Luchazi People

Luchazi Lunar Calendar Traditionally the Luchazi people follow a lunar calendar consisting of thirteen months, each lasting 28 days. A new month is officially recognized when the waxing moon, known as " kutentama ca ngonde ", first appears in the western sky after sunset. The Luchazi Lunar New Year begins in April (Ku-uana or Kambamba na Lisa) , coinciding with the time the harvest is ready. Below is the lunar phase data for 2026 in Zambia to help track these sightings. Moon phases 2026 - Lunar calendar  Please note that all times in the diagram are local time for Lusaka, Zambia. Key terms in lunar calendar including the following: Lunation: it is the 29.531 day cycle (Lunar month or Synodic month) from one New Moon to the next. Moon phases: comprises four (4) primary phases, namely the New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon and Third Quarter Moon. New Moon: it is the first lunar phase, occurring when the moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun, rendering i...

Luchazes region or municipality in Angola Luchazes (or Lucazi) is a municipality located in the southeastern part of Moxico Province, Angola. It is situated 347 km from Luena. The Google map of Angola below shows the Luchazes region and its municipality: Luchazes region and its municipality in Moxico province of Angola  Luchazes region or municipality The Luchazes region and its municipality is known for its preserved traditional, rich cultural, and historical significance.  The area has been a focus for humanitarian demining and agricultural development, particularly in the locality of Cassamba (Kasamba). Geography and Location of Luchazes municipality It is situated in the southeast/southwest of Moxico Province, bordering areas in Cuando Cubango province. It is part of the largest province in Angola, known for its vast, often remote, territory. Administration of the Luchazes municipality The administrative center is often associated with Cangamba (Kangamba), where regional g...

Population of Luchazi people The Luchazi population is estimated at between 900, 000 and 1 million individuals. According to the 2024 General Population and Housing Census, Angola’s population has grown significantly, reaching 36.6 million. Recent 2024 data from the Joshua Project and PeopleGroups.org place the Luchazi population in Angola between 759,000 and 791,000. This is a notable increase from the 400, 000 to 600,000 range previously cited by Ethnologue and Britannica. They are primarily concentrated in the Cuando Cubango and Moxico provinces in southeastern Angola. There are  46 ethnic groups or tribes in Angola.  The pie chart below shows the Nine (9) main ethnic groups of Angola and 13.6 % other ethnic composition of Angola (courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica): Ethnic composition of Angola (2000) The exact numbers for the Luchazi population across the DRC, Namibia, and Zambia remain uncertain. This statistical uncertainty is largely attributed to census reporting, wh...

Luchazi Kingdom: A history of sovereignty By the fourteenth century, the Luchazi people were centrally settled in what is now present-day Angola. Prior to colonial rule, clans were highly organised and wielded significant power, often functioning as autonomous kingdoms because of strong kinship ties and deep loyalty. As a result, Luchazi territories were clearly demarcated into kingdoms and chiefdoms. The Muangana is the royal ruler of the Luchazi people and resides in a palace known as the Nganda . Within the Nganda, the Muangana’s residence is enclosed by a well-trimmed pole-and-grass palisade called Citungu ca Muangana. The term Muangana refers to a royal ruler—male or female—and is equivalent to “king” in the Luchazi language. The title Mueni is used before the names of Luchazi kings, queens, princes, and princesses. Between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, the Luchazi royal family expanded significantly. As the number of princes and princesses increased, many left the ce...