HIGHLIGHTS OF LIFE IN LUNGA 3

UKU KONTA: A PADDLING SIN IN LUNGA

If you have never been to Lunga in the Bangweulu Swamps, you might have just heard of these fishermen who earn their   living largely by fishing. Although some researchers want us believe that there’s no any other form of Agricultural activities taking place in swamps, the fact is that people on islands surrounding Lake Bangweulu take time to grow cassava, finger millet, rice, maize and a few other crops.

That said, the main activity, especially between April and November is fishing. There are various commercial fishing methods employed but I will here mention amalalikisha, where you set your floats and sinkers - fitted nets either early in the morning or early evening and wait by. Usually, your catch for this type of fishing would be mintesa (marcusenius macrolepidotus).

Likely, you will belong to a production unit called nsanga as a subordinate, umuswa, whose boss is called umukolombeshi or umushila (he owns the fishing gears, supplies all logistics such as canoes, food and fuel.) Umukolombeshi will usually be a very skilled fisherman who leads most of your fishing activities.

Your camp is set by the bank of a channel or some floating island by constructing huts, mitanda, according to whether you have married couples and single men around. Each nsanga will set camp in one place and live together until you disband, ukubambuka.

To carry out your fishing activities, you need to be a skilled paddler. Remember that from childhood, you have learned to do this sort of thing for you to get things done. If you need firewood, buy food supplies, other essential commodities from the main islands; or sometimes even to answer a call of nature, you need to paddle to get to your destination. So, as a matter of convenience, your paddling skills must be tip-top.

 But it becomes even more important when you are doing some one-off hunting of birds, animals or just one form of fishing known as ukulenga (spearing).

During this type of activity, you are supposed to move your canoe in total silence. Any slight noise will scare away your prey. Remember, Ungas want to eat well! They want the biggest fish, amalinda katondo or something meaty, a bird or an animal.

It’s during one of this hunting sprees that a friend was fired for non- compliance to the rule of total silence; because he kept hitting his paddling pole against the canoe, uku konta, thereby constantly making a lot of noise that made not only  umukolombeshi irritated but also scared away a tired wild duck they had followed for an hour.

Ukukonta is a measure of incompetence or lack of proficiency at paddling. Just imagine that! A skilled Unga can paddle for hours without having his paddle, nkafi, or pole, mubale coming in contact with the canoe. That is the type of expertise there is!

Mubale is a pole made out of the type of light wood which you use in shallow water. When it is fitted with a forked stick at the base, is called umubale wa lupanda which is done to enable it hold grass and other floating stuff to avoid sticking into the mud.  When not fitted with anything, it is called umubale wa ntule, and is usually used by young or lazy men who can’t find time to improvise it with a fork. As indicated earlier, it is used in marsh areas and shallow channels for propulsion.

Inkafi is the bladed shaft that you use in clear channels and deep waters. With either of these tools, uku konta is treated as an amateurish way of paddling. I (this is a confession) was also once a victim of severe punishment for letting go a sleeping animal because of excessive uku konta… I earned Nshima without relish in full view of my guardians!

So, next time you eat fish from the swamps, remember that the fishermen, too, have special skills. Better hire me if you intend to visit Lunga.

 *Note that though almost all women are also good paddlers, they are exempted from this rule, because they are never involved in hunting expeditions.