Traditional Senga/Tumbuka and contemporary presbyterian spirituality in Zambia: an analysis of the interaction

Traditional Senga/Tumbuka and contemporary presbyterian spirituality in Zambia: an analysis of the interaction

A Mini-Thesis in Bachelor of Theology

The Senga people of Chama District are believed to have migrated from the Luba-Lunda Kingdom in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their ruler was Mwatayamvo. This King was a very mercyless man. It is believed that he used to assign his subjects with very difficult tasks such as not making Vikuse in the fields as they worked in them. They were to throw all rubbish far away out of their fields. It is also believed that such difficult tasks made the Senga people flee from Luba-Lunda Kingdom to where they are today in Chama district.

When they left Luba-Lunda Kingdom, they were in the company of the Lala,
Bisa and Lenje people. They first settled in the Muchinga Escarpment. It was
Whilst there that another group of people called the Bembas led by Chitimukulu came. The Bemba people forced the Senga, Bisa, Lala and Lenje people further east descending the Muchinga Escarpment into the Plains of the Luangwa valley or Marambo valley. They camped first at a place called Mazonde.

From Mazonde groups of Senga left for various place within Chama district Lead by village headmen.One group was lead by Chibeza, now Senior Chief Kambombo crossed the Luangwa river,went north and setled near Kalinku River, Kamphata,now called Tembwe crossed Luangwa river also and settled at Mabinga at the backs of Lupamazi river. Mabole also with his people crossed the Luangwa river and settled at what is called Chikwa. Mulilo went North after crossing the Luangwa river. But Lunda and Chibale with their people did not cross Luangwa river, they went to settle where they are currently find (ref.Map Appendix 2).

The Tumbuka people are believed to have come from the Chikulamayembe dynasty,in Hebe in the country now called Malawi. They migrated from Chikulamayembedynastry partly as a result of its Down fall possibly with the coming of the Ngoni people from down South Africa.
When the Tumbuka left Chikulamayembe some briefly settled at the base of Hora hill in Malawi,from their they spread out. Others went further west towards the Luangwa valley in Chama District now. Others went down south snd settled around Lundazi District. Both the Senga and Tumbuka as they migrated from one place to another they moved with then their cultural beliefs which form part of their Spirituality.When the Senga people arrived in Chama District they found the Tumbuka people. The Tumbuka people were peaceful People they allowed the Senga to live together with them. The result has been a lot of intermarriages between these two groups of people.

Consequently there has been a lot of mixing of Cultural beliefs between these two groups of people that in most cases it is not so easy for one to see their differences.

Rev. Baldwin W. Kandinda

Justo Mwale University

1998

Supervisor: Dr. Rain Venter

All Right Reserved 1998. Justo Mwale University

Physical medium

English

Thesis

Analysis of the interaction between the Senga and the Tumbuka and their contemporary presbyterian spirituality in Zambia.

The Senga people of Chama District are believed to have migrated from the Luba-Lunda Kingdom in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their ruler was Mwatayamvo. This King was a very mercyless man. It is believed that he used to assign his subjects with very difficult tasks such as not making Vikuse in the fields as they worked in them. They were to throw all rubbish far away out of their fields. It is also believed that such difficult tasks made the Senga people flee from Luba-Lunda Kingdom to where they are today in Chama district.
When they left Luba-Lunda Kingdom, they were in the company of the Lala,
Bisa and Lenje people. They first settled in the Muchinga Escarpment. It was
Whilst there that another group of people called the Bembas led by Chitimukulu came. The Bemba people forced the Senga, Bisa, Lala and Lenje people further east descending the Muchinga Escarpment into the Plains of the Luangwa valley or Marambo valley. They camped first at a place called Mazonde.
From Mazonde groups of Senga left for various place within Chama district Lead by village headmen.One group was lead by Chibeza, now Senior Chief Kambombo crossed the Luangwa river,went north and setled near Kalinku River, Kamphata,now called Tembwe crossed Luangwa river also and settled at Mabinga at the backs of Lupamazi river. Mabole also with his people crossed the Luangwa river and settled at what is called Chikwa. Mulilo went North after crossing the Luangwa river. But Lunda and Chibale with their people did not cross Luangwa river, they went to settle where they are currently find (ref.Map Appendix 2).
The Tumbuka people are believed to have come from the Chikulamayembe dynasty,in Hebe in the country now called Malawi. They migrated from Chikulamayembedynastry partly as a result of its Down fall possibly with the coming of the Ngoni people from down South Africa.
When the Tumbuka left Chikulamayembe some briefly settled at the base of Hora hill in Malawi,from their they spread out. Others went further west towards the Luangwa valley in Chama District now. Others went down south snd settled around Lundazi District. Both the Senga and Tumbuka as they migrated from one place to another they moved with then their cultural beliefs which form part of their Spirituality.When the Senga people arrived in Chama District they found the Tumbuka people. The Tumbuka people were peaceful People they allowed the Senga to live together with them. The result has been a lot of intermarriages between these two groups of people.
Consequently there has been a lot of mixing of Cultural beliefs between these two groups of people that in most cases it is not so easy for one to see their differences.

2022

1998