UKWANGA CEREMONY OF ABENA NG’UMBO
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UKWANGA CEREMONY OF ABENA NG’UMBO
…It’s here again.
Mwina Ng’umbo munenu CHARLES CHISALA
ALL roads
By Mwina Ng’umbo munenu CHARLES CHISALA
ALL roads lead to Lubwe in Chifunabuli District, Luapula Province, where the Ng’umbo people, one of the Bemba speaking tribes, celebrate the Ukwanga traditional ceremony.
Ukwanga is a celebration of the killing of an evil chief, Kabaya, on Lake Kamimbi at Masanta Village, who used to kill his subjects and eat their flesh. After killing him the people praised themselves ati “twamufuna ubuli”.
They changed the name of Lake Kamimbi to Lake Chifunabuli.
Today, Senior Chief Mwewa Chibale will lead other Ng’umbo chiefs Chitembo, Mwansakombe, Mbulu and Mulongwe, and other visiting bena Ng’oma chiefs from within Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) travelling in boats and canoes to Manga, at the confluence of lakes Bangweulu and Chifunabuli.
This is where the remains of Kasolwe Chabala, who led the Ng’umbo people from Isandulula to settle around and on the islands of the two lakes, are buried.
Kasolwe was the third of Bulumbi Mpande’s three children – two sisters and one brother. The other two children were Ng’andwe Chabala and Mupeta Chabala, the mother of Musenge Sete.
Musenge, one of Mupeta Chabala’s seven daughters, was the mother of the five chiefs of the Ng’umbo people.
Tomorrow morning the chiefs and the royal entourage accompanied by Ng’umbo warriors (Bashichalo) will visit the place at Masanta Village in Senior Chief Mwewa’s chiefdom where Kabaya was assassinated.
Then the flotilla of boats, canoes and speed boats will head to Lubwe where a huge crowd will be waiting for them for the main ceremony amid pomp and splendour.
Akalela dance teams, local and guest musicians will be on hand to entertain the attendees.
I commend Ng’umbo musician Pontiano Kaice, Professor Charles Mwape, the Ukwanga National Organising Committee, Honourable ministers Peter Kapala and Derrick Chilundika, and all all those who have played a part in the preparations.
Nine mwina Ng’umbo munenu CHARLES CHISALA.
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