Kuomboka Ceremony

Western Province, Zambia

The upper Zambezi River valley is a treeless plain, a land of lush grazing for the cattle of the Lozi people who live there. Between February and July the Lozi's plain is flooded and its residents must retreat from the rising waters to dry ground. This collective move is called kuomboka, which means to "emerge from the water". Today, the Kuomboka is one of Zambia's most colorful and popular cultural ceremonies, attended by enormous crowds from all over the country and international visitors as well. The pageantry centers on the current Lozi king's transition from dry season palace to wet season palace, a journey taken in his royal barge called the Nalikwanda (which means "for the people"). This special craft is 30-meters long, painted black and white so that it somewhat resembles a floating zebra - coincidental I am told - and paddled by some sixty men in the distinctive red, black and white Lozi traditional dress. In the middle of the royal barge there is a hive-like canopy with a large elephant figure mounted on its top and it is under here where the king sits for the five hour trip between palaces. Many other barges carrying those of lesser rank accompany the king in the Nalikwanda, which in turn are swarmed by people in smaller canoes (or anything which floats) who want to get a close look at the royal procession. When the Lozi royal finally arrives at the wet season jetty, he is greeted by the enthusiastic crowd of well-wishers, drummers, dancers and singers. This year's ceremony is April 11th.

An informative site on the Kuomboka is www.barotseland.com/kuomboka1.htm

MTT can arrange your visit to a Zambian cultural ceremony. There are many of them throughout the year which, with advance planning, can be incorporated into a safari itinerary.

On the day before the Lozi royal barge departs the dry season palace a royal canoeing competition is held. In the past, this regatta was open only to men, but beginning a few years ago, Lozi leadership decided to allow women to compete. I attended a fundraiser in Lusaka for the women's regatta training program. Every year more and more women are entering. The top prizes in the women's category aren't sums of money which can be taken from them by their families, but appliances like washing machines and stoves which can lessen their daily workloads.

27-05-2009