Izithakazelo Zakwa Bakwa Dishi Clan Names History and Origin
Traditionally, power is passed from generation to generation through bloodlines or wealth; with Bakwa Dishi it’s both.
The Mbili Clan can be found in Kasai Oriental Province of Democratic Republic of Congo and are part of the Luba ethnic group, speaking Tshiluba language and following Luba cultural practices.
Bakwa Dishi Clan Names
The Bakwa Dishi clan is part of the broader Bantu-speaking people, often associated with the Sotho-Tswana groups. Clan names or praise names (Izithakazelo) for the Bakwa Dishi reflect their ancestry, identity, and history. However, detailed praise names specific to the Bakwa Dishi clan can sometimes vary across regions.
Here are some of the traditional praise names associated with the Bakwa Dishi clan:
- Bakwa Dishi
- BaTlou
- Raphesu
- Mahuma
- Rapoto
- Moela
- Mogale
Ilunga Mbili
Ilunga Mbili was an influential Luba warrior who assisted King Kongolo in founding the Luba Kingdom. A military strategist who also advised him on political matters, Kongolo trusted Ilunga enough to put him in charge of his army during Ilunga’s reign – expanding its territory all across its reach with great strategy, powerful presence, spiritual leadership skills and charisma – making him an attractive option to King Kongolo.
Mbili was an ardent admirer of women, and had several wives throughout his lifetime. One such wife was Nkongolo Mwamba – also known as “Red King.” Nkongolo terrorised his people; even trying to kill two nephews of Mbili that belonged to two of his sisters (succeeded only once by Kalala Ilunga who managed to outwit Nkongolo Mwamba).
But ultimately this attempt at killing Mbili’s nephews failed and was ultimately defeated by Kalala Ilunga who later defeated Nkongolo Mwamba himself.
At this same period, Ilunga became famous as a cunning politician and member of the Council of Twelve; an advisory body to King Edward VI. However, unlike his contemporary, Nkongolo, Ilunga had multiple talents and interests beyond political advice – he was an experienced hunter as well as skilled warlord; an incredible asset against Nkongolo; in 1585 he defeated Nkongolo’s army at Battle of Nkongolo.
Kongolo Mbili
Kongolo Mbili was a powerful figure among the Luba people of central Africa during the 17th and early 18th centuries, serving as military strategist, political advisor, war leader and founding father of their Kingdom.
Kongolo had two wives from Kwizimu polities Bulanda and Mabela; their sons Kalala Ilunga and Tshibinda Ilunga later went on to found it themselves.
Kongolo Mbili was known for his impressive military and political skills, yet legends about him depict him as an abusive ruler who terrorised his people. With skin like that of a hyena’s blood redder than usual and terrifying ways, his people often called him Muntu wa Malwa – meaning “he who brings terror into the world”.
Kongolo Mbili reigned over the Kingdom of Luba from 1670 until his death in 1725 and was succeeded by his descendants until Belgium ended colonial rule in 1895. By this point, however, Christianity had already made its presence felt across various rural polities within Luba territory thanks to the weaknesses in secular Belgian coverage.
This allowed it to successfully insert itself into local governance without dominating it, and create multiple hierarchies for political administration that made it hard for Europeans to distinguish which sets of elites were sultaniya from which groups or who was who.
Bakwa Mbili
Bakwa Mbili was part of the Ilunga Mbili royal line and an esteemed warrior, hunter, and prophet who introduced his God, religion, culture, and customs into the kingdom. Soon enough his fame overshadowed that of Kongolo; leading to numerous disputes between them resulting in Kongolo plotting his assassination while Mabela and Bulanda alerting Ilunga Mbili of this plot and receiving gifts such as red feathers with all princely attributes that could be passed down through generations ensuring recognition as his sons from him by Ilunga Mbili himself.
Tshibinda Ilunga was Ilunga Mbili’s son who married into the Lunda royal family. As such he brought Luba culture, traditions, and religion into his father’s Kingdom; expanding it further to rival and surpass Ilunga Mbili in terms of size. Tshibinda Ilunga proved himself both as a warlord and civilizing hero during this period of history.
The Maphumulo tribe earned their name from where they rested during long treks: Kuphumula or Maphumulo was their destination of rest during long travels, close to where Mseleku people established a kraal in their area.
Thus becoming close allies with Maphumulo royal clan and as such providing some headmen from this lineage who could subsequently inherit chieftaincy positions from this noble lineage.
Bakwa Dishi
Bakwa Dishi are members of the Kingdom of Luba in the Democratic Republic of Congo and reside primarily in Miabi in Kasai district. They speak a variant of Tshiluba language known as Cikwa-Dishi while also possessing knowledge of Kikiilo dialect.
Bakwa Dishi have had an extended history of cultural and linguistic contact with their neighbours, taking advantage of trade, labour migrations, colonial missionary education and colonial missionary education to acquire Kikongo loanwords through trade.
For example, “kikilo” may refer to Kikongo terms for an ancestor tree (Saidi 2010) while it could also refer to Tshiluba words for grandmother (kambwa).
The Bakwa Dishi have an eclectic culture that blends traditional practices with Christianity. They are widely known for their hospitality when traveling; gifting clothes, fruit and vegetables as welcome presents for their hosts as they offer prayers to anyone they encounter on their travels.
Belief in ancestral spirits connects them closely to nature – guardians of sacred forests such as those found throughout Japan where they serve as the guardians; this spiritual leadership extends from belief in spiritual ancestors from Lost Tribes of Israel as well as foundation of Japan itself!
