Former Headmistress Judith Theresa Chilekwa Mpamba, will be crowned Queen Mother for the Bemba people in Kasama today.

Ms Mpamba will be succeeding her late mother Her Royal Highness, Chanda Mukulu wa Chibundu, who died last year.

Ms Mpamba will be crowned queen of the main stream Bemba Royal Establishment through a coronation ceremony which will take place at the Chanda Mukulu Royal Palace in Kasama.

In a press release to ZANIS in Lusaka today, the main function of the queen mother is to bear children that will succeed the main stream of Bemba chiefs such as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and Senior Chiefs Mpepo, Nkolemfumu and Mwamba.

The release further states that Bemba chiefs, being matrilineal,trace their decent and ascendancy to the highest thrones through the female line.

Ascendancy to the position of queen mother is also through the female line, and the tradition dates as far back as the 18th centaury when two brothers, Chiti and Nkole, were running away from the brutality of their father, then King Mukulumpe. They left Kola Country and founded a Bemba Kingdom across Kalungu river in present day Zambia.

The two fugitive brothers later rescued their sister, Chilufya Mulenga, who had been imprisoned by their father in Kola Country, saying he did not want her to bear children who would succeed them as king.

The statement says since the Bemba tradition of tracing ascendance through the female line has been strictly followed ever since and there is no doubt that the current queen mother who will be installed today will be any different, adding that she shares the same blood with the very first queen mother, Chilufya Mulenga.

The Bembas are sure that the current Paramount Chief Chitimukulu the 37th is a blood relation of the first chief chitimukulu who was the son of Mukulumpe of the Kola Country.

ZANIS

29 COMMENTS

ojbeso July 4, 2009 At 2:07 pm

aha
nsengo July 4, 2009 At 2:34 pm

NSENGO To me it doesnt make sense, a waste of time……….

1
Nkani yamu Kachasu July 4, 2009 At 2:39 pm

Keep up the the tradition.I only hope those Kingdoms are not poverty stricken.
Kadoli Katapa July 4, 2009 At 4:08 pm

#2 Nsengo Ulichinangwa. Wechinkula wabula amano. Echo wabutukila namuchalo mumobe. You have gone to uphold other people’s traditions and customes, what is you are denying. Wechipumbu chamwana. Wabula nowakukulya.

1
Kadoli Katapa July 4, 2009 At 4:13 pm

# 2 Nafulwa sana! bushe kuti wasula intambi shamu chalo mumobe walati nokuti “it a waste of time”! kabili kuti nakulekamo ayeneye nganati kusange. Pumbafu!!!
Lusaka July 4, 2009 At 4:13 pm

Hello people. I find it interesting that the Bemba enthrone their queen mothers. However, will the new queen be able to able the necessary children?
Kadoli Katapa July 4, 2009 At 4:19 pm

#4 sorry bane. I meant to write “What is yours, you are denying” Munjeleko bane, ichi ichinangwa chamwana chaleka nalalufyana nokulufyanya.
Kadoli Katapa July 4, 2009 At 4:22 pm

Iwe # 6 awuti shani bwekeshapo nakabili. You are say “However, will the new queen be able to able the necessary children?” Tafileumfwika efyo walemba.
walai nthwenu mputi business July 4, 2009 At 4:52 pm

ok is o i can say bout this.. doesnt have much bearing on current important issues going on.. let her have a nice tenure
Kachasu July 4, 2009 At 5:47 pm

#2, Pasopo!
Fwe ba kasuba mwalu, mwalu ntanda,
ntanda kalungu ntukishya umwine nkuni na menshi
sampa mushimbe inkaka ya mu lupili!
Nifwe ba tandabubwe umunshikola nswa ati shine shi ileta!
Nifwe bashi lukala milandu kabili bashi mwitwa pa ******,
twaisa fwe bana benu fwebo mwasha bu kashiwa fwe misusu
ya nkonko twashala twakulibana!
Kachasu July 4, 2009 At 6:25 pm

OMG!
Ba LT, why won’t you let me finish amalumbo mu cibemba?
Kachasu July 4, 2009 At 6:44 pm

Tuli ba bemba abenebene fwe ba shi musunta mpanga ngayalepa
twalundako ulubilo twati tufike bwangu!
Tuli ba kwa shula malindi ichikonko cha mputu lukunkulwaku ku bamba muka chinokwe!
Tuli ba kwa topiwangala fwe ba shi muteya ichitembo cha mwikata inshimi!
Nifwe ba shi muchita panono uwa pokele mwikalafye umawanakashi!
Tuli ba kwa tampa, tampa chibengele mukupilwa fyulu mayo na munchenene!
Kachasu July 4, 2009 At 6:48 pm

Nifwe ba kalin’gongo mu lala kwa chenama ichibi meno uwa pitapo twa mu checheta,
ba kabundi umu nshikulilwa ilinga!
Tuli baume abenebene aba kubuka fye ne chintu chisontele ku kabanga
abanakashi konse konse na ku masamba kwine baimitwa!
Nifwe ba kabulubulu mu nshitina ilinso lya mfumu!
Ichine chine na kande, na kabushi na ka muno mpindi napwa,
nine mulenga mwaume aba seka ni ba mulenga mwanakashi!
Kabusha July 4, 2009 At 7:05 pm

Iwe # 10, is that a Zambian language, where are you from?
Kachasu July 4, 2009 At 7:22 pm

#12, where are you from?
Tuli ba bemba abenebene fwe ba shi musunta mpanga ngayalepa twalundako ulubilo twati tufike bwangu! Tuli ba kwa shula malindi ichikonko cha mputu lukunku lwaku ku bamba muka chinokwe! Tuli ba kwa topiwangala fwe ba shi muteya ichitembo cha mwikata inshimi!
Nifwe ba shi muchita panono uwa pokele mwikalafye umawanakashi! Tuli ba kwa tampa, tampa chibengele mukupilwa fyulu mayo na munchenene!
Nifwe ba kalin’gongo mu lala kwa chenama ichibi meno uwa pitapo twa mu checheta, ba kabundi umu nshikulilwa ilinga! Tuli baume abenebene aba kubuka fye ne chintu chisontele ku kabanga abanakashi konse konse na ku masamba kwine baimitwa!
Nifwe ba kabulubulu mu nshitina ilinso lya mfumu! Ichine chine na kande, na kabushi na ka muno mpindi napwa.
Kasama boy July 4, 2009 At 7:27 pm

Let help you Kachasu… Mwana Kapopo lapwa, kapopo lapwa wakalipisha walapwa abantu. Chofi malemba we chanchita fino, ala wechankanike noku nkanuna niwe uka nkanuna. Shimukokota nsono kuli iwe imiswema naba ngoshe enkolo (ama tie), wewachimfishe bamwana muchine, waleka twala naba tabwa. Twati nokuti nshiki nshiki Tanganyika, weka kote kekele apo kete Sekeyo, pantu walaleka tume mfumu tume nabaikalile, pantu pali ino nshita abasungu batupoke mfuti twashala tuleyombawilafye. Fye bashana ichila chamukule. Mukwimba atuti, Lombe Bwalya, Lombe Bwalya wibinda chila abatulangile bakalamba, ukushinguluka ichulu elyo wapamapo.
CM July 4, 2009 At 11:12 pm

Now you Bembas should not only climb tree at State house during press conferences. Eya, eya, eya bane! Mayo Chilekwa Mpamba, we upamba nge mpambata. Impambata ishiwa ku Mubanga. umubanga wa bangwile Mulenga Chilufya. Chilufya waimite Mfumu sha Lubemba. Sefyeni ba mwana Mukulumpe, Chitimukulu mwe bena Lubemba. Uwaikata ku lubemba asendwa no mukuku. Taa mayo Chilekwa Mpamba, sanda kabili tanda, tanda abana ba Lubemba nga maleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Taaa.
CM July 4, 2009 At 11:19 pm

Thanks for this brief history. It feels cool to know tha that lineage values have not been eroded. Suchcelebrations should be well publicised napa internet. Mwatulangako na picture yakwa Queen Mother of the Bembaland. Twilapelela mukutamba banakulu Prince Charles beka!!!! Shani abena Mulenga Kapwepwe you are good at disceminating information about the Ngonis and the Bembas…
3RqU July 5, 2009 At 9:41 am

Kadoli wansekesha we. Eya mwandi bamo abantu bafwaikwa ukubanyankula we. Teshamo lyakwa yamawakwe ili? Akalimbusha katile yamawakwe alitukile akakote.
3RqU July 5, 2009 At 9:48 am

#18 CM ala icipikichala teti cimoneke. Takwali ifikope, ifitunshitunshi nafimbi ifingi muli ilyanshita. Kulakutikafye abakalamba ngabaleshimika. Tekuba ngoyu mwana ba Nsengo uwutumine pa cabubili (#2 Ngengo). Uyumwana cinangwa nshatala momba. Aya kumangalande namano yonse awe shuwa kwati nimwisa. Ndemona ebalya balumendo tumona batampa ukwita abapongoshi ati hello mate! lol! Mukwai nabatushe umutende bonse. Natasha.
3RqU July 5, 2009 At 9:49 am

#18 CM ala takwali ifikope pali ilyanshita.
Kalembo kanga July 5, 2009 At 12:54 pm

Where can I get some traditional Bemba praise songs on CD?
Nine Chale July 5, 2009 At 4:58 pm

This is very good news. I am happy to know that our elders are still keen to preserve our royal Bemba Heritage and culture. That is all we have left, after loosing everything else to the hands of the colonial masters.

Ba Kachasu, eya mukwai tata/mayo, ayo malumbo mucibemba yawama sana. Epashili pakuleka mukwai!
Nine Chale July 5, 2009 At 5:01 pm

#22 Kalembo Kanga, I have a good collection of wonderful Bemba Praise Songs on CD. If you let me have your details, I will be glad to avail you a copy.
Shimwalule July 6, 2009 At 3:07 am

Nine Chale i would really appreciate getting a copy of the CD you are talking about. Judging from your flag I guess you are in Germany? I am in UK.
fikile November 25, 2009 At 4:31 pm

Great news indeed. im zambian by marriage and these are good news to me too. we wish you well your highness queen mpamba. fikky, south africa
fikile November 25, 2009 At 4:46 pm

nane chale, please teach me those traditional praise songs, mmm. find me a record deal there man. im very musical specialize in afro jazz, afro soul and afro pop, gospel too. hook me up with producers and promoters. thanx
Firestarter (Mukuka) January 5, 2010 At 12:39 am

Is it true about the bemba and the white living together? Makes sence as i am in Uk and reclaiming what our tribals have rebuilt! Ndelilako kuno ku babemba besu!
Katomombo May 4, 2016 At 2:16 pm

Judith Mpamba Queen mother? With due respect to the Bemba Royal Establishment, I would like to seek clarification over the position of the Ngoshe Mukote which not long ago I read in one of the dailies that it was now dormant. Traditionally Ngoshe Mukote is the only woman in the entire Bemba Land who from the time the Bemba came into Zambia up to this day is preserved for a year after she dies, and is buried at Shimwalule together with her sons Chiti, Nkula, Mwamba, Nkweto and Chimbuka. No other Chief more so a woman is buried at Shimwalule apart from those I have mentioned. This is a tradition we have observed from the time of UNIP. Before Chitimukulu Mutale Chitapankwa died during the Chiluba MMD rule, we had a case where Chimbuka was preserved for a longer period and the Mwine Lubemba…