Mukuni, 9.6 km (6.0 mi) to the south-east of
present day Livingston, was the largest village in the area before Livingstone
was founded. Its Baleya inhabitants, originally from the Rozwi culture in
Zimbabwe, were conquered by Chief Mukuni who came from the Congo in the 18th
century. Another group of Baleya under Chief Sekute lived near the river west
of the town. The most numerous people in the area, though, were the Batoka
under Chief Musokotwane based at Senkobo, 30 km (19 mi) north. These
are southern Tonga people but are culturally and linguistically similar to the
Baleya