Traditional has been their centuries so lets value and respect our tradition. Am so proud to be a Bemba my mother Land

Chapter 1

THEISM.  LESA  =  GOD

The name ‘Lesa’ is the name generally given to the Supreme Being.  Formerly the Lungu people gave him the name of ‘Nyambi.’ 

To begin, let us give some proverbs to explain the idea of the Africans concerning God.  These were known before the advent of missionaries.

1.  ‘Lesa Mukulu,’ the great god.  ‘Mukulu’ was the address given only to the supreme chiefs ie. ‘Chiti Mukulu,’ ‘Chileshe Mukulu,’ ‘Mumbi Mukulu.’  Such a title expressed the chief’s supremacy over other chiefs.  One does not say ‘Mwamba Mukulu,’ ‘Munkonge Mukulu’ etc.  When saying ‘Lesa Mukulu’ one wants to express the supremacy of God over all other divinities or superior beings.  Moreover it is a title, proper to himself and reserved to him alone.  Thus, one does not address ‘Chishimba’ (a nature spirit in ‘Mwamba’ district) as ‘Mukulu.’  So for the African, ‘Lesa’ is the one supreme being.

            2.  ‘Lesa mufushi tafulila umo,’ God is the blacksmith.  He does not forge just for individuals but for everyone.  God is good to everybody.

 

3.  ‘Lesa mukunku tasalila umo,’ God the tailor does not make clothes for only one (but for all).  God is good to all. 

4.  ‘Lesa mukolokolo,’ God is wise.  He is wisdom itself.

5.     ‘Lesa talombwa inama,’ God is not requested to give us food.  He knows our needs.  He gives us what he wishes when he wishes.  (** This proverb usually means that one does not ask game from God, but from the spirits of the forest, ‘kampinda’ or ‘namukonda.’)

6.  ‘Lesa te wakubikila bunga mu muti,’ God has no need of our offerings of flour in trees.  He is different to other inferior divinities which are always discontent and to be appeased.

7.     ‘Ubwile ubwapika Lesa tabupikululwa,’ man cannot comprehend the mysteries of God.  He is all intelligence, all science.  (** Riddles woven by God are not undone.)

8.  ‘Icikupa Lesa teti wishibe,’ we do not know in advance what God will give us.  God is providence.

9.  ‘Apatebeta Lesa tapafuka cushi,’ there is no smoke where God prepares food.  He gives when we least expect it.

10. ‘Lesa ni shimwelenganya,’ God is the person who thinks.  He is thought itself and his thoughts are incomprehensible.

11. imfwa ya Lesa,’ the peaceful death of the old whom God takes from the word.

12. ‘Lesa Mukulu kampamba mwatuleulu,’ God splits the skies by lightning.

13. ‘Tata Lesa cipunganya nkonde na kanyenjele na kanyenjele,’ God our father makes the banana trees rustle.  (** It is he who makes the forest noises.  God is the master who makes the elements.)

14. ‘Lesa shiwatutaula mibanga,’ God breaks down hard trees like ‘mibanga’ (by lightning).  God is all powerful.  Who can resist him?

15. ‘Lesa akupangukile,’ may God strike you down.  It is a terrible curse.

16. ‘Cumi ca Lesa,’ it is God’s truth; to swear before God that what one says is the truth (literally: the great life of God).

17. ‘Iwe Lesa leka akalonde ka kwa mama kaye no mukuku,’ God, let my grandmother’s little hoe go with the current; ie in your mercy, do not count my little faults against me.  A prayer addressed to God by the person who has sworn in vain (kulapulula = remove a curse). 

18. ‘Lesa andye nga nabepa,’ may God strike me if I lie.

19. ‘Mupuma limo, Lesa alabansa,’ God strikes down men in an epidemic.  God is master of man.  (** This is a wrong interpretation of this proverb, which means:  He is a tyrant, but God is sparing people as a woman economises food (ukubansa), using it sparingly.  This proverb is said cruel rulers who destroy people.)

20. ‘Kwimba kati kusansha na Lesa,’ to seek out a remedy is to work with God.  God is the author of all plants and their diverse properties.

21. ‘Katwishi Lesa ifyo emba umuti pali apole,’ I do not know which medicine God dug, provided it cures; ie God has to will that the sick person may obtain the remedy for his illness. Then he will recover.

22. ‘Lesa, ulenyensho mutende,’ God preserve me in health.

23. ‘Kumbo kwa mushili wakashika, kwa Lesa,’ God is my witness as I swear on the grave of my relative; ie if I lie, then may I die also.  (** literally:  At the grave in the red soil, it is God’s place.)

24. ‘Washuka watwala inkoko yabuta kwa Lesa’, you have the happiness of a person who has offered a white chicken to God.  You will have many children.

In conclusion from the above we can say that Bemba believed ‘That there is only one, supreme God’(…)  Other superior beings are demi-dogs, spirits, good and bad, and hidden powers to whom they render veneration (cult); but this is not polytheism.

God is the supreme being, but pagans do not adore him.  He has no temple, no priest nor any special observance.  Each person recognizes his attributes and thanks him in his own way.  No one doubts his existence.  No one blasphemes.  God is goodness.  His actions to man are restricted to doing good.  He does not mix with other natural or supernatural causes which act on man for good or bad.  All the world of religious spirits differ from God and are inferior to him, but are nearer to man in his daily life and act in a Manichean way.  (** Manichea:  adherent of a religious system (third to fifth century) that represented Satan as the ruler of the earth and Satan corrupts human as he only comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came so that we have life and have it in abundance.)

In his continual struggle for life, the African never ceases to beg for the good influence of beneficent spirits, while striving to avoid the evil power of the bad spirits.  This is merely paganism, which is a religion(…). Their fore blessed is the man who shuns away from bad things and do good. Ephesians 2v4-5 tells us that; 4) but God--so rich is He in His mercy. because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us.

5. Even when we were dead (slain) by shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ. (He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for) it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgement and made partakers of Christ salvation). Faith works wonders.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AS WE SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE.