By Derrick Silimina
Amidst the majestic floodplains of the Zambezi River in the heart of Mongu town, the Kuomboka ceremony has continued to unfold the enduring cultural heritage of the Lozi-speaking people.
Thousands of people from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds thronged the capital town of Western Province, Mongu, to witness the 2024 Kuomboka Kufuluhela ceremony. “All lodges and guest houses in Mongu and Limulunga districts are fully booked prior to the traditional ceremony,” Western Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary-General Samuel Litebele says.
“We always encourage members of the public to create more accommodation spaces for those who travel for the ceremony.”
Each year, the Kuomboka ceremony draws the entire presidential entourage including Cabinet ministers among other senior Government officials, foreign dignitaries, traditional leaders, the rich and the poor, and tourists from across the world. More than 100,000 spectators troop into Mongu town, heaving a hefty income to the country’s economic growth through the tourism sector.
SKYROCKET
Lodging room rates suddenly skyrocket to alarming levels as apartments get fully booked. Proprietors often reinforce their human resources to help manage the overcrowding of customers, in turn creating employment for the local people of Limulunga and Mongu catchment areas.
Over the years, lodges have sprung up, offering a wide range of accommodations to suit every taste during the ceremony period.
“As local and foreign tourists flock in to sample our rich culture, the excitement here is high and people are ready for the ceremony despite the high lodging charges,” notes Sikufele Mulonda, owner of Yahesu apartments located in Mongu’s central business district.
The smiling faces of the expectant spectators were transformed into sorry sights of sadness as they crisscrossed Mongu town in search of cheap accommodation which is at such times hard to come by.
A check at most lodges found that a K2000 executive room was suddenly tagged at K3000 a day. One normally offered for K800 now demanded K1,500, while a K600 room required K1000. No wonder when it was time to go back home, most visitors’ pockets were full of holes.
EXPAND
Locals give testimony to the Kuomboka ceremony which has enabled them to expand their businesses; improve their lives and enable them to pay for their children’s school fees and other bills.
“Whenever we have Kuomboka here, my commodities sales go up. I wish the ceremony was done every month because I record more sales as compared to normal days,” said Sibeso Mwanangombe, who supplies rice and fish to eateries around Mongu town.
Restaurateurs are also not left behind as they make a lot of money alongside those who run open braai stands and takeaways. Parking spaces in both Lealui and Limulunga become so expensive that local owners reap unusual benefits from increased motor vehicle traffic. Tour guides also take opportunities to raise their takings by guiding tourists at an unusual fee.
Tailors make a killing by designing traditional attire such as the musisi, siziba, red berets and mashashu for customers who place advance orders and for instant buyers. Operators of speed boats, canoes and vehicles also get hired to ferry people before, during, and after the event while local musicians get empowered financially as they entertain Kuomboka fanatics with local tunes.
“I always get more business orders during the Kuomboka, and each ceremony brings in more income for me to sustain my family,” added Gertrude Imenda, a specialist in Musisi attires.
REDUCED
The just-ended 2024 Kuomboka traditional ceremony was held in Mongu and not the usual Limulunga, owing to the reduced water in the Barotse plains.
The royal barge, Nalikwanda, was accordingly redirected to Mulamba Harbour. Host King Lubosi Imwiko II and his Guest of Honour Chitimukulu Kanyanta Manga II were aboard the royal barge (Nalikwanda) as it glided gracefully down the Zambezi River, its majestic procession captivating spectators with its vibrant colours, rhythmic drumming, and intricate symbolism.
“In times like these, even though diversity is an undeniable characteristic among human beings and nations, cultural moments like the Kuomboka transcends diversity, uniting us as one large family, proud to be One people, One nation, under One God,” President Hakainde Hichilema said during the event that he attended as an ordinary guest.
The Head of State reiterated that the cultural exchange and collaboration between traditional leaders fosters a cross-pollination of cultures and underscores the importance of unity among the general citizenry.
He pledged the Government’s support for such noble initiatives for the benefit of the e country at large.
The presence of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Kanyanta Manga II, showcasing a remarkable display of unity between the Lozi and Bemba-speaking peoples, was in reciprocation to the Chitimukulu having invited the Litunga to be his special guest at the 2023 Ukusefya pa Ng’wena ceremony.
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