Zambia has over 30 traditional ceremonies that occur annually in different parts of the country. Experience Likumbi Lya Mize traditional ceremony, Kulamba, N’cwala and Kuomboka ceremonies with Likumbi Travel and Tours LTD.

Likumbi Lya Mize

Likumbi Lya Mize is a ceremony of the Luvale speaking people in which the Makishi masquerades are displayed. The Makishi masquerades are very special and artistic, it is what makes this ceremony of the Luvale so interesting. The ceremony takes place on both sides of the Zambezi River in Northwestern Province of Zambia. It takes place in the last weekend of August every year.The Likishi is one of the two masquerades in Zambia that have received official recognition by UNESCO as ‘Artefacts of intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’.

Kulamba Ceremony

The Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia is held every last Saturday of the Month of August in Katete, the purpose of the ceremony is to pay homage to their chief, Kalonga Gawa Undi. The Kulamba Ceremony is custodian to one of Zambia’s unique cultural practices called the Gule Wa Mkulu which has been recognized by UNESCO as “artifacts of intangible heritage”.

Ncwala Traditional Ceremony

Nc’wala is an annual traditional ceremony where the Ngoni people of Eastern Province of Zambia come together to pay homage to their god, ancestral spirits and chief Mpezeni for the gift of the first fruits and food. The ceremony takes place every year on the last Saturday of February at Mtenguleni Village in Chipata.

The Ceremony was revived in 1980 by Paramount Chief Mpezeni III to commemorate their victories during their tribal wars when they migrated from the current day South Africa. The ceremony is also meant to praise god for giving them fresh crops in the fields.The Nc’wala sparks various activities which are centered around the ceremony including the Ungoni Exhibition and visits to the Nsingo Community Museum where people turn up in numbers to learn more about the History of the Ngoni people. The Museum has various Ngoni cultural items on display and has history about the migration of the Ngoni speaking people from present-day KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa to Chipata, Eastern Province – Zambia.

Kuomboka

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 – Litunga. 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.Best time to go: Between March and May when the Zambezi River is flooded.