Traditional Ceremonies: A Safari in Zambia!
Zambia safari has it all… an ideal travel destination for that special vacation of a lifetime. And the undiscovered jewel of Africa! But why? For the rich cultural heritage, the spectacular wildlife, the unforgettable adventure and the breathtaking beauty.
And don’t forget that Zambia is home to the mystical and impressive Victoria Falls. And Zambians are well known for being warm and friendly people. The safari in Zambia is a cultural tourism that you will remember.
rich cultural heritage
With a population of just 10 million people in a country of 753,614 square kilometres, Zambia is a large country. It is larger than Texas in the US and has one of the lowest population to land ratios in Africa. High urbanization has resulted in massive expanses of uninhabited land across the country. But nevertheless, many of the rural inhabitants have preserved their indigenous and traditional customs and values.
The government recognizes this and has established institutions to protect and promote Zambian culture. The National Heritage Conservation Commission is one. Government and private museums and cultural towns promote the expression of artistic talents.
Over 73 dialects are spoken in Zambia, but the official language is English and most Zambians speak it quite well. All media and businesses are in English. Bemba is the next most widely spoken language, followed by Nyanja. Other big languages are Tonga, Luvale, Lozi. Being a haven of peace, Zambia has hosted many shelters from neighboring countries in the past and still does today. It is an epitome of unity in diversity.
Traditional Ceremonies
Would you have known? Zambia has numerous traditional ceremonies. But a tip! They generally do not follow the normal calendar. Elements of weather and a bit of “sniffing” or related matters make things influence the date… if you understand…
But seriously, the timing of most traditional ceremonies depends more on natural factors like rain, season, position of the moon, month, etc. If you happen to be nearby when one of these ceremonies takes place, don’t miss the opportunity. Ask your tour operators, they will advise you.
There are more than 21 annual traditional ceremonies held in Zambia. They generally manifest customs, social life, rituals, oral history, material and spiritual culture. They provide valuable insight into a traditional culture that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Two of the most colorful traditional ceremonies are Ku-omboka and Umutombuko.
Kuomboka
Ku-omboka means “coming out of the water onto dry land.” Every year during the rainy season, as the water level rises in the upper Zambezi River valley, the Lozi people make a ceremonial move to higher ground.
They pack their belongings in canoes… and the whole tribe leaves en masse! The Litunga (King Lozi) travels on his royal barge called “Nalikwanda”. He has zebra stripes that run up and down and make him look great in the water. Numerous boats and canoes of every kind, shape, color, and make follow him.
Imagine the jostling when it comes time for people to be selected for this great honor, the honor of rowing the royal barge. A troop of traditionally dressed Lozis row proudly. It takes about six hours to cover the distance between Limulunga, the wet season capital, and Lealui, the dry season capital.
This crossing, when successfully completed, is celebrated with traditional singing and dancing. Great traditional beer and all! This ceremony dates back more than 300 years.
the umutombuko
The celebration is an annual reminder of the victories of Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people. It commemorates the migration of the great kingdom of him to the Luapula province of Zambia from the Congo at the beginning of the last century. The two-day ceremony is a grand event, mixed with ritual, semi-mystical performance, drum rolls and long speeches. The women bring tributes of beer and food to the chief.
Then the chief, smeared with white powder, goes to pay homage to his ancestral spirits by pouring the food in special places like shrines and in the special lake. The children have a “field day”. They jump into the water to collect food. …and get praise for finding the reward.
Later, the Chief is carried in a special hammock back to his palace accompanied by the roll of drums. On the second day, he sacrifices a goat before the chief opens the Mutomboko dance. This ceremony takes place in the province of Luapula, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.