THE LUBA-LUNDA DISPERSION/MIGRATION/DISPERSAL, 1600-1800

References

1, David Birmingham, ‘Central Africa from Cameroon to the Zambezi’ in Richard Gray (ed),
The Cambridge History of Africa, 4 (1975), 369-383.

2, Harry W, Langworthy, Zambia Before 1890.

3, Andrew Roberts, A History of Zambia.

4, James Newman, The Peopling of Africa: A Geographical Interpretation.

5, Roland Oliver and Anthony Atmore, The African Middle Ages, 1400-1800.

6, Ndaywele Nziem, “The political System of the Luba and Lunda: Its Emergence and
Expansion” in B,A Ogot (ed) General History of Africa vol.5.

Introduction

From the lands of the Luba and Lunda, also referred to in traditional accounts as Kola, the
Bantu migrated into Zambia. These migrations from Kola can roughly be divided into two
waves. The first wave consisted of farmers who were organized on a clan and kingship basis.
These first migrations occurred before and during the formation of the Luba-Lunda states.
The earliest migrations might be associated with the Luangwa pottery style group that was
introduced in large parts of Zambia and Malawi during the first centuries of the 2nd
Millennium A.D. They (the migrations) can be seen to have been a continuation of the early
Bantu migrations. These migrations lasted for more than 4 centuries and were very gradual.

The second phased of migrations was that of Chiefs and their followings. These migrations
occurred during and after the formation of the Luba-Lunda states and it is these migrations
that most is known about. This second wave of migrations came about because of the
formation of the Luba and Lunda states and the consequent problems that arose. This
development culminated in the spread of the Lunda state system. These migrations took place
between about 1550 A.D and 1750 A.D and it is these migrations that are generally referred
to as the Luba- Lunda migrations or dispersal. They consisted of people who had witnessed
state formation, were part of it or had become victims of it.

1
Causes

1. The basic reason for the migrations into Zambia was population increase and the
subsequent shortage of arable land. The problem became very acute during the late 1500s and
early 1600s, mainly because of the introduction of new food crops in the region. Maize,
cassava, groundnuts and a number of other American foods had been introduced by the
Portuguese into Angola and the Kongo kingdom during the 1500s. Once these crops were
accepted by the Luba and Lunda peoples, they evidently proved easier to grow and yielded
larger harvests than some previous food. However, in some instances the new crops
exhausted the fertility of the soil more rapidly or could only be grown well on the more fertile
soils. Thus, increased the competition for land by altering the previous cycles of shifting
agriculture.

2. However, the immediate reasons for the migrations were usually political. With the
development of large kingdoms in Katanga, the number of political conflicts also increased,
thus causing dissatisfied individuals and their followers to migrate. As some local chiefs were
conquered by the Luba and Lunda, they may have been encouraged to migrate elsewhere to
maintain their independence.

3. Branches of either royal family or families of subordinate tributary kings and chiefs often
fled when there was a succession dispute which they lost.

4. Some left after being accused of practicing witchcraft.

5. Family quarrels also caused migrations. For example, the dispute of Chinyama who
founded the Luvale chieftainship because his sister, Lueji, had allowed her Luba husband to
assume control of the Lunda kingdom.

6. Others left because they became tired of the injustice, wrath or pettiness of a ruler.

7. Heavy taxation or tribute.

8. Ravages of the slave trade.

9. In a number of cases, some groups left Katanga because of the desire to live a better life
elsewhere. The leader may have desire to establish his/her own trade connections instead of
continuing to pay tribute for small returns.

2
10. Others were adventurous who went about wandering or hunting with a few followers and
later found areas where the people lacked leaders. This seems to have been the origins of
Lenje chieftainship. A person from Mwata Yamvo’s kingdom discovered that there were
people in central Zambia who had a lot of cattle but no rulers., so he succeeded in subjugating
the Sala and thereby establishing the Mukuni kingship/dynast.

Effects

The establishment of kings and chiefs in Zambia after 1500 was a direct or an indirect result
of activities in the Katanga kingdoms. The migrations from Congo did not bring only people
but also new patterns of culture and ideas about political organizations and trade.

1. Increase in the population of Zambia.

2. Introduction of improved techniques of farming, iron smelting and other skills.

3. New goods and produce were brought, like guns and food crops.

4. New languages and culture.

5. Introduced the system of chieftainship- many people that left Congo did not necessarily
have noble or royal leaders, but took with them the idea of kingship to the new areas where
they settled. For example, the Senga were a group of migrants who left the Lunda area
because of oppression of the king’s court. They used their political knowledge to subdue the
stateless Tumbuka of Lundazi district. A chief had control over the land, the people and their
resources and he had the duty to safeguard these. He had to put his power into their service.
the chief could be assisted in administering his Chiefdom by sub-chiefs who often belonged
to the same family or clan as the chief. His source of income was the tribute system and
regional trade. The chief’s role as a military leader was important for he had to safeguard
these resources from competitors.