chiti’s brother Nkole took over the lead but was also
killed by the Nsenga chief Mwase. Thereafter, Chilufya became the leader. Under his
leadership, the Bemba finally settled near the Kalungu stream in Kasama. The owners of
the land and the new comers mingled and formed the Bemba led by the Bena Ng’andu
(crocodile clan). The title for the most senior chief became known as Chitimukulu (great
Chiti in Tshiluba) - in honor of the first leader Chiti.
The kingdom remained relatively small before 1800, mainly covering Kasama and
Chinsali districts. After that expansion began to reach Mpika, Mbala and so on.
Development of the Kingdom up to 1830
1
1. Environmental Poverty - the area was relatively infertile, and in most places infected
with tsetse fly which made cattle rearing difficult. Poor soils made villages to shift
from time to time, hence the development of Chitemene system of farming.
o Only seasonal fishing took place in the Luapula and Chambeshi rivers and
their tributaries.
o Due to lack of natural resources, a high population could not be easily
sustained.
o This environmental deficit made the Bemba devise other ways of survival. For
example, they obtained iron and iron implements from the Lungu and
Namwanga in the north. Salt was obtained from the Bisa marshes in Mpika in
the south. They raided the Lungu and Mambwe for cattle since they could not
trade.
So, while the Bemba could not trade due to the poor environment in which they lived,
they used warfare to expand their kingdom.
2. Succession System to the Chitimukuluship - during the formative years of the
kingdom, the Bemba had a peculiar method of choosing the Chitimukulu. Members of
the Bena Ng’andu fought for leadership every time the king died. Whoever was
victorious was installed as king. This loose political method encouraged civil war, yet
fostered a degree of unity. These disputes in fact made the Bemba develop highly
skilled military powers which they in turn used to conquer others.
3. Raiding - they conquered such people as the Mambwe, Lungu, Namwanga and Bisa.
Afterwards they planted Bemba chiefs in those areas so that the conquered did not
revolt.
Development after 1830
4. Good leadership Qualities of Individual Kings - between 1830 and the 1880s, two
Chitimukulus emerged as great personalities and skilled leaders. Chileshe Chepela
(1830-1860) did not come from the line of chieftainship when he became king. He
was physically challenged, but had talent and good leadership qualities. He organized
several raids against the Bisa. Wars against the Ngoni also started during Chepela’s
rain and lasted for a period of twenty years. It was only then that the Ngoni were
repelled. But probably his most celebrated accomplishment was when he put in place
laws of succession to the Chitimukuluship. He restricted succession to the Miti branch
of the Bena Ng’andu clan. Due to this intervention, succession wars came to an end,
2
hence stabilized the kingdom. Chepela also appointed relatives to vital positions in
order to insulate himself. He was succeeded by Bwembya, a kind, gentle and peaceful
person who was not fit to be king during these difficult times.
The other important leader of this period was Chitapankwa (1865-1883). He
overthrew Bwembya, and continued the expansion of Lubemba in all directions.
Trade with the Swahili further developed. Powers of the Chitimukulu over his
subjects were increased. Most importantly, he solved the Ngoni threat. When David
Livingstone visited the Chitimukulu in 1867, he found that the Ngoni had recently
been repulsed, though they were still in the area. Within the next few years the Ngoni
again failed in a major raid on the Bemba. It was only then that they decided to retreat
from the area. Part of Bemba victory was due to the help of guns, and in one instance
a canon was supplied by the Swahili, but unity and organization were probably more
important factors. The success of unity and organization of the chiefs and their
followers under Chitapankwa when the crisis ended meant an increase in the power of
the paramount king.
5. Trade - economic development began and continued up to 1890, but especially during
Chitapankwa’s reign. The Bemba development began and continued up to 1890, but
especially during Chitapankwa’s reign. The Bemba developed alliances with the
Arabs and Swahili slave traders. The king enjoyed monopoly of trade whose
redistribution of imported trade goods made territorial expansion continue.
6. Ngoni incursions unified them against a common enemy. See discussion above.
7. Incorporation of Conquered Groups - e.g. Chitimukulu put chief Mwamba. The same
was the case with chief Makasa among the Lunga. By the middle of the 19th century
Mwamba had become the second most important royal chief after the kings
supplanting older ones like the Nkula, Nkweto and others in terms of influence and
power. This was due to the fact that Mwamba was able to expand his area by new
conquest. The creation of the Makasa chieftainship was something of an innovation,
as he did not come from the Bena Ng’andu clan. Instead in this matrilineal society, a
Makasa was always the son of the Chitimukulu. This innovation, which was to
continue in other newly conquered areas as new chiefs were established, was an
element in the increase of the Chitimukulu power.

The Bemba Kingdom of Chitimukulu

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THE BEMBA KINGDOM OF CHITIMUKULU

Oral sources of the Bena Ng’andu royal clan.

White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) Archives at FENZA in Bauleni, Lusaka.

Andrew Roberts, PhD Thesis and Book.

Harry Langworthy, Zambia before 1890.

Development of the Kingdom up to 1830

Development after 1830

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