Chitimukulu

The Chitimukulu is the King of the Bemba, the largest ethnic group in Zambia.[1] The King is named after Chiti Muluba, who changed his name to Chiti Mukulu (Chiti the Great) who in the 18th century led the Bemba out from their original lands in the Luba Empire of Mukulumpe in DR Congo to eventually settle the country around Kasama in Zambia's Northern Province.

In Kola the Bemba Kings were born from King Mukulumpe from his last wife Mumbi Mukasa who belonged to the crocodile clan. She bore four children namely Katongo, Nkole, Chiti and Chilufya Mulenga their sister. The Bemba were given a kingdom to rule by their father Mukulumpe, so the bemba's built a tower to help them see when enemies as who would want to attack them but the tower collapsed killing a lot of people. The Bemba leaders were called by their father to exculpate themselves but there elder brother was arrested and was blinded as a message to his young brothers, after the Bemba Kings saw the cruelty of their they decided to live and settle where they will find a dead crocodile. After years of movements in Zambia the bemba's settled in Mungwi district of Zambia were they found a dead crocodile, to this date the Bemba's with their spirit of a warrior have continued to settle in all parts of Zambia and intermarrying with other tribes. The first Chitimukulu to settle in Lubemba was Chilufya Mulenga, Chitimukulu 1.

All Chitimukulus, as well as lesser Bemba chiefs, are members of the Bena Ng'andu, or Crocodile Clan. Potential successors to the ruling Chikimukulu are chosen from the various Bemba chiefs.[2]

Following the death of Chitimukulu Chilufya Mwango Chitapankwa III,[3] Henry Kanyanta Sosola Chitimukulu was formally recognised and confirmed as the 38th King of the Bemba on the 25 January 2015. The current king of the Bemba Kingdom is King Kanyanta Manga ll.