Luapula Province – the Lunda kingdom of Mwata Kazembe
In the nineteenth century the valley that gives this province its name was dominated by the Lunda kingdom of Mwata Kazembe, whose court controlled trade routes across the region; the Lunda remain the province's principal community, and Bemba is widely spoken here. Luapula is named after the Luapula River and extends along its northern and eastern banks from Lake Bangweulu to Lake Mweru, with an international border along the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fishing on the lakes and river has shaped village life for generations. The 2022 census recorded 1,519,478 residents, 7.72 per cent of the national population, and the provincial capital is Mansa. Share your memories here.