Kuomboka Ceremony, Zambia
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Kuomboka is a traditional ceremony of the Lozi speaking people of Western Province which takes place in Mongu by the king of the Barotse people. The ceremony takes place at the end of every rainy season, when the upper Zambezi River Plains flood. Kuomboka is the movement of people from the flooded plains to the higher land. The ceremony marks the movement of the king from the palace in the flood plains to the palace on the higher land
The name Kuomboka translates to “get out of the water” and the traditional festival of the Lozi people of Western Zambia involves the King who is called the ‘Litunga’ and his wife moving from their summer home in Lealui to Limulunga. They travel in two separate barges with the King’s being the larger of the two. His barge, which is called ‘Nalikwanda’ features a model elephant on the top and is rowed by specially chosen members of the tribe.
His subjects and visitors line the shores of the Zambezi river clad in their Siziba and Musinsi (Lozi traditional attire for males and females respectively) to welcome their leader after his six-hour journey.
The best time to go is between March and May, when the Zambezi River is flooded.
If you would like more information about visiting the Lozi people during the Kuomboka ceremony, please call Zambia Tourism Agency at +260 211 229087 or email at info@zambia.travel
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