Mwami Munongo Musamfya Ntanga
(Musanfya roughly means those who love me will stay close to me, and those who do not are not welcome)
Mwenda IV. April 1940-24th April 1956
Mwami Musamfya Ntanga was of the youngest sons of Msiri and Mutali Kabondo Ngoie, a Muluba woman from Katanga. Born around 1875 under the name of Mutampuka Munongo, the Mwami had an older brother named Munongo Kalasa Matonya.
He was tall in stature and had an unmistakable deep voice, which could be heard many feet away. His intimidating appearance often stirred up fear; however, Musamfya was very generous and good-humored.
He was 16 when his father Msiri was assassinated, and that traumatic event never lifted the veil of distrust he developed towards the Belgians, including the missionaries. The demands from the colonizers and its representatives in Bunkeya increased from the years of Mukanda Bantu. These harassments were becoming an unbearable nuisance, tinted with humiliating demands for which the Mwami did not have any patience.
He once punished by whipping those who tried to disparage the Bwami, and at times, cautioned some Belgian government representatives in public, an act that provoked a lot of animosity.
Even though he remained suspicious of the Belgians for the rest of his life, Musamfya understood the importance of education, in order to compete and succeed in this new era. With Kitanika’s impulse, Musamfya sent all of his sons to schools, an opportunity that only a few would cease. The distrust of all things western was widespread in those days, especially as the colonizers consistently attempted to vilify our tradition and customs.
Towards the latter part of his life, Musamfya suffered false accusations, which the government, its representation in Bunkeya, and some of his own relatives whom he outshined, used to tarnish his image. Eventually, he would be absolved of any abuse of power, and/or criminal charges.
In the face of such tribulations and humiliation, Musamfya’s health began to wither away. The ailing Mwami returned to Bunkeya, after a long stay in Likasi, where he was under surveillance pending the legal proceedings. He passed away, in the vehicle that was transporting him on the 24th of April 1956.
He was surrounded by his children.