KABEY a MWANB

Kabey a Mwanb (circa 1850-circa 1895) was chief of the Kaninchin, a small Lunda-related people living about 185 km (115 mi) south of Mbuji Mayi. Oral tradition depicts Kabey a Mwanb as a dynamic chief who organised an effective defence against the Cokwe (Chokwe) slave raiders from what is now northern Angola who were operating in the area during the late 1880s.

Although few in numbers when they still lived in their original northern Angola homeland, the Cokwe experienced a remarkable demographical and geographical expansion after 1850 as peripatetic bands of Cokwe hunters, traders, and warriors advanced northwards in search of beeswax, ivory, and slaves. By the 1860s, Cokwe warriors had become deeply involved in Lunda politics as mercenary allies of  various contenders for the office of Mwant Yav (paramount chief).

By the 1870s and 1880s, vast numbers of Cokwe people had settled among the Lunda living in  southern Zaire. From that time until the early 1900s, Cokwe warriors in search of slaves attacked and terrorised Lunda, Kete, Sala Mpasu, Kanyok, Kalundwe, and Kaninchin villages.

When Kabey a Mwanb came to power in about 1875, he set about to repair and strengthen Kaninchin defenses. As many other people in southern Zaire and  northern Angola, had also done, the Kaninchin had for long built elaborate fortifications around their villages. These defenses consisted of a palisade  surrounded by a deep dry moat. Forming huge ovals often five or more kilometers  in length, such structures afforded an effective protection against intruders. Kabey specially reinforced his capital, a group of eight neighbouring villages, by  constructing a system of three circular entrenchments enclosing a network of underground passages. Other Kaninchin leaders, including Mwin Muandj (chief of Muandj), strengthened the enormous entrenchments encircling their villages. The Kaninchin also purchased some guns from Lwena and Ovimbundu traders based in Angola. It was at this time that Cokwe raids increased in number and intensity.

According to local oral recollections, the most serious Cokwe attack on Kabey a Mwanb’s Kaninchin came during the reign of the Lunda chief Mwant Yav Mbumb Muteb a Kat who held office from 1874 to 1883. Mbumb, who had used Cokwe mercenaries to gain the Lunda throne, rewarded his Cokwe allies by leading them north against his neighbours.

Although the Cokwe destroyed many villages and took numerous slaves, they were unable to defeat the well-prepared Kaninchin. Another time, a party of Cokwe raiders were deceived with a clever ruse devised by the  people of Mbangom, a Kaninchin village. Feigning friendship with the Cokwe, the people of Mbangom offered to guide them to Kabey a Mwanb’s capital. Instead they led them into an ambush at the fortifications surrounding the royal village.  Kaninchin tradition claims several hundred Cokwe were killed and that many others were  taken captive for sale to Ovimbundu slave buyers.

Kabey Mwanb’s ability to withstand Cokwe warriors is regarded by the Kaninchin people as the start of a victorious liberation campaign. They assert that his example served as an inspiration for other people to resist the Cokwe. The Lunda, on the other hand, credit Mwant Yav Mushid a Nambing, who took office in 1887, and his brother Kawel as the individuals most responsible for neutralising the aggressive Cokwe.

In 1898, after a decade of exile in the countryside while the enemy occupied their capital, the two brothers attacked and soundly defeated Mawoka, the most renowned Cokwe war leader. Although Kabey a Mwanb, who died in about 1895, is not as well-known as the two Lunda resisters, he was able to provide security and hope for his people during an era of widespread turbulence.

TSHIBANGU KABET MUSAS and JOHN C. YODER