Discover Bemba

Bemba, also known as Cibemba, is spoken by roughly 5 million people, primarily in Zambia, and also in parts of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a Bantu language and belongs to the larger Niger-Congo language family.

Main Communities

Luapula (Zambia)
Kinshasa (Congo)
Lusaka (Zambia)

Tigrinya Names and Their Meanings:

  • Mulenga: Creator
  • Bukata: God’s glory
  • Mwango Joyful
  • Mapalo: God’s blessings

Staple Food

Nshima: Nshima is the main food of the Bemba people. It is a thick porridge made from maize flour, cassava, or millet flour. Nshima is eaten with relish, which can be vegetables, meat like beef or wild birds, and sometimes a slimy dish called umulembwe made from okra or other wild plants.

Culture and Traditions

Imbusa: The Imbusa ritual is an important tradition for the Bemba people in Zambia, teaching young brides how to be good wives and build strong marriages. During the ritual, women learn special cultural practices and songs, like ukukuna, which helps with childbirth and leads to good and successful marriages.

Ukusefya Pa Ngwena: Ukusefya Pa Ngwena is a special celebration by the Bemba people to honor the start of their kingdom over 600 years ago. It happens in Ngwena village, where the Bemba people settled after traveling from Kola, now in Angola. The leader, called the Chitimukulu, sits on a special throne shaped like a crocodile. People play drums, dance, and enjoy yummy traditional food and drinks. This celebration helps the Bemba people remember their history and keep their traditions alive.

Notable figures:

Kenneth Kaunda: Kenneth Kaunda was the first President of Zambia and helped the country gain independence. He was from the Bisa people, but he worked closely with the Bemba people. Many Bemba leaders and communities supported him, and he spoke their language well. Kaunda believed in bringing people together and treated all Zambians as one family. Even after he was no longer president, he continued to help people and promote peace in Africa.

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