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The Royal Graves Of Barotseland
By Yuyi Libakeni
Nanikelako
'Kwa
langanine Luboshi lwa Nyambe'
In
1884 Luboshi (as Lewanika was then known) was attacked by an army of
rebels and had to flee his capital, Lealui. He took a turn to the
west and in doing so cast his eyes on a site that captured his
imagination and regretted that he was unable to visit the area, "mba
ni kelako" he is reported to have remarked thereby giving the
spot its name, Mbanikelako. It is not clear whether or not
Lewanika visited the place following his restoration in 1885 but it
is unlikely that 1884 was the first time he sighted the place as
Nangulwe, where he spent most of his time as a prince, was nearby.In
1903 on his return from the coronation of King Edward VII in London,
Lewanika decided that a mound be made at the spot and to serve as
his sitino. The name was then changed from Mbanikelako to
Nanikelako, I have been there! But there! Where?
Two explanations are given in answer to this question. First it is
said that Lewanika was drawing attention to the fulfilment of his
1884 wish above and that now at last he is there, na ni kelako.
Others argue that Lewanika was addressing the many doubting Thomases
among his people who thought he had never been to England, by an
emphatic na ni kelako. Notwithstanding that the mound was
made immediately after the London visit it is unlikely that it is
the visit that was his focus. He had admired the place before. Is
it not that in his fright he was regretting now that he is going
into exile and it will not be possible for him to rest on the spot
he had admired. It is most likely therefore, that his focus was his
resting place given reports that plots to topple him werebeing
continuously hatched. Whichever way, we now have "Nanikelako kwa
langanine Luboshi lwa Nyambe", meaning Nanikelako where lies
Lubosi.
Lewanika's n'omboti is known as Kuambweta, meaning to add,
increase or augment. As a prince, Lewanika was given responsibility
for the royal cattle herd and also to hunt birds for his uncle
Litunga, Sipopa, and later cousin Litunga Mwanawina II, his
immediate predecessor. He therefore spent most of the time at
Nangulwe nearby Nanikelako. In fact it was in the midst of one of
these hunting forays that Lewanika was bundled up to become the new
Litunga in 1878. It is said that when sharing the catch during
these missions Lewanika would instruct his men in Siluyana "
mu ambwete uko mu siwana sa muywandi", put more on the
chief's lot, thus giving rise to the name kuambweta. But it
must also be remembered that Lewanika had considerably extended his
kingdom and sphere of influence beyond the boundaries he inherited
across the Kafue as outlined in the Barotseland-North Western
Rhodesia Order in Council, 1900.
The Ngambela at Nanikelako is known as Sondo,(the iron that
is the blacksmith's stock in trade) which though red hot does not
show it to the eye; it will however burn out anything that comes
into contact with it. That is why it is said by the Lozi "sondo
sa mulilo kasa ku lema na makaa, wa singa ku si lema u sae lumangato"
you don't handle sondo with your bare hands except with tongs and
pincers. (Recall the old UNIP slogan "UNIP, Mulilo, waikatako
wapya"! Lewanika was never known to play all his cards at any
one time! So the full blast of his plans was not always apparent.
But there is much more. In another sense, Sondo is the blacksmith's
anvil on which he fabricates all types of products. Lewanika is here
seen as the anvil on which the matrix of the modern Barotse nation
was founded.
In
Sondo Lewanika gives advice on how to rule people and enjoy their
support: Nakamuta ulese ku mona mutwi, itindi ni yamwana notaa mu
meyi .... onje ni ifutu ya Nyambe mu meyi.
Mulonga na lutenda mbala tweo, kulya mulonga ni ku wana atafuneni:.
If
you are a leader do not raise your head in pride, remember the many
different people under your care give them protection and comfort.
Government is not a one man show but a complicated undertaking
requiring the assistance of others to make it easier for you to
discharge your responsibilities. Take care of your people , they are
the source of your power and authority.
Finally, the saying " liywa lya tema-tema, sondo sa mulilo, sa
ku fa na kuyoya" comes handy Sondo, is here likened to the
setting sun no longer emitting or showing that intense heat, its
lights sinking to rest, darkness galloping to mid night, and yet it,
i.e. the sun, still determines life and death. Lewanika might be
dead but his works and wisdom still control our lives to this day
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November 2004