KANYIMBU-NEWEJ, MPEMB

Kanyimbu-Newej, also called Kanyimbu Mpembe a Nkind, (circa 1700-circa 1760) was a great military leader, who extended Lunda influence east to the Lake Mweru region, 750 km (450 mi) from the Lunda capital at Musumba. Holding the title Kazembe (governor), he owed his success to the strength of his army and to the willingness of subjected chiefs to become loyal allies of the prestigious conquering Lunda.

Kanyimbu himself was the son of Cinyat Mfemb, a chief living west of the Lubudi River who had been defeated by Lunda armies just before 1700. After his defeat, Cinyat Mfemt became a faithful official in the Lunda state. Later, his son Ngand a Bilond was given the title Kazembe and instructed to secure the Lunda domain in the Lualaba river area north of modern Kolwezi, where the Kecila salt pans were located.

Besides organising Lunda administration in the Lubudi-Lualaba region, Ngand a Bilond pushed eastwards across the Lualaba into the Sanga, Lomotwa, and Lamba lands, located within a 200 km (120 mi radius of modern Likasi. Unable to consolidate these lands into an effective polity, Ngand a Bilond died not long after his army had killed the Lomotwa chief Mufunga (the Lomotwa live about 200 km north of Likasi).

When Ngand a Bilond died, in about 1750, his brother Kanyimbu Newej and his general Mushima competed to succeed him as Kazembe. The two rival candidates went to Musumba where Mwant Yav Mukaz Waranankong (who ruled circa 1720-40) appointed Kanyimbu as the Kazembe and gave him white clay and a muyombu (ficus plant) as symbols of his new office.

The Kazembe was to rub himself with the clay when appearing before the Mwant Yav, while the ficus was to grow in the capital of the lands which he would conquer east of the region already subjected by Ngand a Bilond. Contrary to what some scholars have claimed, the Mwant Yav did not make Kanyimbu his equal for the very title Kazembe implies subordination. To avoid future disputes involving succession to the title of Kazembe, the Mwant Yav Mukaz decreed that succession within the borders of his empire should follow a direct patrilineal pattern.

The new Kazembe went to the Lualaba River area, where he strengthened his politico-economic relations by marrying Monga, the daughter of Abwid, chief of the land where the Kecila salt pans were located. Then Kanyimbu rapidly organised his army and crossed over the Lualaba into the Sanga, Lamba, and Lemba territories, between modern Lubumbashi and Likasi.

Campaigning for an entire year, he gained the submission of the Katanga, Poyo, Kyembe, Mutondo, and Kapondo groups, who incorporated Lunda practices into their political ceremonies and agreed to pay tribute to the Kazembe. During this time he learned that a Luba army, reinforced with Lunda adventurers, threatened his newly-created empire. After defeating the Luba, he received tribute from the Lomotwas of the Pweto region at the northern end of Lake Mweru and from all the minor chiefs on the west bank of the Lualaba.

Thus, Kanyimbu controlled the entire region bordered by the Lubudi River in the west and by the Luapula River (currently the eastern boundary of Zaire) in the east. In the north, his land reached the Lomotwa people near Lake Mweru, while in the south it extended as far as the Lamb and Kaonde groups, living almost 160 km (100 mi) south of modern Lubumbashi.

The following year Kanyimbu continued his conquests. He crossed the Luapula above Mwabidima, about 100 km (60 mi) south of Lake Mweru. Once on the other side (in what is now Zambia) Kazembe made an alliance with some chiefs to whom he granted Lunda titles. The Aushi, Kalaba, and Myelemyele (Chawala Makumba) chiefs resisted, however, and were conquered. Moving south to the Lake Bangweolu area Kanyimbu subjected the Aushi, who live about 100 km (60 mi) east of modern Lubumbashi. The Kazembe then installed his subordinate Kashib as their chief.

Then Kazembe Kanyimbu marched northeast to defeat the Chishinga, who live just west of Lake Bangweolu, and the Bisa, who are located about 150 km (90 mi) east of the lake. When Mwin Mpand, who had been installed as governor over the Chishinga, was killed by Chungu chief of the nearby Makulu people, Kanyimbu retailiated by killing Chungu and subjecting his people.

He then went down the Luapula to attack the Shila who were commanded by their nkuba (supreme chief). Kazembe Kanyimbu fought Katele, the nkuba’s nephew, and seized the territory when Katele took refuge in the nearby swamps. Having conquered numerous peoples over a vast geographical area in what are now southeastern Zaire and northern Zambia, Kazembe Kanyimbu Newej attempted to consolidate his gains by setting up a permanent capital from which he could oversee his territory.

He went down the Luapula River and settled near Lake Mweru at Lunde, the capital of his defeated enemy Katele. There, Kazembe Kanyimbu ruled as a representative of the Mwant Yav and as supreme governor of the region. In his new capital he solemnly planted the ficus which Mwant Yav Mukaz had given him at Musumba.

During his many years of campaigning, Kazembe had preserved the ficus by planting it at each of his provisional residences. The ficus symbolised not only the spiritual presence of ancestors, but also domination over the land. Thus Kanyimbu hoped to legitimise his regime, and also secure the blessing of the Lunda ancestors.

Kazembe Kanyimbu, however, faced internal opposition to his imperial projects. Many Lunda, not wanting to settle so far from their native land, attempted to desert. The Kazembe prevented their escape, however, by posting guards at the Luapula River crossings.

Towards the end of his life, Kazembe Kanyimbu had to deal with ambitious sons who tried to usurp his authority. When one of his sons rebelled, the Kazembe sent another son, Mukej, to punish the offender. Instead of complying, Mukej, who was the general of Kanyimbu’s western army, also revolted and set up a separate kingdom north of modern Kolwezi. Mukej, known as the Kazembe of the Lualaba, ruled over the region between the Lualaba and Lubudi rivers.

Kanyimbu Newej Mpemb, the Kazembe of the Luapula River region, died around 1760. Although his body was buried in the Majaan cemetery at his capital Lunde, his hair and nails were returned to his homeland in the Lualaba area.

TSHIBANGU KABET MUSAS.