Nkole
Bemba · mortal · mythic founding · Recorded classification
Nkole is one of the two royal brothers exiled by Mukulumpe who lead the founding migration of the Bemba from Kola across the Luapula. After Chiti is killed by Mwase over the abduction of Mwase's wife, Nkole avenges him and dies soon afterwards, reputedly from the smoke of the funeral fires. The brothers' burial place at Mwalule became the permanent royal necropolis, central to the ritual kingship described by Richards.
Parentage
- parent: Mukulumpe
- parent: Mumbi Mukasa
Domains
- migration leadership
Powers
- to lead the migrating royal host and avenge his brother
Relations
- sibling: KatongoBrother of the blind drummer Katongo, who warned the exiles of their father's trap.Andrew D. Roberts, A History of the Bemba: Political Growth and Change in North-eastern Zambia before 1900, Longman, 1973 (secondary)
- sibling: Chilufya MulengaBrother of Chilufya Mulenga, whose son succeeded to the paramountcy.Andrew D. Roberts, A History of the Bemba: Political Growth and Change in North-eastern Zambia before 1900, Longman, 1973 (secondary)
- companion: Luchele Ng'angaThe diviner Luchele Ng'anga accompanied and guided Nkole and Chiti's migration eastward.Andrew D. Roberts, A History of the Bemba: Political Growth and Change in North-eastern Zambia before 1900, Longman, 1973 (secondary)
Sources
- Nkole is the elder royal brother who co-leads the Bemba founding migration from Kola, avenges Chiti's death, and is buried with him at Mwalule.: Andrew D. Roberts, A History of the Bemba: Political Growth and Change in North-eastern Zambia before 1900, Longman, 1973 (secondary); Audrey I. Richards, 'Keeping the King Divine', Proceedings of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 1968 (secondary)