Barotseland : $b eight years among the Barotse — John Shaqi
Barotseland : $b eight years among the BarotseStirke, D. E. C.
History
Barotseland : $b eight years among the Barotse
Stirke, D. E. C.
Western Province (Zambia)
On Solami’s right sits Natamoyo. “Natamoyo” means the “father of life”
according to the Siluyi meaning of the word “moyo,” and he has or rather
had, a position of great value and power. Should any man—Chief, induna,
or private person—be pursuing anyone with the desire or intention of
killing him, the hunted person was safe directly he could reach the
Natamoyo or his palisade. Natamoyo was in fact very similar to the “city
of refuge” of the Old Testament. Natamoyo also had the power to veto an
execution when discussed in the Kotla, but his chief value lay in his
being a haven of refuge. He had as well the following privilege. If the
Chief committed any act of injustice to any of his people, the injured
party could complain to the Natamoyo, who then went to the Chief’s
palisade and abused him roundly. The Chief would then desist from the
course of action which was objected to. Needless to say this privilege
was very great and valuable amongst a people over whom order was only
maintained by the exercise of great brutality, persecution and very often
injustice. It is hardly needful to point out that anyone else having
the temerity to resent any action of the Chiefs would have paid for it
with his life, in all probability being assisted out of the world, with
torture and various most revolting cruelties.
After Solami comes Mukulwakashiku, an Induna who acts as Prime Minister
during the absence of the Ngambela. On Mukulwakashiku’s right sit the
various indunas who take precedence by the relative value of their
positions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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