Basubia
Encyclopedia
The Subiya people are an ethnic group found along and between the Chobe River
and Zambezi Rivers in Southern Africa
. They are spread all over these rivers flood plain in what is today Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. Their language is known as Subiya/Kuhane.
), Tonga, and Lozi). The Mbukushu and Yeyi are large contributor to the being of Subiya. What happen is that this people intermarried and their off-spring became a people called Vaangove. Vaangove was the original name of tribe calle Basubia/Vekhuhane. Subiya name is said to be from both Kololo (sebeya or seba) and Tawana (Sobeya), and Vekhuhane is unknown but there is a saying there was a ruler named Khuhane, so Vekhuhane means 'People of Khuhane'. As time goes by they regrouped themselves and become a tribe, adopting a Totela language as their mother tongue. This happened after the Mbukushu were defeated by a Lozi
king and caused the migration of the Hambukushu the now Okavango Delta
/Kavango
region.
The Subiya lived with the Yeyi in a place called Mavave (Mababe) on the southern part of Chobe District of Botswana. There erupted a fight or quarrel between the Yeyi and Subiya over a Leopard skin and the Yeyi defeated Subiya and they migrated toward Kwando/Linyanti river around 700 ad. The Subiya dwelled at a place called or that was called ChiNxi, between Zibalyenja and Linyanti river. This place ChiNxi extended from present day Mavozu (near Mbalakalungu/Parakarungu) to Zibalyenja. The Yeyi also followed them and crossed over Linyanti river and dwelled in places where they are found today in Caprivi ( Linyandi, Sangwali, Cincimani, etc) along Lake Yambezi(Liambezi). The Subiya then migrated to a place near present day village of Lusu in Caprivi Region. From here, because of flooding, they migrated to Luchindo, in today Ngoma area of Namibia caprivi strip, on the bank of Chobe river. Here they established a major town called Shidino sha Luchindo, from which the Itenge Kingdom rise and grew. As the Subiya begin to multiply, they attacked the Yeyi and defeated them, pushing some into the Delta where they joined some of their who were left at Mavave and migrated in Okavango Delta. They spread to where they are presently found as this was the domain of their Kingdom, except for Rakops (Tsienyane) and Gumare where there are some Subia people.
A soldier is called Itumwatolye because he obeys orders without questioning. A servant or slave is called Muhiikana. In the past, Military Generals also formed part of Kaziva ke Itenge (The Tribal Council).
Cuando River
The Cuando River is a river in south-central Africa flowing through Angola and Namibia's Caprivi Strip, into the Linyanti Swamp on the northern border of Botswana...
and Zambezi Rivers in Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. They are spread all over these rivers flood plain in what is today Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. Their language is known as Subiya/Kuhane.
Origin
Elders will state that the Subiya originate from the Yeyi people or Zanza. But to analyse oral history of origin of Subiya will point to that the Subiya are offspring of mixed tribe that surround them. The Mbukushu, Yeyi, Totela, Basarwa (BushmenBushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
), Tonga, and Lozi). The Mbukushu and Yeyi are large contributor to the being of Subiya. What happen is that this people intermarried and their off-spring became a people called Vaangove. Vaangove was the original name of tribe calle Basubia/Vekhuhane. Subiya name is said to be from both Kololo (sebeya or seba) and Tawana (Sobeya), and Vekhuhane is unknown but there is a saying there was a ruler named Khuhane, so Vekhuhane means 'People of Khuhane'. As time goes by they regrouped themselves and become a tribe, adopting a Totela language as their mother tongue. This happened after the Mbukushu were defeated by a Lozi
Lozi people
The Lozi people are an ethnic group primarily of western Zambia, inhabiting the region of Barotseland. Lozi are also found in Namibia , Angola and Botswana.-Name:...
king and caused the migration of the Hambukushu the now Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta , in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta. It is formed where the Okavango River empties onto a swamp in an endorheic basin in the Kalahari Desert, where most of the water is lost to evaporation and transpiration instead of draining into the sea...
/Kavango
Kavango
The Kavango people, also known as the vaKavango, reside on the Namibian side of the Namibian–Angolan border along the Kavango River. They are mainly riverine living people, but about 20% reside in the dry inland. Their livelihood is based on fishery, livestock-keeping and cropping...
region.
The Subiya lived with the Yeyi in a place called Mavave (Mababe) on the southern part of Chobe District of Botswana. There erupted a fight or quarrel between the Yeyi and Subiya over a Leopard skin and the Yeyi defeated Subiya and they migrated toward Kwando/Linyanti river around 700 ad. The Subiya dwelled at a place called or that was called ChiNxi, between Zibalyenja and Linyanti river. This place ChiNxi extended from present day Mavozu (near Mbalakalungu/Parakarungu) to Zibalyenja. The Yeyi also followed them and crossed over Linyanti river and dwelled in places where they are found today in Caprivi ( Linyandi, Sangwali, Cincimani, etc) along Lake Yambezi(Liambezi). The Subiya then migrated to a place near present day village of Lusu in Caprivi Region. From here, because of flooding, they migrated to Luchindo, in today Ngoma area of Namibia caprivi strip, on the bank of Chobe river. Here they established a major town called Shidino sha Luchindo, from which the Itenge Kingdom rise and grew. As the Subiya begin to multiply, they attacked the Yeyi and defeated them, pushing some into the Delta where they joined some of their who were left at Mavave and migrated in Okavango Delta. They spread to where they are presently found as this was the domain of their Kingdom, except for Rakops (Tsienyane) and Gumare where there are some Subia people.
Government
The Subiya political setup can be described from the system established at Luchindo at the rise of the Itenge Kingdom. The King is referred to as Munitenge (Owner of Itenge) who is deputised by Ngambera (Prime Minister). From Ngambera follows Simwine (Village Headman) who forms a Council of Itenge (Kaziva ke Itenge). Under the Simwines are Indunas (Ward Headmen). The Munitenge is the commander of the army, whereas the Ngambera oversees the Tribal Council. The Ngambera also links the people with the King. The Simwines also preside over the village army or soldiers (Itumwatolye) as well as the welfare of the people, on which they give report to the Ngambera and Munitenge at Tribal Council meetings. The King's wife (Muoli) and sisters are also highly respected people.A soldier is called Itumwatolye because he obeys orders without questioning. A servant or slave is called Muhiikana. In the past, Military Generals also formed part of Kaziva ke Itenge (The Tribal Council).