CHOMBA MUSIKA
Lusaka
THE continued pouring of rain has resulted in increased water levels in the Barotse Floodplains, paving way for hosting of the coveted Kuomboka traditional ceremony of the Lozi in Western Province.
The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has announced that this year’s Kuomboka, held to celebrate the transition of the Lozi king, the Litunga, from his summer house to the winter one, takes place on April 5.
The climax of the colourful ceremony, held annually at the end of the rainy season, around March or April, is when the Litunga, accompanied by his prime minister and other local chiefs, travels on his royal barge (Nalikwanda).
During the journey from his ‘flooded’ house (Lealui), in the villages of the Barotse Floodplains, to his ‘winter’ house (Limulunga) on the higher ground, the Litunga changes into a British admiral’s uniform.
Ngambela (Prime Minister) Manyando Mukelabai announced yesterday that this year’s ‘Special Jubilee Kuomboka’ is on and people are welcome to attend it.
“Our supply rivers like Luanginga, coming from Angola, and Luandimba, coming from North-Western Province, together with other tributaries of the Zambezi inland, have brought sufficient water on the plain to make our ceremony a special one,” the Ngambela said at a media briefing.
He stressed that the event is purely a traditional and cultural one, and not political, hence everyone is welcome.
Financial and material support towards the hosting of the event will be appreciated…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
