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Joseph Dupont (bishop): Difference between revisions
From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
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==Early years in Africa== | ==Early years in Africa== | ||
The White Fathers had arrived at Mponda, west of | The White Fathers had arrived at Mponda, west of Lake Nyasa, in 1885, and in 1891 had moved up the Stevenson Road which had been built to connect Nyasa with [[Lake Tanganyika]], stopping at Mambwe Mwela. They attempted to set up in Bemba lands but the [[Paramount Chief]] of the [[Bemba people|Bemba]], the [[Chitimukulu]], was fiercely opposed to any incursion by missionaries. When Dupont arrived at Mambwe in 1895 he found that some of the independently minded Bemba [[Tribal chief|Senior Chiefs]] were not opposed, and one of them, Makasa at Kayambi, gave Dupont a foothold in his area in 1895. Dupont tried to expand into the Bemba heartland and though gaining favour from many of the chiefs, was still opposed by the Chitimukulu.<ref name="Diompika"/> | ||
A story goes that one day the Chitimukulu (VII Sampa Kapalakasha) sent two warriors armed with | A story goes that one day the Chitimukulu (VII Sampa Kapalakasha) sent two warriors armed with bows and arrows to kill Dupont, and they hid to ambush him where he used to shoot guinea fowl. Suddenly a bird burst from the bush and Dupont hit it with a single shot and it landed almost on the head of one of the warriors. This put them in such awe of his power that they stayed hidden and did nothing.<ref name="GNR">[http://www.greatnorthroad.org/bboard/archived/2002_12_Dec.php Great North Road website]. Related by Heather Chalcraft, publisher of Zambia Lowdown magazine, December 09, 2002. Accessed 25 March 2007.</ref> | ||
In 1897 Dupont was appointed the first | In 1897 Dupont was appointed the first Vicar Apostolic of Nyassa, which covered today's Malawi and the whole northern half of present-day Zambia.<ref name="Diompika"/> He was consecrated the Titular bishop of Thibaris on 15 August 1897 by Bishop Adolphe Le Chaptois, M. Afr.<ref>{{cite web|work=Catholic Hierarchy|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdupj.html|title=Bishop Joseph-Marie-Stanislas Dupont, M. Afr.}}</ref> | ||
There are several versions of the origin of the nickname 'Moto Moto' (fire fire). One is that it was in recognition of his energy, another that Dupont smoked a pipe and was constantly calling for a light, another was that it was a Chewa war cry from the Nyasa area, another, more unlikely, that he had an early kind of motorbike.<ref name="dacb"/><ref name="GNR"/> | There are several versions of the origin of the nickname 'Moto Moto' (fire fire). One is that it was in recognition of his energy, another that Dupont smoked a pipe and was constantly calling for a light, another was that it was a Chewa war cry from the Nyasa area, another, more unlikely, that he had an early kind of motorbike.<ref name="dacb"/><ref name="GNR"/> | ||
==The Chieftainship succession crisis== | ==The Chieftainship succession crisis== | ||
In 1896 Chitimukulu VII Sampa Kapalakasha died and the title remained vacant while the | In 1896 Chitimukulu VII Sampa Kapalakasha died and the title remained vacant while the succession was worked out. Dupont tried to get permission from the most powerful Senior Chief, Mwamba III at Milungu, to expand the mission but was rejected. However, in 1898 Chief Mwamba fell ill and sent for Dupont, who had some medical skills and a reputation for healing. Before the chief died the next year he and his council were sufficiently impressed by Dupont's help they asked him to succeed as chief.<ref name="newadvent">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11172b.htm New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia website: "Nyassa"], accessed 26 March 2007</ref> This provoked a crisis because, firstly, the coronation of a new chief required human sacrifice, and, secondly, a Bemba civil war threatened over the succession of the Chitimukulu. At first Dupont, who had become very knowledgeable about Bemba culture and traditions, agreed to act as chief to forestall trouble,<ref name="newadvent"/> joking that he should take on Chief Mwamba's wives.<ref name="dacb"/> Meanwhile, he gathered support from the 33 subordinate Bemba chiefs for his next action. | ||
==British control of the Bemba== | ==British control of the Bemba== | ||
