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Monze Education Fund

and Guide to Monze

Monze Basic School
History of Monze
Chief Monze
Fort Monze
David Livingstone
School History











Chief Monze

The present Chief Monze is descended from a long line dating back to the 17th Century. Chief Magunza Monze assumed his chiefdom in 1990. As spiritual and cultural leader the Chief wields considerable influence and commands the respect of a very wide community.

Each year the Chief leads his community in the annual Lwiindi ceremony, traditionally held to give thanks for the first harvest of the year. The Chiefs of Monze are held in tradition to be 'Shine Chiefs' or Rain Maker. Traditional culture records that Chief Mukulukulu, the first Rain Maker, disappeared into the sky and is responsible for sending the rains.

Line of Chief Monze
(past through to present)

Mukulukulu Monze disappeared - did not die
Mayaba Monze buried at Gonde (i.e. Big bush)
Nchete Monze buried at Gonde
Hamanjanji Monze Chief for one month - disappeared
Hamayanda Monze Chief for three months - grave outside
Longwani Monze - grave not known
Mugonti Monze Chief for two years - removed by colonial government
Kapapa Monze buried outside Gonde
Mugonti Monze become chief again - died in Mazabuka - body not found in mortuary
Magunza Monze current Chief, since 1990

The Lwiindi ceremony

The annual Lwiindi ceremony takes place at Gonde in Monze District about 9 miles South West of Monze town. It is held usually on the 2nd of July and is the main traditional ceremony of the Tonga peoples.

Gonde is the place where the first chief Monze disappeared - his 'court' claimed their chief didn't die and this same place became the burial place for all chiefs - though only two are buried there. The rest have no graves as their bodies just disappeared at death.

Many Tonga people believe that Chief Monze the First, fondly called Mukulukulu by the Tongas, is said to have mysteriously disappeared and is the giver of rains. The reigning Chief Monze celebrates the praise given to Mukulukulu by consuming the first meal from the new season's harvest.

The ceremony attracts many important people from around the country, Zambia's elected politicians, representatives of the opposition parties, many Chiefs from towns in the province and hundreds of people both in and beyond the province all converge for this colourful event.




Chief Monze
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Copyright©Monze Education Fund 2006