2015-05-30 12:22:00

Church, traditional and political leaders honour Zambia’s Archbishop emeritus Spaita


Zambia’s Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people in the Northern Province together with Kasama Archbishop, Ignatius Chama recently led hundreds of congregants in celebrating the life of Archbishop emeritus Spaita.  Chief Chitimukulu brought along with him a traditional Oracle and praise singer known as Ba Mucilingwa together with traditional dancers. Mansa is the Archbishop emeritus James Spaita’s original home and diocese. 

Through the traditional ceremony, the death of Archbishop Spaita is considered officially announced to his people. Among the Bemba speaking people of Zambia, the death of a Chief or a Bishop is surrounded by elaborate funeral procedures whose cultural and traditional significance span centuries. In the case of a traditional leader, sometimes actual burial rites will only take place even after a whole year.

Following the long Bemba tradition, the funeral rite of Archbishop emeritus Spaita was held a year later by the act of traditional, religious and political leaders returning to his original Diocese in Mansa.  There, they held a special Mass that was characterised by traditional dances and poems performed by Chief Mwamba’s Royal singer and Orators. The Chief praise singer outlined the purpose and history of the ceremony. 

The holding of such a ceremony dates back to the period of the then first Bishop of Bangweulu Vicariate, Bishop Joseph DuPont.  DuPont, a French missionary in Africa was popularly known by the Bemba people as ‘MotoMoto' which literally means, ‘Fire, Fire.’ As first Bishop of the area, Dupont temporarily reigned as a chief of the Bemba people for a year in 1898. His reign was intended as a temporary regent and protector of the Kingdom. Since then all succeeding Catholic Bishops are traditionally considered to be co-operators of the Bemba chiefs. They co-operate mostly by giving advice and counsel when called upon to do so. It was in this vain that the current Bemba paramount chief Chitimukulu took the trouble of taking the funeral rites of the late Archbishop Spaita to Mansa Diocese.  

The ceremony was conducted during the Eucharistic Celebration at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Mansa Diocese.  The main celebrant was the current Archbishop of Kasama, Ignatius Chama. Mansa Diocese Bishop, Patrick Chisanga concelebrated the Mass. Several priests from both Mansa and Kasama Dioceses as well as religious and the laity attended the ceremony.

The late Archbishop James Spaita was born in Mansa Diocese.  He was Bishop of Mansa until he moved to Kasama as Archbishop in 1991.  He retired in 2009 and settled at the pro-cathedral, Chilubula in Kasama.  He died on 4 November 2014 and was buried at St. John’s Cathedral in Kasama, Zambia. 

The Missionaries of Africa, also known as White Fathers, were the first to establish a Catholic Mission in Zambia in 1891.  Bishop DuPont was the first Bishop of the then Bangweulu Vicariate.  He died in Tunisia, North Africa on 19 March 1930.  He was buried there until the Church in Zambia asked for his body. His remains were brought back and reburied in his first cathedral at Chilubula, Zambia in 2001. This was done on the 150th anniversary of his birth. 

Through the ceremony of honouring Archbishop emeritus Spaita, religious, traditional and political leaders sought to emphase that they are all working for the good of God’s people.

(By Sr. Mary Rita Kamwenda, SOM in Kasama in Zambia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                  








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