Nkole

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

• Mukulumpe
• Mumbi Mukasa

Domains

• migration leadership

Powers

• to lead the migrating royal host and avenge his brother

Relations

• sibling: Katongo
• sibling: Chilufya Mulenga
• companion: Luchele Ng'anga

Sources

• Andrew D. Roberts, A History of the Bemba: Political Growth and Change in North-eastern Zambia before 1900, Longman, 1973
• Audrey I. Richards, 'Keeping the King Divine', Proceedings of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 1968