Voice Of Barotseland.

05/05/2022

BAROTSELAND (BULOZI).

The mighty Zambezi in Sioma district



Credit: Brian Duke

04/28/2022

BAROTSELAND (BULOZI).

The Litunga (King) moves from Lealui to Limulunga.

04/28/2022

BAROTSELAND ( BULOZI).

04/26/2022

THE THREE KUOMBOKA CEREMONIES OF BAROTSELAND.

1. LITUNGA - FROM LEALUI - LIMULUNGA (MONGU DISTRICT).

2. LITUNGA LA MBOELA - FROM NALOLO - MAOYO (NALOLO & SENANGA DISTRICTS).

3. MBOANJIKANA - FROM LIBONDA TO MULUNDUMANO (KALABO DISTRICT).

04/22/2022

FIRST ZAMBIAN REGISTERED NURSE UNVEILED

By BENEDICT TEMBO, Lusaka.

SHE was not just one of the recipients of the inaugural King Lewanika Royal Meritocracy Award. Kapelwa Mwanang’umbi Sikota is also a woman of many firsts. She was the first Zambian registered nurse. The mother of prominent Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba was posthumously honoured at the recent Kuomboka ceremony. Born in Mongu district on July 7, 1928, she attended her primary school education at Lukona Mission and Mabumbu Girls Boarding in Western Province. Thereafter, Mrs Sikota proceeded to Chipembi Girls Boarding School in Chisamba for her Standard VI, which was the highest level of education a girl could attain in the then Northern Rhodesia. For secondary education, she went to Indent Mission School near Durban in South Africa. After graduating, Mrs Sikota enrolled for training as a registered nurse at McCord Zulu Hospital in Durban. She completed her training in 1951 and graduated as the best nurse of the year. Mrs Sikota later enrolled for midwifery training at the same college in Durban, which she completed in 1952. “Mum’s education was sponsored by her elder brother Meebelo Mwanang’umbi. He had taken over looking after his mum and his siblings when grandma was widowed. Grandpa had been killed by a hippo. Mum’s elder brother had been a teacher but on the onset of the Second World War he enlisted and served in Burma,” Mr Sikota says. He says upon his return he studied and became an accountant and member of Chartered Institute of Secretaries. “He used his earnings from his stint in Burma to sponsor his youngest sister Kapelwa Mwanang’umbi up to her training in Durban at McCord Hospital,” Mr Sikota says. Immediately after completion of her midwifery training, she returned home in the then Northern Rhodesia. Upon her return, Mrs Sikota was immediately employed at Lusaka Central Hospital (now University Teaching Hospitals) where she became the first African state registered nurse in Northern Rhodesia. She was later employed at Roan Antelope Mine Hospital in Luanshya as the first African nurse up to 1961, when she moved back to Lusaka Central Hospital or UTH. The white community was at first uncomfortable having a black woman supervisor, but they later accepted her skills and ability. Mrs Sikota eventually became a darling of both the black and white communities. At that time, there were poor conditions of service for Africans and there was no union. Mrs Sikota fought a lone hard battle to be put on the same salary scale as her white colleagues with similar qualifications. Despite facing a lot of discrimination at work, she fought for her rights and those of other African health workers. Some of the battles she fought included issues of using the same canteen and social facilities with white workmates. Her fight for equality was even taken to the British House of Commons.
On November 29, 1960, John Stonehouse, a Member of Parliament, raised her issue and asked Iain MacLeod, the secretary of state for health and social care of the United Kingdom “whether he is aware that Mrs Kapelwa Sikota, a qualified state-registered nurse, is unable to obtain employment in this capacity with the mining companies of Northern Rhodesia because of discrimination; and whether he will take steps to deal with the situation”. Mr Macleod responded, “I am informed that Mrs Sikota has been employed for the past three years by a mining company as supervisor of a hostel for African trainee nurses. As the honourable member will be aware, the mining industry has recently announced an agreement whereby all jobs will be open to persons of all races. I have no reason to think that Mrs Sikota is being debarred from any post through discrimination.”
She was, however, being discriminated against and made to be matron for a hostel rather than a state-registered nurse.
This, however, changed soon after the issue was highlighted in the House of Commons, and Mrs Sikota opened the way for the African nurses who were to follow her. And because of the competence and determination to fight for her rights and those of other workers, Mrs Sikota soon found that the same people who tried to suppress her started to admire and recognise her talents. On November 1, 1964 she was promoted to the rank of sister-in-charge at UTH, again the first African in that position.
Mrs Sikota worked in different nursing and midwifery portfolios until she became the chief nursing officer at the Ministry of Health. Again, she was the first African to hold that key position. Mrs Sikota was instrumental in planning and putting up some of the first modern facilities at UTH. As chief nursing officer, she encouraged nurses of all categories to develop and further their education and acquire new skills by taking extra courses. In 1974, she relinquished her position as chief nursing officer at the Ministry of Health to accompany her husband, Aggrey Sikota, to France where he took up a diplomatic posting.
She retired from active service in 1984. Mrs Sikota died on May 30, 2006, survived by four children: Grace, Imasiku, Sakwiba and Ngombala. She had four granddaughters – Limpo, Kapelwa, Mwila and Sepo – and two great-granddaughters.
The Zambia Association of University Women and the General Nursing Council posthumously recognised her as a female achiever and pioneer. The Ministry of Health recognised her pioneering role in the medical profession in Zambia by naming the nursing school lecture hall at Levy Mwanawasa Medical University after her. Accepting the award granted to his mother posthumously, Mr Sikota says “it is extremely gratifying for the Sikota and Mwanang’umbi families that our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, grand aunt and great grand aunt has been recognised and honoured with the conferment of the inaugural King Lewanika Royal Meritocracy Awards 2022. She was our grand lady and I speak on behalf of the family. “Mum returned to the then Northern Rhodesia as the first African state-registered nurse. She fought a lone fight to be recognised to be equal to the white nurses and took her fight right up to the House of Commons. Her achievements go beyond just Barotseland but affect the whole of Zambia. It is therefore fitting that the Litunga has recognised what she means to Barotseland and Zambia through the honour conferred of the Inaugural King Lewanika Royal Meritocracy Awards 2022,” Mr Sikota says. He adds: “We believe all the things said about her pale into insignificance and she is deserving of the award for being the best and greatest mum, grandma and great-grandma in the world. To the Barotse Royal Establishment, we say thank you very much.”

Source: Zambia Daily Mail.

04/22/2022

KING LUBOSI LEWANIKA.

His birth and Childhood - PART 2.

After Litunga Mwanawina II was forced out of the throne, there was need to install the new King but whom should they install? Mataa Sifanu suggested that Musiwa the son of Litunga Mwanawina II should be installed as the new Litunga. But Mukubesa one of the Senior Indunas could not agree with what Mataa Sifanu suggested. He advised the Kuta that it is better to install Lubosi Litiya so that the Litungaship shifts to the Northern Kingdom and this will again cut down the Pride exhibited by the Southern Kingdom. Also, that should Musiwa be made the new Litunga he will not take longer to revenge against the enemies of his father by killing them all. The Kuta agreed that Lubosi be made the new Litunga and he was installed in November 1878. Such installation of Lubosi as the Litunga did not go well with Mataa Sifanu and from that day he developed a grudge against the new King.
Since Njekwa who was the Prime Minister (Ngambela) of Litunga Mwanawina II was killed on the same day that the Litunga was forced out of the throne, Litunga Lubosi then appointed Akapelwa Silumbu who was then Induna Namuyamba to be the new Ngambela. Again, such installation of Akapelwa did not go well with Mataa Sifanu who developed rage against the new Litunga. He wanted to be himself installed as the Ngambela.

Litunga Lubosi and his Ngambela begun his Litungaship at a good knot. The new Litunga was used to the Makololo way of life a thing that saw his subjects not kneeling and clap their hands to greet the king as was the old custom. His subjects when meeting him could just greet him ‘Tau-tuna’ or the mighty Lion. He allowed Beer parties that were often seen from the Kingdom’s past rulers the Makololo, as a result Beer could be brewed in the Palace. The Beer that used to be brewed by the Litunga’s wives could be drunk at Kashandi in the Palace. But the Beer that was brewed at Mushukula and Newa the other royal Kitchens of the Litunga used to be drunk outside the Palace on the Namoo because such a party drew a lot of the King’s subjects especially men. But such Beer consumption would in future cause probles on the new King.

The new Ngambela Akapelwa Silumbu – Muyasani is remembered to be the son of Mwangelwa Naluya with his wife Kakun’uma Nambwae. He was left in captive by the Makololo when his parents flee from the invading Impi of Sebitwani. Therefore, Silumbu whose name means a hero due to his bravery during the war, ruled with the new Litunga under the adopted life style of the Makololo. He drunk more Beer and grilled piles of meat that he consumed. It was his way of life. He did not see anything wrong with the Beer Parties that the Litunga always threw for his Subjects that more Beer could be brewed at the Palace. When Silumbu became the Ngambela, he first held the position of Namuyamba a second position to the post of the Prime Minister (Ngambela). Then the Litunga appointed Mataa Sifanu to take over the Position of Namuyamba but this again did not go well with him. He wanted the Litunga to install him as the Ngambela.

The drinking or**es of Alcohol and dagger smoking that the King’s Subjects found it good for one to be brave and fearless caused some heated arguments and quarreling among the men folk. The king felt that brewing Beer and allowing Beer parties could go well with his Subjects, hardly did he know that such a habit was leading him into serious problems because some of his subjects especially Mataa Sifanu has developed hate against the King. In fact, when Lubosi was installed the new King his twin sister Matauka was later installed as the Litunga Lya – Mboela to lead the Southern Kingdom and her Ngambela became Sambi Kalaluka.

Every day at the Kuta during Beer parties there was rage, hearted arguments and some rough language among some Indunas a thing that made Litunga Lubosi failing to understand the major root cause of such heated arguments and quarrels among his Indunas. What he failed to understand was that the Alcohol that his subjects drunk at the Kuta was the major cause of such misunderstandings until some of his subjects advised him that unless he kills Musiwa who is ear marked by Mataa Sifanu to be installed as the Litunga, then his life was in trouble. Upon hearing this the Litunga summoned a meeting at Kashandi where the issue of Musiwa was discussed. The Indunas agreed that Musiwa should be Killed else he will be a thorn in the king’s flesh. When word reached Mataa Sifanu, he found a way to save Musiwa so that his plan to install him as the new Litunga would work. He called the selected group of men who would go to arrest Musiwa and kill him to give them orders not to kill Musiwa. Instead, they should allow him to flee and hide at Makanda. What they should bring back once they return to report about their mission, are clothes for Musiwa to show the Litunga that they had Killed Musiwa. It would be evidence enough to convince the King and his Kuta.

When the men returned from executing Musiwa, they reported to the Litunga and his Kuta how they killed Musiwa and even displayed his blood-stained clothes before the King. But few days from that day kabanda secretly met the Litunga and told him to be very careful with Mataa Sifanu who was planning to remove him from the throne and install Musiwa. One man even confirmed to the king that he definitely met Musiwa in Makanda who even gave him some Gun Powder. The Litunga did not waste time. He summoned all his Indunas at kashandi in order to find out why he has been deceived that Musiwa has been killed when in their hearts they knew that Musiwa was alive and is hiding at Makanda. Silumba who was one of the men sent to kill Musiwa denied the issue of Musiwa that he was alive unless Mataa Sifanu clear the air about the issue. But Mataa out of rage said that it was very surprising because each meeting summoned by the King his name has to be mentioned all the time why? He then turned to the Ngambela and asked him whether it was him Mataa who sent some men to go and kill Musiwa. The issue became hot to a point that the men who were sent to kill Musiwa were brought before the Kuta and many of them were killed on that day. Kombelwa who was one of the executioners denied that he had seen Musiwa whom he should have killed. It was at this point that Litiya the first born of Litunga Lubosi quickly went for Kombelwa and sat on his legs. His life was saved by Prince Litiya. Then a good number of men such as Mashewani, Mushala and a good number of Mbunda men of Mwene Chiengele who helped to hide Musiwa were arrested and Killed. Then some board guards of the King were sent to Makanda to search for Musiuwa whom they found and arrested

Musiwa was then shepherded to Lealui and he was tied on Sausage Tree (Mupolota) outside Lealui royal village that became to this day known as Mupolota wa Musiwa. Then preparations to execute the Prince were made. Some hoes that would be used to dig the grave and other items to use after killing the Prince were also organized. The following day his executioners came to face him. Among them was Mahela Imwaka a childhood friend of Musiwa, the two grew up together at the Palace during Mwanawina II’s short term reign. The following words that Musiwa used to address his executioners moved them near to tears.

‘’I am greeting you young men’’. Musiwa greeted them. The executioners responded by clapping their hands a sign of respect to the Prince.
‘’You see.’’ He continued. ‘’ Look at the way I am tied. I am unable to clap in response to you. Please don’t think that I have no respect to you. Then are those items you have brought with you the ones you will use to dispose me?’’ His executioners remained quiet.

‘’Mahela I am greeting you and you are now a grown-up man’’. Said Musiwa addressing his long-time childhood friend.

The Executioners were ordered never to Spear Musiwa to death because he will die a painful death. Instead, they should strangle him with a cloth so that he dies a dignitary death befitting a Prince. Then they got hold of him and he was strangled to death. They buried his body under the same tree marking the end of life of whom Mataa Sifanu wanted to install as the Litunga. Problems continued and many of them begun to set in. Kabanda was a Mbunda and due to his good work, that led to the death of Musiwa, the King appointed him to hold the position of Induna katema in order for him to lead N’ulubela -ta- Nalishuwa one of the King’s regiments. Later Mataa Sifanu then accused Kabanda that he is the one who may have reported to the King about the whereabouts of Musiwa. He planned that Kabanda should die, Kabanda did not tell the king some lies. He loved the King. He even married a woman hailing from Nakanjaa where he bore Wamufu-wa sa Nakanjaa. Likwengele li mweya li uma mbango. His village was Namenya and the area has been turned into a garden for Walubita. Unifortunaley Mataa Sifanu had Kabanda killed.

Also, at Nalolo, the Litunga lya-Mboela Mulena Matauka could not keep a thorn in her flesh that gave her sleepless nights. She had Mukwakwa Pakalita be killed. What she did was to have some Beer be brewed. Then the Queen sent for Mukwakwa to join some invited guests at the Palace in order to test the Beer that was brewed in readiness for a Beer Party on the other day. As soon as Mukwakwa settled, the Queen said to him: ‘’Mukwakwa you have been invited to test this Beer in readiness for the Beer Party next day. Then some Beer was served to the Queen who drunk it. Then she left the guests as if she was going in the Palace to check on something. Mukwakwa found himself being man handled, a knife finished him off and Mukwakwa died that way. It was not clear why the Queen had Mukwakwa executed. When word went round that Mukwakwa may have been killed by the Queen, people were warned to move with care because Mukwakwa was lastly seen alive. Later it was discovered that Kakwisa Nungu – Ishee Kwandu was among those men who murdered Mukwakwa. The issue was reported to the Litunga at Lealui who sent his Ngambela Silumbu to find out the cause of such murder. The Ngambela did not mince his words due to the unfortunate murder of Mukwakwa. In fact, Mukwakwa was a relative of Numwa through the extended family.

(To be continued in Part 3….. Readers you will hear what followed next when Litunga Lubosi made an expedition to go and fight Mashukulumbwe (Tonga People) in order to capture their Cattle. It is out of such an expedition that Mataa Sifanu planned to overthrow Litunga Lubosi)

By Wizard Mukuma .

Induna Nengwana online.

Note: Those who had read Nanikelako authoired by WM Walubita can read the above story in Silozi. Language.