noun

Plural amasambo ya mfwa

MEANING

This is a family council that is held after the burial of a deceased person. This is an almost universal part of the funeral rites in all Bemba speaking peoples. At this meeting, the cause of death is discussed, and then items of the deceased (imishingo: clothes, pipe, walking stick etc) are discussed and usually someone is appointed to inherit some specific items. This someone chosen also carries the name of the deceased, and figuratively this means the dead person has come back in the form of the person now carrying this name. This is someone responsible or can be a young innocent person. At this meeting what to do about the spouse and children — if any — is also discussed and agreed on. At this meeting, the Bemba usually insist that to aid in the healing, literally all the clothes of the deceased are taken from the house and distributed among the relatives.

Example of use

Ba yama ebalatungulula isambo lya mfwa lyakwa Kapisha meaning Uncle will lead the discussion on the death and disposal of the items of Kapisha.

OTHER RELATED WORDS/USES/SOURCES/FUNCTIONS

Derivative: samba, ukusamba imfwa MEANING to wash off death