BOOK IN OFFING

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COMING SOON!




THE UNGA TRIBE OF BANGWEULU SWAMPS- MORE THAN JUST FISHERMEN
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: Origins and the founding of Lunga               
CHAPTER 2: Chieftaincy and Succession Lineage
CHAPTER 3: Language, Culture and Tradition
CHAPTER 4: Fishing, Hunting as main occupation
CHAPTER 5:  Wildlife, Traditional Ceremony & Tourism
CHAPTER 6: Food and Nutrition
CHAPTER 7: Social and Pastime activities
CHAPTER 8: Death and Superstition
CHAPTER 9: Politics and Development

CHAPTER 10: Unique Words, Adages and Idioms 
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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
Within Bangweulu Wetlands lies a vast 5,000 km2 swampy area called Lunga, which is home to over 50,000 indigenous Unga tribesmen. The name Lunga simply means to hunt and was derived from the area’s suitability for hunting expeditions because of its abundant wildlife.
Located in Luapula province north-east of Zambia, Lunga is a cluster of islands and islets spaced between 40km to 60km and surrounded by four neighbouring districts, i.e. Samfya in Luapula, Mpika in Muchinga, Lavushi Manda in Central and Chilubi in Northern province.
Lunga is therefore a natural recipient of fresh water and other aquatic life from big rivers Chambeshi, Lumbatwa, Lukulu and their tributaries plus terrestrial life from Northern and central provinces. These rivers outflow into the famous Luapula river that feeds Lake Bangweulu.
 Lakes Bangweulu, Chale and other prominent lagoons such as Nsawa, Kalungu, Nsundwa, Kabulya, Mwishiba, Nkutila, Mwitwa, Kuyenge, Bembamatongo, Chisele and many rivers surround or flow through Lunga swamps.
 It is no wonder the swamps are home to more than 86 fish species, 33 of which are commercially exploited. It is also estimated that 30% of fish consumed on the Copperbelt and surrounding areas come from Lunga.
Like all inhabitants of Zambia, the Unga people migrated from Congo around 1700. From the ancestry of Kasolwe Chabala which they share with Ng’umbo tribe, they initially settled in Chulung’oma in Luwingu district.
 It is said that one of Chabala’s adventurous grandson and hunter Mwelwa Mfumu left Chulung’oma on some of his hunting expeditions and discovered, among other places, perfect hunting islands at Ibinda later named Ncheta island which is now capital of Bwalya Mponda chiefdom.
 Here, he found the place was rich in wildlife but with leached soil which was poorly arable to support meaningful agriculture, it remains so to date. Subjective islands in the area under Bwalya Mponda chiefdom today include Chafye with sub-chief Ponga, Mutapwe, Mbo Ya Lubambe and Chibambo.
 Mwelwa proceeded to discover more islands thus Lunga, capital of Kasoma Lunga chiefdom which is also home to the newly established district administrative office. Its two subjective inhabited islands are Chisale which is under sub-chief Kambala and Chibulu.
He later found more islands, now under Nsamba chiefdom namely; Nsalushi, Matongo the capital, Mutwamina, Kabulu and Mandwe.
He finally settled at Musumba, capital of Kalimankonde chiefdom, which literally means farmer of dirges. Kalimankonde is a moniker given to the chief because his subjects could not tend their gardens but instead attended incessant funerals of numerous victims of typhoid believed to have been a spiritual curse for his willful disregard of traditional practices.
Subjective islands to Kalimankonde are Isenga with sub-chief Mweshi, Bucinda and Mung’omba with sub-chief Milambo. Kalimankonde is to date recognized as the senior chief of the Unga tribe.
As can be seen from this brief history, Ba-Unga tribe are distinctively different from the Ba-Twa that most historians refer to when they talk about the first settlers of Bangweulu swamps. A few remnants of Ba-Twa tribe can still be found among the Unga though, especially in Bwalya   Mponda chiefdom.




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