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The ceremonies hark back to ancient times,
when chiefs were in the process of forging new
kingdoms in the region. Today, visitors can view the
ceremonies, and they are usually amazing, colorful
affairs steeped in history and symbolism.
THE KUOMBOKA CEREMONY
Kuomboka literally means: “to get out of the water
and onto dry ground.” Every year towards the
end of the rainy season, the Lozi people make
a ceremonial move to higher ground. When the
Chief decides that it’s time to leave (anytime from
February to May), the sounds of drums can be
heard signaling to all the people that it is time to
move. Belongings are packed into canoes and the
entire tribe migrates for higher ground en masse. It
takes about six hours to cover the distance between
the dry season capital of Lealui and the wet
season capital of Limulunga. Once in Limulunga,
the successful move is celebrated with traditional
singing and dancing.
This ceremony dates back more than 300 years to
when the Lozi people had broken away from the
great Lunda Empire to settle in the upper regions
of the Zambezi. The plains, rich in fish, were ideal
for settlement; however, the annual floods could not
be avoided. Thus, every year, the move to higher
ground is made until the rainy season passes and
the floodplains become inhabitable again.
LIKUMBI LYA MIZE FESTIVAL
Likumbi Lya Mize is celebrated by the Luvale people
of western Zambia near the town of Zambezi. The
Likumbi Lya Mize Festival is named after the Mize,
the early Luvale capital, and it is usually celebrated
for several days in July or August. The Ceremony
provides an ideal opportunity to see Zambia’s
famed Makishi dancers. The Makishi are masked
characters, each having a unique dancing style.
Most characters are from Luvale folklore, but some
are based on modern day events.
The Likumbi Lya Mize Festival takes place at
Mize, the official palace of Senior Chief Ndungu in
NorthWestern Province. People of the Luvale tribe
gather to celebrate their cultural heritage, bringing
displays of all types of handicrafts, while also
engaging in traditional singing and dancing.
THE N’CWALA CEREMONY
The N’cwala Traditional Ceremony is held in
February each year by the Ngoni people in the
Chipata district and celebrates the first harvests
of the year. The ceremony takes place at the
Mutenguleni village near Chipata.
When the crops ripen at the end of February, the first
fruits are given to Chief Mpezeni as a sacramental
meal, giving thanks to God and to their ancestors.
This is the essence of the ceremony.
After the fresh fruit have been presented to the king,
he takes them into his palace and prepares for the
long journey from his palace in the Luangeni hill to
Mutenguleni. The celebrants are adorned in leopard
skins and wield spears, clubs, shields, and eagle
feathers. The ceremony climaxes when an Ngoni
warrior spears a black bull to death. The bull is pre-
selected and killed for this occasion. Another warrior
slits the bull’s throat and collects the blood. Chief
Mpezeni, then, wearing leopard skin, drinks the
blood. Shortly thereafter, the Ngonis dissect the bull
and eat the raw meat, intestines, and organs.
UKUSEFYA PANGWENA TRADITIONAL
CEREMONY
The Bemba people of Northern Province celebrate
this annual ceremony in August. They reenact their
journey from the defunct Luba-Lunda Kingdom to
what is now Zambia.
THE UMUTOMBUKO CEREMONY
The Umutomboko is a two-day ceremony on 29
July (or the closest weekend), which celebrates the
advent of the Lunda and Luba people to Zambia from
Kola in the DRC. Chief Mwata Kazembe opens the
ceremony, performing traditional rituals at various
sacred locations both within and outside the royal
palace. Covered in white powder, Mwata receives
gifts of food and drink from his subjects, leading to
feasting and celebrations.
The people of Mwansabombwe invite all visitors to
experience this uniquely African occasion, promising
a rich cultural experience. The ceremony not only
features traditional dances by the royal family, but
it also includes traditional Lunda and Luba feasts.
THE SHIMUNENGA CEREMONY
Shimunenga is considered by the Ba-ila people
of Maala to be a divine being, whose blessings
help to increase crop yields, bring cattle from the
plains, and whose blessings are also sought out to
rectify murders in the community. The Shimunenga
Ceremony is when the Ba-ila people thank their god
for protecting them. The ceremony takes place once
a year between September and November, and it
