LUMPUNGU

Lumpungu (circa 1860-May 22, 1919), also known as Goi Mafula, and later as Chief Muikalebwe was an important Songye chief in what is now Kabinda in the Kasai Region. Ruling at a time when both the Swahili Arabs and the Congo Free State authorities were penetrating into the area, Lumpungu attempted to cooperate with the powerful outsiders without losing his own authority over the Songye.

PHOTO CAPTION: Lumpungu standing between two of his officials SOURCE: EA Library

Born in Makonde village near Kabinda in Kasai, Lumpungu belonged to the Bena Mabala family of the Bekalebwe segment of the Songye ethnic group. His father Ngoyi Kaumbu, or Yankaumbu, a village elder and a hunter, was able to purchase the Bena Mabala military title of “Kembe.” To prove himself worthy of the title, Ngoyi Kaumbu successfully fought the formidable Bala warriors who had been terrorising the region.

Around 1865, two Bekalebwe groups, the Bena Tshofwe and the Bena Lukashiyi, began a violent quarrel. After experiencing repeated defeats, the Bena Lukashiyi persuaded “Kembe” Ngoyi to help them. Ngoyi, however, also suffered a series of losses. Learning that Mahomed, an Arabised man serving the great Swahili slave trader Tippu-Tib, was among the Belande, Ngoyi solicited Mahomed’s aid and was able to beat the Bena Tshofwe. This victory enhanced Ngoyi’s reputation as a great Bekalebwe chief. Thus, he was able to pay the necessary gifts for becoming a Yakitenge (supreme Bekalebwe chief).

Since Ngoyi died in 1880, however, shortly before his consecration, his younger brother Yamutombo Kaumbu was installed in his stead. When Yamutombo too died, Lumpungu, Ngoyi’s fourth son, quickly took advantage of his uncle’s death to gain control of the Bekalebwe people. By 1882, when the German explorer Herman von Wissmann was passing through the region on his way across the continent, the majority of the Bekalebwe had already recognised Lumpungu as their chief.

Soon after 1880, Swahili slave raids west of the Lomami River threatened the Bekalebwe people. Too weak to resist, in 1882 they decided to buy security with a heavy ransom. Lumpungu was the one who collected the ransom and took it to the residence of the Swahili merchant Fwamba. Then Lumpungu led his men to the Bemeki Kasongo, where there were great quantities of ivory.

Lumpungu’s contact with the Arabised forces led him to believe his people had no alternative except to collaborate with the Swahili forces. Therefore, he became their ally and vassal. As, however, he accompanied and guided the slave traders in their raids, he directed them away from his own people or away from those who had purchased his protection. Although he was forced to give the greater part of the booty to his allies, Lumpungu was able to multiply his own wealth and power. With help from the Swahili traders, Lumpungu had become the uncontested political chief of the otherwise decentralised Bekalebwe people by 1890.

The Bena Milembwe, Bena Kibeshi, and Bena Kizubu were his vassals. Other neighbouring chiefs, such as Panya Mutombo of the Basanga, Mwana Kankenza of the Beneki Babenga, Kayeye of the Bena Budia, and Katombe of the Bena Kalambayi, although nominally independent, paid for warriors for his expeditions.

Early in 1892, Ngongo Leteta, a powerful Tetela chief (the Tetela lived north of Lumpungu), who represented the Arabs west of the Lomami, arrived at Kabinda to ask Lumpungu for help in a new slaving expedition among the Juba Kasai people living in the Lubilash river area. Previously, in 1890, Congo Free State troops had demonstrated their superiority over Ngongo by beating him in battle and by founding a State station at Lusambo, 200 km (120 mi) northwest of Kabinda on the Sankuru River. Unhappy with Ngongo Leteta’s attempts to control him, Lumpungu refused to accompany the Tetela chief to the Lubilash. Besides, he was not anxious to enter into open conflict with the power which had just dealt Ngongo a severe blow. Nevertheless, in order not to offend Ngongo, Lumpungu gave him some warriors whom he had ordered to desert in the course of their march. Lumpungu was fortunate not to have been involved with Ngongo for Lt. (Baron) Dhanis inflicted painful defeats on Ngongo on April 23, and May 5, 1892. After this trial of forces both Ngongo Leteta and Lumpungu submitted to the Free State, which set up a station at Kabinda on October 4, 1892.

From that time on, Lumpungu, also known as Chief Muikalebwe, devotedly served his new masters, fighting with them against his former Arab masters in the battle of Chige on November 22, 1892. Later, in 1895, when Ngongo Leteta’s former soldiers mutinied against the Free State in the Batetela revolt, Lumpungu again aided the State. After 1892, he took charge of rubber collection and supplied provisions and porters for the government. During the World War I campaign against the Germans in East Africa, Lumpungu provided thousands of porters for duty in Tanganyika.

Although he complied with all governmental demands, his main goal was to preserve his interests and his authority over his subjects. He was careful to prevent Europeans from interfering in his relations with his sub-chiefs. He preferred to have the colonialists transmit orders through his own court rather than dealing directly with his subordinates. As best as he could, Lumpungu resisted attempts to dismantle his vast chiefdom.

The tendency to regard himself as an independent ally did not please the Belgians. Although, at first, they allowed Lumpungu a great deal of freedom, thus using him to supplement their own thinly spread forces, as their occupation became effective, they restricted his authority. First, they granted independence to some sub-chiefs and, second, made it clear to all that Lumpungu, as Chief Muikalebwe, was regarded merely as an agent of the State.

Yet when Lumpungu died on May 22, 1919, from heart disease, his great domain remained almost completely unexplored by the European intruders.

MUTEBA KABEMBA NSUYA