LEWANIKA (c. 186o-1922), paramount chief of the Barotse and subject tribes occupying the greater part of the upper Zam bezi basin, was the 22nd of a long line of rulers, whose founder invaded the Barotse valley about the beginning of the 17th cen tury, and according to tradition was the son of a woman named Buya Mamboa by a god. Lewanika was born on the upper Ka bompo, where his father—Letia, a son of a former ruler—lived in exile during the interregnum of a foreign dynasty (Makololo), which remained in possession from about 1830 to 1865, when the Makololo were practically exterminated in a night by a well organized revolt. Once more masters of their own country, the Barotse invited Sepopa, an uncle of Lewanika, to rule over them. Eleven years of brutality and licence resulted in the tyrant's ex pulsion and subsequent assassination, his place being taken by Ngwana-Wina, a nephew. Within a year abuse of power brought about this chief's downfall (1877), and he was succeeded by Lo bosi, who assumed the name of Lewanika in 1885. The early years of his reign were also stained by many acts of blood, until in 1884 the torture and murder of his own brother led to open rebellion, and it was only through extreme presence of mind that the chief escaped with his life into exile.
Lewanika's cousin, Akufuna or Tatela, was then proclaimed chief. It was during his brief reign that Francois Coillard, the mis sionary, arrived at Lialui, the capital. The following year Lewanika, having collected his partisans, deposed the usurper and re-established his power. Ruthless revenge not unmixed with treachery characterized his return to power, but under the influence of Coillard he ruled tolerantly from 1887 onward. In 1890 Lewan ika concluded a treaty with the British South Africa Company, acknowledging its supremacy and conceding to it certain mineral rights. In 1897 R. T. Coryndon took up his position at Lialui as British agent, and the country to the east of 25° E. was thrown open to settlers, that to the west being reserved to the Barotse chief. In 1905 the king of Italy's award in the Barotse boundary dispute with Portugal deprived Lewanika of half of his dominions. In 1902 Lewanika attended the coronation of Edward VII. as a guest of the nation. His recognized heir was his eldest son Letia. See BAROTSE, and the works there cited, especially Francois Coillard, On the Threshold of Central Africa (1897) ; also D. E. C. R. Stirke, Barotseland: eight years among the Barotse (1922).