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[[File:Lewanika in Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|Lewanika photographed during his visit to Edinburgh in 1902]] | [[File:Lewanika in Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|Lewanika photographed during his visit to Edinburgh in 1902]] | ||
'''Lewanika''' (1842–1916) (also known as '''Lubosi Lewanika''' or '''Lewanika I''') was the [[Lozi people|Lozi]] [[Litunga]] (king or paramount chief) of [[Barotseland]] from 1878 to 1916 (with a break in 1884-5). | '''Lewanika''' (1842–1916) (also known as '''Lubosi Lewanika''' or '''Lewanika I''') was the [[Lozi people|Lozi]] [[Litunga]] (king or paramount chief) of [[Barotseland]] from 1878 to 1916 (with a break in 1884-5). | ||
A detailed, although biased, description of King 'Lubossi' (the spelling used) can be found in the Portuguese explorer | A detailed, although biased, description of King 'Lubossi' (the spelling used) can be found in the Portuguese explorer Alexandre de Serpa Pinto's 1878-1879 travel narrative ''Como eu atravessei a África'' (''How I Crossed Africa'', in English translation). | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
In December 1882 the missionary Frederick Stanley Arnot reached [[Lealui]], the capital of Barotseland, after traveling across the Kalahari Desert from Botswana. King Lewanika kept him for the next eighteen months, then allowed him to move on, but in a westward direction rather than eastward as he had planned. | In December 1882 the missionary Frederick Stanley Arnot reached [[Lealui]], the capital of Barotseland, after traveling across the Kalahari Desert from Botswana. King Lewanika kept him for the next eighteen months, then allowed him to move on, but in a westward direction rather than eastward as he had planned. | ||
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Lewanika brought Barotseland, now part of [[Zambia]], under British control in 1890, when he agreed with Cecil Rhodes for the region to become a protectorate under the British South Africa Company (BSAC). However, he felt deceived by the BSAC terms as they worked in practice, and he appealed, unsuccessfully, to the British Crown. Lewanika told Dr James Johnston how he had written to the British asking that his kingdom should be made a British Protectorate. He had waited years for a reply and then men had arrived with papers claiming that they had the power to make this happen. The King was reassured as the local missionary. Monsier Coillard, was his interpreter at the meeting and the King was reassured by Coillard's confidence in these men. Lewanika had been thankful that his wish had been granted and he had sent two enormous elephant ivory tusks as a present for Queen Victoria. Lewanika was incensed to find that the men were from a South African company and that the ivory tusks were not with Queen Victoria but as ornaments in the directors board room. Johnston assisted Lewanika in writing a letter of protest. Lewanika was to prove a great help to Johnston as he was able to command assistance for Johnston from nearby subordinate chiefs.<ref name=book>[https://archive.org/details/realityversusrom00john Reality versus romance in South Central Africa], Dr J Johnston, Archive.org, Retrieved 25 September 2015</ref> | Lewanika brought Barotseland, now part of [[Zambia]], under British control in 1890, when he agreed with Cecil Rhodes for the region to become a protectorate under the British South Africa Company (BSAC). However, he felt deceived by the BSAC terms as they worked in practice, and he appealed, unsuccessfully, to the British Crown. Lewanika told Dr James Johnston how he had written to the British asking that his kingdom should be made a British Protectorate. He had waited years for a reply and then men had arrived with papers claiming that they had the power to make this happen. The King was reassured as the local missionary. Monsier Coillard, was his interpreter at the meeting and the King was reassured by Coillard's confidence in these men. Lewanika had been thankful that his wish had been granted and he had sent two enormous elephant ivory tusks as a present for Queen Victoria. Lewanika was incensed to find that the men were from a South African company and that the ivory tusks were not with Queen Victoria but as ornaments in the directors board room. Johnston assisted Lewanika in writing a letter of protest. Lewanika was to prove a great help to Johnston as he was able to command assistance for Johnston from nearby subordinate chiefs.<ref name=book>[https://archive.org/details/realityversusrom00john Reality versus romance in South Central Africa], Dr J Johnston, Archive.org, Retrieved 25 September 2015</ref> | ||
In 1902, Lewanika visited | In 1902, Lewanika visited London for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, where he was treated with respect and had an audience with King Edward and an informal meeting with the [[George V of the United Kingdom|Prince of Wales]]. When asked what he would discuss with the British sovereign, he said "When we kings meet we always have plenty to talk about".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/templates/article.jsp?articleid=75928&back= |title=Lewanika (c.1842–1916) |last1= Macmillan |first1=Hugh |last2= |first2= |date= |website=www.oxforddnb.com |publisher=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |accessdate=22 December 2013}}</ref> | ||
==Family== | ==Family== | ||
