The Bwile people are an ethnic group that live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia around the northern part of Lake Mweru.
They are concentrated in northeastern Zambia on the northeast shore of Lake Moero, in the Luapula Province. They also occupy adjacent lands in the Upper Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Bwile totals 89,000 in 2 countries. The Bwile of Zambia are numbering 63,000 (Peoplegroups.org, 2025)
They speak the Bwile language (probably a Sabi language)
Their origin is linked to the Tabwa people. Along with them, they were part of an amalgamation of ethnic groups that made a population movement between the 11th and 14th centuries from the north following the course of the Luvua River and settled around Lake Moero.
They also crossed paths with a branch of the Bemba (Bantu) people who moved through the region in the 17th century. From this encounter arose a common kingdom that was led by the Bemba chief Nkuba who managed to sustain himself through several Nkuba dynasties until the 18th century.
From the people born from marriages between Bemba and Bwile, a new community originated that inhabits the region, the Shila people. The independence of the Bemba-Bwile kingdom was interrupted in 1740 by the invasion of the Kazembe people belonging to the Lunda ethnic group. The Kazembe domain kept the Bwile under its empire until well into the 19th century.
The Lake Moero area was rich in fishing and salt flats. It was also a traffic zone for the ivory trade to the coast. This activity expanded to include the slave trade during the 19th century. In this context, the Bwile shared these activities with other peoples settled in the region. They developed agriculture and livestock raising for their subsistence.
The Bwile communities predominantly adhere to Christian denominations (approximately 96%), although they maintain elements of their ancestral religion.
Bwile Tribal Ceremony is an annual event of the Bwile at held Senior Chief Puta's headquarters in Zambia. It is held on 30 to 31 August. Cultural activities include traditional salt processing, visiting the famous Kabwe Katenda rock, traditional dishes and dances. The ceremony is based on hard work on the land out of which the Bwile people commemorated good harvest when they settled in their present country after originating from Congo in the days of tribal migrations.
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