The Mayanga or Provinces of Msiri’s Empire
When Msiri conquered this vast empire, he divided it into numerous provinces called “Mayanga” in Kiyeke. These territories were administered by his Yeke compatriots or often by the autochtonous kings themselves, as earlier stated. Power went from Bunkeya the Capital to the Mayanga, which were the bulwarks of the Empire.
In the Southeast, beyond the Lufira, resided the Mugabe Kisuku and the saltworks of Mwanshya, and the Mwanangwa Kikunkuruka. To their left were Lutandula in the territory of Katebe, Shonongo, and Kiseba in the village of Sapwe.
In the north from these territories, we would come across Kalala-Ngombe in the territory of Kitoko, Mwendasenene in Mukana, Kifuntwe in Mufunga, and the Mwanangwa Kimpoto on the edges of the Dikulwe in the territory of Mirambo.
From the Kundelungu hilltops, looking down, one would see the village of Mulangale on the edges of the Lwise. Near the Lwapula river, were the Bayeke known as the Banamitumba in the village of Kabwile near Mpweto, with Kyabangaulwa in the village of Kitete in the land of the Bashila of Nkuba Bukongolo. Across from Kazembe wa Lunda of Zambia, there were several bulwarks or posts such as Mukobe, Muyovya, Kashobwe in the village of Kibondo, and Lubende Lufwaila in the village of Kaniama, the King of the Baushi in the Congo.
Across the Lwapula and the Zambian territory of the Baushi, laid the fort of Mukonki in the village of Mansa, Shonongo and other Bayeke. From Shonongo, to the South was the land of Balala and the Balamba people. There, resided Moto, who settled at Lwendango near the Kafubu, along with his colleague Mwenigembe in Kavulu, which today is next to Ndola in Zambia.
A little north, one would find Inanzala, who resided in the territory of King Katanga of the Balamba. In the land of the Basanga, we would encounter Mpande Mulindwa, of his real name, Mulindwa who had settled on the river Kalabi. This Mulindwa, to this day, is also known as Mpande Muyeke, in order to distinguish him from Mpande Musanga, king of the Basanga. Mulindwa was and remains a representative of Msiri, and a bearer of Msiri’s royal insigna. However, he is also the bearer of the Sanga royal insigna, which Mpande Mafyanga gave to Msiri along with the land.
Some kilometers away from there, on the Lwambo river, we would find Mutaka, Msiri’s maternal uncle, who later moved to Dilomba upon the ‘request’ of the belgians; hence his name Mutaka Wa Dilomba. Descending the Mitumba Hills, we would come across Nguba on the Dikulwe river, and Kabobo, who was paternal cousin and general of Msiri’s armies. Bikondama was Kabobo’s nickname, and to this day, his successors have settled on the Dipeta. Continuing our descent, we would find Mugabe Kazari in the village of Kabangu, and in the south Mubili-Ku-Bantu in the land of Kibwe.
In the country of Ikataka, there was a Lamba King, who was brought up in the ways of the Busumbwa by Kalasa Mazwiri, Msiri’s father. His name was Ntenke, which is a translation of the Yeke name, Mutinginya We Shalo (the one who makes the earth shake); a name given to him by Msiri.
Further west, close to the border with Kazembe of Lwalaba, one would find the Mwanangwa Masuka, who later died with his father Msiri on December 20, 1891, along with Mukwampa in the village of Mutombo-Mukulu. The latter, a Muyeke, had first been to Lomami. From there, he had gone to Kasongo-Nyembo’s, before settling in the village of Mutombo Mukulu.
In Bukama the land of the Luba, we would find the Mwanangwa Kalasa Munongo and Muvumbi in Kibanda, where the latter’s descendants are still present. In Kisamba, we would find Mugembe, Msiri’s maternal cousin, nicknamed Kabinda Wa Vidye, meaning literally, “ the younger brother of God, in this case, Msiri’s little brother” (in a deferential sense).
Mugembe was based in the village of King Kabengele, son of Lupundu. The latter (Lupundu) unncessarily caused Msiri’s wrath. As he was returning from a war campaign in the north, Msiri sent him his emisaries to request some food and rations for the journey. Lupundu replied that if Msiri wanted food, he should come and get it himself. This did not bode well with Msiri, and the fate of Lupundu was henceforth sealed. It is following this episode that Msiri was given the nickname of, ‘Washile Kupita, Lupundu wamwela Lubila.’ It means, ‘he wanted to go by quietly, but Lupundu disrespected him.’
In Ankoro, one would have encountered Shambi, who met with Delcommune. We also would find Diyomba and Ntambo Wa Kabole (a Muluba who was assimilated into the Yeke traditions) in the territory of Nyembo Wa Kunda.
What we just described above were some of the the most prestigious Mayanga (Provinces) of our ancient empire, and many of them continue to thrive even though many attempts were made to weaken them in modern day Katanga.
What was the Role of the representatives of Mwami Msiri in the Mayanga
Msiri’s representatives had many roles. Here are some of them:
- To maintain order
- To disseminate the Mwami’s whishes to the peoples
- To implement these wishes
- To ensure tributes were paid to the Mwami
- To recruit warriors
Those were their basic roles. As previously stated, in many Mayanga, Msiri allowed the local Kings to govern themselves, while his representatives kept a close eye on them. He had also given them Yeke insigna, called Ndezi or Kilungu. In some cases he would give them copper bracelets known as Ibaga in kiyeke. All of these kings who were invested by Msiri, whether they were Bayeke or autochtonous, were called Bami Batemiwa, meaning vassals. Msiri bore the name of Mwami Mtemi or Mwami Wihala, the Suzerain King who is above the vassal kings.