Lozi people

The word "Lozi" means "plain" in the Makololo language, referring to the Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi River, on and around which most Lozi live.^[3] It may also be spelled Lotse or Rotse, the spelling Lozi having originated with German missionaries in what is now Namibia. Mu- and Ba- are corresponding singular and plural prefixes for certain nouns in the Silozi language, so Murotse means "person of the plain" while Barotse means "people of the plain".^{[citation needed]}

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

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 Litunga Lewanika, whose latter name was a nickname from the Mbunda^[4] meaning "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 by Cecil Rhodes allowed the company to acquire Barotseland under the guise of the British government. Although under protectorate status, 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.^[5]

Although Barotseland was incorporated into Northern 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.^[6]

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.

Traditional attire is an important aspect of Lozi culture, particularly for women. Lozi women wear the musisi, which means "skirt" in Silozi. This garment is usually made from satin and is often paired with a matching shawl called a "cali." Additionally, women wear a wrapper to 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.

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

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

The Lozi people are closely related to the Balobedu and therefore also have rainmaking abilities. 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 the wet season. The most important of these festivals is the Kuomboka, in which the Litunga moves from Lealui in the flood plain to Limulunga on higher ground. The Kuomboka usually takes place in February or March. These annual floods displace hundreds of people every year.

• A history of the Lozi, www.barotseland.com. Accessed 11 April 2024, archived 2006-05-11.

• An organisation promoting the development of the Lozi people

• Information on the Kuomboka, blog on www.luxurysafaricompany.com. Accessed 11 April 2024.

  Media related to Lozi people at Wikimedia Commons