Tribute, Trade and Power:An historiographical study of Mwata Kazembe's Kingdom before 1890

This study examined the way historians explain the concept of power in pre-colonial Mwata Kazembe’s kingdom by using tribute and trade. Considering historians deal in multiple causes, this in itself was the limitation of the study because it did not consider any other forms of explanation of power. However, it should be noted that the study did not imply that tribute and trade were the only and major causes of power changes in Mwata Kazembe’s kingdom.This study revolved about the understanding that since explanation involves what is explained and what is used to explain, the use of tribute and trade in explaining power should clearly demonstrate the connection between tribute and trade, on one hand, and power on the other. Thus, the study examined the way historians explain the role of tribute and trade in pre-colonial Mwata Kazembe’s kingdom; and the nature of explanations that use tribute and trade in explaining power in the kingdom of Mwata Kazembe before 1890.
For this study, textual analysis was the major method of analysing secondary and primary data. Although historiography mostly involves analysing secondary data, some major sources used by historians writing the history of Mwata Kazembe’s kingdom were scrutinized to express and simplify the author’s historiographical views; and to show the basis of historical explanations and interpretations that connect tribute and trade to power in the works of different historians overtime.
Dedicated to my grandparents, Joseph Chishinkilwa Luswili (late) and Albertina Nshinka Luswili; and to my aunties Beauty Chishimba Luswili (late) and Priscilla Chibamba Luswili.