MUNYEMO
The Tonga people primarily reside in the Southern Province of Zambia, along the banks of the Zambezi River and its tributaries. They have a strong cultural heritage that is closely tied to their environment and traditional practices. They have a spiritual connection to the natural world and believe in ancestral spirits, as well as a supreme deity. The Tonga have faced challenges in recent history due to construction of hydroelectric dams.
In the 1950s, with the creation of Lake Kariba, most Tonga territory was submerged under water. They were given new land, but it was inappropriate for farming. Many were forced to move and look for work in the cities. Those who resisted were rounded up, loaded into trucks and relocated without compensation. About 57,000 Tonga were removed from their ancestral lands - an issue that remains unresolved today.
This tragic story brought me to Zambia to meet Preston Mwiinga, author of The Enduring Spirit of the Tonga People of Zambia, which delves into the depths of the Tonga story, shedding light on their past, present, and future. This was a great opportunity to photograph the lifestyle of the Tonga people from the inside out.
In the 1950s, with the creation of Lake Kariba, most Tonga territory was submerged under water. They were given new land, but it was inappropriate for farming. Many were forced to move and look for work in the cities. Those who resisted were rounded up, loaded into trucks and relocated without compensation. About 57,000 Tonga were removed from their ancestral lands - an issue that remains unresolved today.
This tragic story brought me to Zambia to meet Preston Mwiinga, author of The Enduring Spirit of the Tonga People of Zambia, which delves into the depths of the Tonga story, shedding light on their past, present, and future. This was a great opportunity to photograph the lifestyle of the Tonga people from the inside out.