Bemba is a term used to describe the language and culture of a large ethnic group in Central Africa. The Bemba language and culture are both called Icibemba. The name for the people who belong to this ethnic group is Ababemba. The traditional territory of the Bemba people, in northern Zambia, is called Ulubemba.
The Bemba language is found in the Niger-Congo language family. Bemba is one of the Bantu languages, as are hundreds of other African languages, such as Swahili (also called Kiswahili) and Zulu (also called isiZulu). Bemba is the most widely spoken language in Zambia. About 4 million people speak Bemba or related dialects as their first language. Many other people speak it as a second or third language.
Most Bemba people in rural areas are farmers. They grow cassava, maize, millet, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and other crops. Fishing and occasional hunting add to their diet. In cities, Bemba people work in a variety of professions. Bemba families are matrilineal (related through the female line). Many Bemba families live as a large extended family, in which parents, children, grandparents, and other relatives share a home. The extended family plays a major role in people’s lives, providing security and help with farm and household chores.
The Bemba people were once part of the ancient Luba Empire in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They migrated to northern Zambia in the mid-1600’s. The Bemba Chitimukulu (paramount chief) is the traditional ruler within Bemba territory. Today, the Chitimukulu also has a strong advisory role within the Zambian national government.
