By Simon Liseli at Chinchimane
IN the wake of annual Lusata cultural festival of 2017 , Prince Dr.Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika of Barotseland of the Western Zambia made a clarion call on Sunday how the Mafwe people came to be who they are today and their chieftainship from Barotseland Royal house.
Dr. Akashambatwa confessed that he spend his school days in Namibia supporting the armed liberation struggle of the country and started working as a lecturer in Namibian higher institution of learning.
He explained the chieftainship of Mamili saying it originates from where Lozi chieftainship comes from. “Lozi kings from the first Litunga Mbo to current Litunga of Barotse all originates from Litunga Mbuyu Mwambwa the son of Mwambwa where kings such as Kakene and other family where another chief who was chosen in 1864 is where Mamili comes” he explained.
He added that the planting of Mamili in the then Caprivi Strip was not casual because it was immediately following the liberation of Barotseland from Sotho conquest and was necessary after the liberation to make sure that this side of Barotseland there’s someone who becomes the gatekeeper no slavery take place to this side of Barotse.
“Am saying being free and happy because our hearts are in joyous for coming at home and what makes us one is our blood that doesn’t even have no boarder, you are the royal family of us because of the same blood” he noted.
Prince Mbikusita-Lewanika added that the governance system of people here and there is same since from the 17th centuries starting with Mwanambinyi who was followed by Ngombala who brought the place under the same governance but after Sotho conquest it became necessary to follow it by putting an institution on the ground.
“My grandfather King Lewanika the 1st lived in this place in three critical period of his life, first he lived here during the Sotho occupation, I participated in the liberation struggle which started and concluded here at (Linyandi)” he explained.
In 1884 his grandfather (King Lewanika) was overthrown for a period of nine (9)months and again he returned at Linyanti and began his mobilization to gain his throne in 1885. “For that reason, is why am also coming here to pay homage to the place of our salvation” he confessed.
He concluded saying that the culture is one, “In English we say a fool and his culture are soon pated, meaning a fool cannot be close to his culture. We thank those who started Lusata and those who organise the event to be celebrated because they are lightening us to love our culture, enjoy, dancing, singing, refreshing and to recognize it as we are one people and we shall be one people forever” he furthered.
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