19/06/2026
Rich Zambian History
Conflict with the Bemba
The Mambwe regarded the Bemba as their traditional enemies. They fought many bitters wars and suffered many raids. The Bemba were not only more numerous but they were more united under their paramount unlike the Mambwe.
One time, the Bemba had made war on a Mambwe chief called Chitongwe (Mphande V). Chitongwe's was a large village and not easily taken. The Bemba group led by Chitapankwa, Makasa and Mwamba, surrounded it, cutting access to the gardens and streams. The Bemba themselves were able to live off the land. After a month, the Mambwe were reduced to starvation; they were forced to live on rats, dogs and even the bark cloth in which babies were carried. At length they sent forth an emissary to arrange a surrender. The Mambwe were instructed to file out of the village through a single gate. As they came through the men were seized and slain and the women taken into captivity. Chitongwe himself was taken, his body cut up and the pieces put in a pot and boiled. In a later battle with the Bemba, the Mambwe killed two Bemba chiefs, Chilangwa and Mpangamina. Some time later Chtapankwa raised a large army and set off to maswepa in Mambwe country to seek vengeance. This time the Bemba lured the Mambwe out of their village and utterly routed them.
Though Nsokolo, was their paramount, the other Mambwe chiefs were never really under his authority. Chiefs of the main lineages had fought each other throughout history, and within lineages the chiefs had quarrelled. Musante Mpande II is said to have killed his two young brothers, Nsokolo II & III. They did not hesitate to seek outside help in their struggles with one another: Mphande joined the Ngoni when they invaded Mambwe territory and helped them to harry Nsokolo's district. Nsokolo in turn leagued himself with the Bemba and defeated both the Ngoni & Mphande.
Kela & other Mambwe Chiefs were repeatedly harassed by Bemba raiders in the 1880s and early 90s.(continue reading in the comment section)
