People / group

Chwezi

Also known as Bachwezi, Bacwezi

The Chwezi are the semi-divine rulers of the kingdom of Kitara in the traditions of western Uganda and neighbouring regions, said to have succeeded the Batembuzi and then to have vanished. They are linked with large earthwork sites such as Bigo bya Mugenyi, probably of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Spirit-possession cults honouring them survived across the Great Lakes region.

Mentioned in 2 profiles

Kingdom of AnkoleFoundation, Socioeconomy, ImpactKingdom of BunyoroFoundation, Socioeconomy, Governance, Impact, Summary

Mentioned in 3 state histories

Empire of KitaraKingdom of BunyoroKingdom of Buhweju

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Chwezi. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/chwezi
MLA
“Chwezi.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/chwezi. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Chwezi.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/chwezi.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Chwezi’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/chwezi (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻