HOW NKANA GOT ITS NAME

A QUESTION frequently asked by newcomers
to Nkana is "How did our town get Its
name?" We asked the African Personnel
Manager and thia is what he told us:
The word "N'kana," as applied to the Mine,
came from the Lamba Chief Nkana who resided
in this district,
Long years ago Nachimbala a relative of a
Mushiri, Paramount Chief of the Walamba,
gave birth to a daughter. The child was born
during a great famine in which the Walambas
were reduced to eating the leaves of the Nkana
Palm to save themselves from death by
starvation.
To commemorate the famine, and perhaps
out of gratitude to the tree which had saved
them from almost certain death. Nachimbala
called her daughter Nkann.
When the child reached maturity she
married Yakobo. by whom she had a son named
Nkana Yakobo. The grandson of Nkana Yakobe
was the first Chief Nkana and his grandson is
the present Chief of that name.
At some lime during these years the name
of the Nkana Palm was changed to "Kambili"
and the Kambili Palm is the device on the
contents page of this magazine, and the badge
of the Rhokana Club.

From the Rhokana Review Vol 1 05 (1952 )