Lozi people

TheLozi people,also known asBalozi,are aBantu-speakingethnic group native toSouthern Africa.They have significant populations inAngola,Botswana,Namibia,Zambia,andZimbabwe.The Lozi language,Silozi,is used as the formal language in official, educational, and media contexts. The Lozi people number approximately 1,561,900.

Lozi People

Balozi
Flag of the Lozi people
Total population
1,561,900
Regions with significant populations
Zambia	1,325,000
Zimbabwe	166,000
Namibia	41,000
Botswana	20,000
Angola	9,900
Languages
Silozi
Religion
Christianity•African traditional religion
Related ethnic groups
Sotho-Tswana peoples

Lozi
Person	Mulozi
People	Balozi
Language	Silozi
Country	Bulozi

The Lozi comprise several tribes, including the Bamakoma, Kwanda, Lukolwe,Bafwe,Batotela,Bayeyi,Mbowe (Mamboe),Bambukushu,Mishulundu, Muenyi (Mwenyi), Mwanga, Ndundulu, Nygengo, Shanjo, Simaa,Basubia,andBatonga.These tribes share common customs and traditions, withSiloziserving as the formal language for official, educational, and media purposes. Intermarriage among the tribes further strengthens their cultural bonds.

The Lozi people refer to their land asBuloziorBarotselandand are also known by various names such as Malozi, Nyambe, Makololo, Barotose, Rotse, Rozi, Rutse, Baloyi, Balobedu, and Tozvi.

Name

The word "Lozi" means "plain" in theMakolololanguage, referring to theBarotse Floodplainof theZambezi River,on and around which most Lozi live.It may also be spelled Lotse or Rotse, the spelling Lozi having originated with Germanmissionariesin what is nowNamibia.Mu- and Ba- are corresponding singular and plural prefixes for certain nouns in theSilozi language,so Murotse means "person of the plain" while Barotse means "people of the plain".

History

Harold Macmillanmeets Paramount King Mwanawina III of the Barotse in Northern Rhodesia (1960).

Lozi tradition states that they have always inhabited Barotseland. In about 1830, an army that originated in the Sotho-speaking Bafokeng region ofSouth Africa,known as theMakololo,led by a warrior calledSebetwane,invaded Barotseland and conquered the Lozi. They ruled until 1864, when the Sotho clique was overthrown following a Lozi revolt.

Portraits of Barotse people (1881)

The political organisation of the Lozi has long centred on a monarchy, whose reigning head, the Paramount King, is known as 'Litunga' which means 'keeper of the earth.' The renowned LitungaLewanika,whose latter name was a nickname from theMbundameaning "unifier" following the Lozi revolt, reigned from 1878 to 1916, with a short insurrectionist break in 1884–85. He requested that Queen Victoria bring Barotseland under protectorate status. Great Britain, however, was uninterested in acquiring the territory. The granting of a royal charter to the British South Africa Company byCecil Rhodesallowed the company to acquire Barotseland under the guise of the British government. Although underprotectoratestatus, Lewanika eventually realized that he had been tricked and petitioned for the protectorate status to be corrected. Yet the land remained under Rhodes's control, and when the territory failed to produce gold, copper, or other exports, the "British South Africa Company defaulted on every commitment it had made to Lewanika," and few developments in infrastructure and education were made.

Although Barotseland was incorporated intoNorthern Rhodesia,it retained a large degree of autonomy, which was carried over when Northern Rhodesia became Zambia on its independence in 1964. In the run-up to independence, the Litunga, the Ngambela (Prime Minister), and about a dozen senior indunas went to London for talks with the Colonial Office, in an attempt to have Barotseland remain a Protectorate.

Social Organisation

In Lozi society, the family is traditionally led by the eldest male, often the grandfather. Family relationships are formed through marriage, birth, or adoption. Marriage holds significant importance, serving as a crucial means of solidifying and extending family connections. A man who has reached adulthood is expected to have employment, establish his own homestead known as a "lapa", and find a wife "mufumahali". Upon marriage, the wife typically moves to her husband's homestead, integrating into his family and adopting their surname. The way a couple manages their lapa influences their social status. Although declining in modern times, polygamy remains common among the Lozi.

Lozi Culture and Attire

Traditional attire is an important aspect of Lozi culture, particularly for women. Lozi women wear themusisi,which means "skirt" inSilozi.This garment is usually made from satin and is often paired with a matching shawl called a "cali."Additionally, women wear awrapperto cover themselves, particularly from the waist down, and always cover their hair with a headscarf. This attire is valued for the modesty, respect, and dignity it provides.

Lozi Food and Cuisine

The staple food of the Lozi is a maize meal porridge calledbuhobe.It is often served withZambezi bream fishand vegetables, or eaten with a fermented milk "mabisi"dish. This cuisine reflects the Lozi's connection to their environment and traditional agricultural practices.

Lozi Music and Dance

Music and dance are integral to Lozi social life. "Sipelu"is a traditional Lozi dance performed by young men and women at various social events throughout the year. It is a vibrant expression of cultural identity, showcased during performances for the king at his palace, his visits to communities, weddings, and other celebrations, though it is not performed at funerals.

Culture

Musical instruments 1870s

Barotsehandkiss

Lozi society is highly stratified, with a monarch at the top and those of recent royal descent occupying high positions in society. The monarch, or Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE), is known as Mulonga, and Lozi society tolerates little criticism, even of an unpopular Litunga. Criticisms of a Litunga by a foreigner are treated as criticisms of the Lozi nation as a whole. The Lozi are not separated into clans, unlike most African ethnic groups.

The Lozi people are closely related to theBalobeduand therefore also haverainmakingabilities. Lozi culture is strongly influenced by the flood cycle of the Zambezi River, with annual migrations taking place from the floodplain to higher ground at the start of thewet season.The most important of these festivals is theKuomboka,in which the Litunga moves fromLealuiin the flood plain toLimulungaon higher ground. The Kuomboka usually takes place in February or March. These annual floods displace hundreds of people every year.

Language

Main article:Lozi language

External links

• A history of the Lozi,barotseland.com. Accessed 11 April 2024.

Media related toLozi peopleat Wikimedia Commons

• An organisation promoting the development of the Lozi people
• Information on the Kuomboka,luxurysafaricompany.com. Accessed 11 April 2024.