Kazembe (Mwansabombwe)

Kazembe (Mwansabombwe)
This article is about the town. For the Chief, Mwata Kazembe, see Kazembe.
Kazembe (Mwansabombwe)
Kazembe (Mwansabombwe) is located in Zambia
Kazembe (Mwansabombwe)
Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 9°49′S 28°45′E / 9.817°S 28.75°E / -9.817; 28.75
Country  Zambia
Province Luapula Province
District
Time zone CAT (UTC+2)

Kazembe (or 'Kasembe') is a name used for Mwata Kazembe's town in the Luapula Province of Zambia, especially on maps and in the Zambian postal service (as PO Kazembe). However, the correct name for the town is Mwansabombwe ("where Mwansa works") and this is the one used by its or Luba or Chibemba-speaking inhabitants. They may refer in English to "Kazembe's Village" or just "Kazembe", as traditionally a settlement is named after the chief or headman, rather than the location. The Luba-Lunda shared with many tribes the custom (now discontinued) of moving to another village or a new site on the death of the chief. Historical references to a village or town may actually be to a different location. For instance when the explorer David Livingstone visited Mwata Kazembe in 1867 and 1868, "Casembe's town", as he wrote it, was further north at the town now called Kanyembo.

Mwansabombwe is situated where the Ngona River enters the swamps of the Luapula River south of Lake Mweru. A number of channels through the swamps and lagoons connect to the main river channel about 5 km away, facilitating fishing and trade (mainly illicit) with DR Congo. The town lies close to the middle point of the main artery of the Luapula Province, the tarred road informally known as the 'Valley Road' running from Mansa to Nchelenge, and connecting southwards first to the "Samfya Road" (from Mansa to Serenje) and then to the Great North Road at Serenje. A tarred road also connects eastwards via Mbereshi to the northern Zambian plateau at Kawambwa.

These features and its status since the 1890s as Mwata Kazembe's capital make Mwansabombwe one of the largest centres of trade, population and culture in the Luapula Valley with a population estimated at 50,000. It retains a rural and traditional African character relatively unmarked by the colonial era leading to it being called the 'largest village in central Africa'.

See also

Mwata Kazembe's Mutomboko Festival

References

  1. David M. Gordon: “History on the Luapula Retold: Landscape, Memory and Identity in the Kazembe Kingdom”. Journal of African History, 47 (2006), pp. 21–42. Cambridge University Press.
  2. Robert Cancel: “Asserting/inventing traditions on the Luapula: the Lunda Mutomboko Festival”. African Arts, Autumn, 2006.


Coordinates: 9°49′S 28°45′E / 9.817°S 28.75°E / -9.817; 28.75


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kazembe — This article is about the Kazembe kings and chiefs. For Kazembe town, see Kazembe (Mwansabombwe). Mwata Kazembe XVII Paul Kanyembo Lutaba in 1961 For more than 250 years Kazembe has been an influential kingdom or chieftainship of the Kiluba… …   Wikipedia

  • List of cities and towns in Zambia — Map of Zambia This is a list of cities, towns, villages and missions in Zambia. Contents 1 Cities …   Wikipedia

  • Kawambwa — is a town in the Zambian province of Luapula located on the edge of the northern Zambian plateau above the Luapula valley at an altitude of 1300 m. It was chosen as an administrative district of the same name by the British colonial authorities… …   Wikipedia

  • Río Luapula — (o Lwapula) País que atraviesa  Zambia …   Wikipedia Español

  • Luapula River — The Luapula River is a section of Africa s second longest river, the Congo. It is a transnational river forming for nearly all its length part of the border between Zambia and the DR Congo. It joins Lake Bangweulu (wholly in Zambia) to Lake Mweru …   Wikipedia

  • Lake Mweru — Southern end of the lake from space, June 1993 (false color) Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Reino de Cazembe — Cazembe 1740–1897 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Kanyembo — is the principal centre of the population on the Mofwe Lagoon, the largest of several lagoons in the Luapula River swamps south of Lake Mweru, in the Luapula Province of Zambia. It takes its name from its traditional ruler, Chief Kanyembo, one of …   Wikipedia

  • Luapula Province — is one of Zambia s nine provinces, and is located in the north of the country. The provincial capital is Mansa. Luapula Province was named after the Luapula River. It extends along the northern and eastern banks of the river from Lake Bangweulu… …   Wikipedia

  • Mbereshi — Location of Mbereshi Mbereshi (also spelled and pronounced …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”