Vira people

Last updated
King Lwegeleza III on the day of his coronation in 1997. Mwami Lwegeleza III.jpg
King Lwegeleza III on the day of his coronation in 1997.

The Vira people or Bavira (in the plural) are one of the most numerous ethnic groups in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.[ citation needed ] These people are located in the region of Uvira in the East of the country, on the northeast coast of Lake Tanganyika at the border with Burundi. The Bavira are also known in the name of Benembuga in Kivira (Bavira language) which means "authentic Uvira citizens."

Contents

The current king of the Bavira is Lwegeleza III (Edmond). He succeeded his father Mwami Lenghe Rugaza, who was assassinated in 1997 in the violent disorder which took place after the liberation of the DRC by Laurent-Désiré Kabila.

Cultural identity

To be a Muvira (the singular of Bavira), one must belong by birth to one of the fifty families (clans) founder of the ethnic group. No other consideration is valid in this traditional society. And as Bavira are patriarchal, the lineage of the father determines membership in the group.

Anyone whose family, to say the clan is part of many of these clans is Muvira, regardless of where they live now. And anyone whose clan is not this number of clans is not a Muvira whatever number of years that his family lives in the chiefdom of Bavira. The list of 51 clans that make up the people Bavira is just below.

Kings Bavira

Le roi Lenghe III Rugaza Kabale (pere du roi actuel Lwegeleza III) en 1987. Mwami Lenghe Rugaza (petit format).jpg
Le roi Lenghe III Rugaza Kabale (père du roi actuel Lwegeleza III) en 1987.

Since 1645 years, are led by the Bavira Dynasty BeneLenghe. These last are from the last king of the dynasty of ancient Balabwe strain, Mbuti Ilunga, who died in Katanga in 1645. His son Lenghe Ilungha took control of the state. Thus, the term BeneLenghe means the descendants of Lenghe. It is from him that we began counting the kings of Bavira.

  1. Lenghe or Lenghe I Ilunga, son of Mbuti Ilunga and first king of the dynasty BeneLenghe (1645–1670), a 25 -year reign
  2. Mubila Munanila or Munana son of Ilunga Lenghe I (1671–1709), 38 -year reign
  3. Kibwe Mabingo (1709–1735), a 26 -year reign
  4. Muluta I Kibwe (1735–1763), a 28 -year reign
  5. Kinyunda Kye Lugongo (1763–1798), 35 years of reign
  6. Mbuti II Lenge (1798–1830), 32 -year reign
  7. Muluta II Muvuluma (1830–1871), 41 -year reign
  8. Nambuza Mukangwa (1871–1897), a 26 -year reign
  9. Muluta III Nakumika (1898–1932), a 34 -year reign
  10. Lenghe II Kabale Mamboto Lwegeleza (1932–1945), a 13 -year reign
  11. Lwegeleza I Kabale Mamboto (1945–1964), 19 -year reign
  12. Lenghe III Kabale Rugaza Rampan Roman Geslin (1965–1996), 31 -year reign
  13. Lwegeleza III Lenghe Edmond (1997–present)

Clans of Bavira

A look at children Bavira in 1913. COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Groepje Vira meisjes met schaamschorten en prachtige halssieraden Uvira TMnr 60029533.jpg
A look at children Bavira in 1913.
  1. Baanza village Kasenga
  2. Babenga village Kigongo
  3. Babinda village Kigongo
  4. Babogwe village Kashombe
  5. Babondo village Kibombo
  6. Babugu village Kabimba
  7. Babulwa village Kabimba
  8. Babumba villages Bumba and Kamba
  9. Babunda villages and Kabunda Kabindula
  10. Bafumu villages Kasenga Kilomoni and Kanvira
  11. Bafunda village Kimanga
  12. Bagaja villages Uvira Centre and Mujaga
  13. Baganda village Lugongo
  14. Bagela village Kabimba
  15. Bagendo village Katala
  16. Bagezi village Kabimba
  17. Bagotwe village Kigongo
  18. Bagungu villages and Kanvira Kilomoni
  19. Bahagwe village Kigongo
  20. Bahala village Makobola
  21. Bahalu villages and Makobola Natutwa
  22. Bahang village Gomba
  23. Bahinga , their former name Balama, villages Kabimba Lugongo and Ngaja
  24. Bahonga village Kigongo
  25. Bahofu village Kabimba
  26. Bajombo villages and Bijombo Kitundu
  27. Bajumbi villages Kitundu, Kiku and Mbigo
  28. Bakali village Kabimba
  29. Bakanga villages and Mugea Lugongo
  30. Bakono villages Uvira Centre, Kirungu, Kayaja and Makobola . They have no connection with Bakono of Rwanda, the latter being Nilotic while Bakono Uvira are like all other Bantu Bajoba
  31. Balambo villages Kigongo, Kihala, Kitundu, Katala and Bugizi
  32. Baheta village Muheta, Katongo
  33. Balega village Muheta
  34. Balembwe villages and Rugembe Kalundu
  35. Balibu village Katongo
  36. Balila village Kabimba
  37. ' Balizi' village Kitundu
  38. Balingi village Kigongo
(a large part of the population was decimated by the floods of the river Kakumba in 1910)
  1. Balunguti village Kigongo
  2. Bangala (or Bahangala ), villages and Makobola Kabone
  3. Banone villages and Kabimba Kitala
  4. Bashambi ( not to be confused with Bashimbi which are Bafuliru ), villages and Kala Kalundu
  5. Basinga village Kasinga
  6. Basingwe village Musingwe
  7. Batanga village Kasenga
  8. Batala village Kitala
  9. Batende village Kabimba
  10. Batimbu villages and Kilibula Ruzozi ( Kalundu port)
  11. Bavumi village Kishembwe
  12. Baziba villages and Kifuta Kagozi
  13. Bakabaga villages and Kabimba Kigongo
  14. BeneLenghe ( sub-clan of the ancient Balabwe strain) villages Lugongo, Katala and Kala
  15. Balabwe (clan that gave birth to BeneLenghe ) village Labwe.

About the Balabwe clan

The case of Balabwe deserves explanation. Because there is the Balabwe the ancient strain and Balabwe the recent strain. The history of the Balabwe ancient strain is very long. It starts with the great king of kingdom theocratic of Bupemba known name Ilunga Kiluwe, also known in the name of Sango Wa Mpemba. This is the one that gave birth to the emperors of the second dynasty of the Luba Empire by his son, Prince Mdidi Kiluwe as tradition often recognized the name hunter.

This great king Bupemba (territory was transformed into Upemba National Park by the colonizers Belgium) was from the clan of Balabwe term meaning those who have received the anointing of God to reign. Mbidi his son, he also had descendants who continued to rule the kingdom of Bupemba, whose last king Mbuti Ilunga will be forced, because of the cruelty of his brothers emperors Empire Baluba it made war to flee his country Bupemba with his people. The decades that followed, some of his people adopt the name of Bavira when it is reflected both in the current country that give the name of Uvira, saying countries Bavira. < Br/>

In terms of the Balabwe recent strain she began in 1840 by Prince Namango brother of King Muluta 2. The king, having adopted the Muslim religion, he lent strong hands to Arab slave to slavery in his country and in neighboring countries at the time. He also had disputes with its big brother the king about slavery. He was fiercely opposed to the king to have a covenant with the Arabs in the trade of human beings. The King refused to give up its alliances with Arabas, whereupon her little brothers decided to opt out of his clan BeneLenghe Balabwe to return to the old clan of his ancestor.

After this fight, in 1840, left Namango Katala up and move to another land that the people giving the name of Muhungu, that is to say, a place of refuge. These Balabwe of recent strain BeneLenghe share with the country of Katala, height Rugenge (Kanvinvira). The village Rutemba them also belongs. Muhungu of his son Mushaba Mbuti "Mulyama" from base to another location in the city Kitija, which today is in the Chiefdom of Bafuliru.

There's still traces its banana plantation, called "Kigundu kya Mulyama" (the banana plantation of Mulyama). This name Mulyama (who drinks until morning) was given to him in connection with his inclinations exaggerated consumption of the drink. When he landed in a village, he could not proceed without having finished all the drink that it contained two glasses at his own expense, all the villagers. Mulyama built several other cities in this part of the country including Katala (near Namirye) Mujaga (around Lemera) Ndegu (Katobo), etc. where he was installing his brothers Balabwe.

In the land of Katala, areas likely descendants of Namango include: Shora and Rutemba. But, most of their fields lie in what is today the Chiefdom of Bufuliru, as we have just seen. And in the Rusizi Plain Chiefdom, there is the whole country Kagando and Kagozi. Luhindiza's son Mushaba Mbuti Mulyama, refused to live in the cities which his father had founded, whose popular culture was essentially based on drunkenness unabated. He still lived with his grandfather in the land of Namango Muhungu. Then he returned to Katala their city of origin. Time after it based very close to Katala, his own city named Rutemba.

Note on Bahinga or Balama. Their original name Balama was given to them by other members of the tribe that the clan members lived a long time before dying. They were the praetorian guard of the king of Bavira since the flight of the people of the Luba empire . And later, when Mubila Munanila (Munana), son of King Ilungha Lenghe first moved the capital of Sanga ( current Nundu ) to Lugongo on the mountain that bears his name (Mt. Munanira overlooking the town of Uvira), the balama also moved to his side, in the same city as him. But then they got into the habit of going down the mountain to beg fry among clans fishermen settled on the shores of lake from Kilomoni up Kilibula: Bafumu, Bafunda, Bagaja, Bagungu, Balizi, Bakono, Balembwe, Batanga, Batimbu etc.

Additions based on ethnographic field data of 1949-50 gathered by Daniel Biebuyck:

Related Research Articles

Hyeokgeose of Silla, also known by his personal full name as Bak Hyeokgeose (朴赫居世), was the founding monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the progenitor of all Bak (Park) clans in Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Kivu</span> Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

South Kivu is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu.

Sobhuza I was king of Eswatini, from 1815 to 1850. Born around the year 1788, his father was King Ndvungunye, and his mother was Somnjalose Simelane. He was called Somhlolo, meaning "Mysterious man", upon his birth because his father, Ndvungunye, was struck by lightning. When Sobhuza was king, Lojiba Simelane, instead of his mother, Somnjalose was Queen Mother because Somnjalose was an inhlanti or support bride to Lojiba. Somhlolo is a greatly revered king of Eswatini. He had his first royal capital or kraal at Zombodze in the Shiselweni region, but moved it north to new Zombodze in central Eswatini. Swazis celebrate Somhlolo Day every September 6 as their Independence Day and the national stadium is named Somhlolo National Stadium. Sobhuza was succeeded by his son Mswati II and his wife Tsandzile Ndwandwe as Queen Mother after a short regency by Queen Lojiba Simelane. Sobhuza by the time of his death had conquered a country claimed to reach to modern day Barberton in the north, Carolina in the west, Pongola River in the south and Lubombo Mountains in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvira</span> City in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Uvira is a city strategically located in the South Kivu Province of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated between Lake Tanganyika and the Mitumba Mountains, spanning approximately 16 square kilometers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alur people</span> Ethnic group

Alur are a Nilotic ethnic group who live in northwestern Uganda and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They are part of the larger Luo group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luba people</span> Ethnolinguistic group indigenous to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Luba people or Baluba are an Bantu ethno-linguistic group indigenous to the south-central region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The majority of them live in this country, residing mainly in Katanga, Kasaï, Kasaï-Oriental, Kasaï-Central, Lomami and Maniema. The Baluba consist of many sub-groups or clans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandjoun</span> Commune in West Region, Cameroon

Bandjoun is a town and commune in the Koung-Khi Department in the West Region of Cameroon. Bandjoun is also the capital of the Koung-Khi department, and one of the largest traditional chefferie (chiefdom) in Bamiléké country. The chief dwells in Hialah, and has many wives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuru Kingdom</span> Ancient Indo-aryan Vedic union

Kuru was a Vedic Indo-Aryan tribal union in northern Iron Age India of the Bharatas and other Puru clans. The Kuru kingdom appeared in the Middle Vedic period, encompassing parts of the modern-day states of Haryana, Delhi, and some parts of western Uttar Pradesh. The Kuru kingdom was the first recorded state-level society in the Indian subcontinent.

Kiga people, or Abakiga, are a Bantu ethnic group native to south western Uganda and northern Rwanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Hunter</span> Scottish clan

Clan Hunter is a Scottish clan.

Pandukabhaya was a king of Upatissa Nuwara and the first monarch of the Anuradhapura Kingdom and 6th over all of the island of Sri Lanka since the arrival of the Vijaya; he reigned from 437 BC to 367 BC. According to many historians and philosophers, he is the first truly Sri Lankan king since the Vijayan migration, and also the king who ended the conflict between the Sinha clan and the local clans, reorganising the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furiiru people</span> African ethnic group

The Fuliiru people are a Bantu ethnic group predominantly inhabiting the east-central highlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They reside in the South Kivu Province, situated south of Lake Kivu and to the north and northwest of Uvira Territory, along the Ruzizi Plain near the border with Rwanda and Burundi, where a contingent of Fuliiru also resides. According to the 2009 census, their population estimate exceeded 250,000, while a 1999 estimate of Kifuliiru-language speakers placed the number at 300,000. The Fuliiru are renowned for their skilled craftsmanship, particularly in the production of pottery and basketry. Their handcrafted baskets are highly coveted for their intricate designs and exceptional quality, and are frequently employed for storage, decoration, and even as musical instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luba Empire</span> Pre-colonial (1585–1889) Central African

The Luba Empire or Kingdom of Luba (1585–1889) was a pre-colonial Central African state that arose in the marshy grasslands of the Upemba Depression in what is now southern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Katende, or Sungu-Katende, was a royal sacred village of the Kingdom of Luba. It was adjacent to the village of Kabondo. Katende is on the upper Lomami in the Lualaba region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Hemba people are a Bantu ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvira Territory</span> Territory in South Kivu, DR Congo

Uvira Territory is a territory in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is bordered by Walungu Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the west, Fizi Territory to the south, and Burundi and Lake Tanganyika to the east. Its capital is Uvira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luvungi</span> Town in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Luvungi, also known as Itara-Luvungi, is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated on the Ruzizi Plain, it lies at the borders of Uvira Territory and Walungu Territory, in close proximity to the frontiers of Rwanda and Burundi. Luvungi is home to a population of approximately 85,000 individuals, predominantly consisting of Fuliru agriculturalists who play a vital role in the local community. There's also has a small population of Vira, Bembe, Lega, Shi, Burundians and Banyamulenge. Its economy is founded mainly on subsistence agriculture and the artisanal mining of cassiterite, an ore of tin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruzizi Plain</span> River valley in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Ruzizi Plain is a valley situated between the Mitumba mountain chain and the Ruzizi River. It serves as a natural border, separating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from Burundi and Rwanda on the other side. The Ruzizi Plain is an integral part of the larger Western Rift Valley, which stretches across several African countries. It is traversed by the Ruzizi River, which flows from Lake Kivu through the plain and into Lake Tanganyika. It covers an area of 175,000 hectares divided between Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC. In Burundi, the plain extends to the northern sector of Imbo. It is bounded by parallels 2°36′ and 3°26′ south latitude and by meridians 29°00′ and 29°26 east longitude—an area of 1025 km2. The Congolese side is bounded to the north by the plain of Bugarama (Rwanda), to the east by the plain of Imbo (Burundi), to the West by the chain of Mitumba and to the South by Lake Tanganyika. The region covers thus about 80,000 hectares with 80 kilometers in length.

The Bafuliiru Chiefdom, also spelled as Chefferie des Bafulero, is a chiefdom located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the Uvira Territory, which is part of the South Kivu Province in eastern DRC.

References