| The Tonga people of Zambia live in Zambia's | | | | Monze long before the British came to Zambia. |
| Southern Province. They are an agricultural tribe | | | | Chief Monze was not a Chief as we would know |
| and herding cattle and crop growing are the two | | | | it but a priest, prophet, rainmaker and mediator. |
| most important aspects of their traditional | | | | The current Chief Monze who is a spiritual and |
| economy. They have a deep connection to their | | | | cultural leader who commands significant respect |
| cattle and land reflecting an ancient spiritual | | | | from a extensive community descends from a |
| harmony with nature. | | | | long lineage dating back from the 17th century |
| The Tonga are considered to be original Zambian | | | | when according to traditional tails the first Chief |
| inhabitants - sites dating back to the 18th and | | | | Monze descended from heaven. |
| 19th centuries have been found on the Batoka | | | | The Lwiindi Gonde Ceremony is the main Tonga |
| Plateau as well as ancient village sites near Kalomo | | | | ceremony and is held in the South West of Monze |
| and Choma. The oldest site can be found on | | | | town on the last Sunday of June. It is a traditional |
| Sebanzi Hill on Lochinvar Ranch which is on the | | | | ceremony filled with music, lively dance and |
| edge of the Kafue Flats. | | | | prayer. 'Gonde' means thick bush and this is the |
| Zambian history suggests that 600 years ago a | | | | place where the shrines of the Tonga people are. |
| thriving trade centre existed in the Zambezi valley. | | | | It is the place where the first ever Chief Monze |
| A site christened Ingombe Ilede was unearthed | | | | vanished - tradition says that he did not die. |
| by Archaeologists and it showed that people lived | | | | Gonde became the burial place for all chiefs |
| here and traded with the Arabs, Chinese and | | | | although only two are actually buried there. (A |
| India. Copper crosses of about 30cm in length | | | | detailed article has been written on The Lwiindi |
| have been found to have been the main currency | | | | Gonde Ceremony and it is entitled Zambian |
| unit. | | | | Cultural Heritage - The Lwiindi Gonde Traditional |
| The word 'Tonga' means 'independent' and it | | | | Ceremony). |
| confirms the theory that originally the Tonga | | | | This article is inspired by the book 'Ceremony! |
| people did not have a centralised political structure | | | | Celebrating Zambia's Cultural Heritage'. It's fabulous |
| but lived in independent family units. Traditionally | | | | and a visually pleasing book which I would |
| chieftainship was not part of the Tonga tradition. | | | | encourage you to get. I got mine from ZAIN in |
| Rather, priests and rainmakers were seen to be | | | | Lusaka, Zambia. It is published by Celtel Zambia |
| more important leaders. It was only when the | | | | PLC and Seka. Original photography, Francois |
| colonial administration was creating its leadership | | | | d'Elbee. Coordinating author, Tamara Guhrs. Editor, |
| structure that chiefs were assigned to the Tonga | | | | Mulunga Kapwepwe. Contributing authors, |
| people. As a result of the changes brought on by | | | | Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, Prof Mapopa |
| the colonial administration, chieftaincy is now an | | | | Mtonga, Mulenga Kapwepwe, Isaac Smogy |
| integral part of Tonga politics. | | | | Kapinga, Miranda Guhrs, Msatero Tembo, Matiya |
| Rather confusingly, there is reference to a Chief | | | | Ngalande and Joseph Chikuta. |