KOUMBOKA CEREMONY 2024

On Saturday, April 20 a spectacular traditional festival called Koumboka ceremony took place west of Zambia.

The Koumboka ceremony a colourful movement of the King from his Palace in the Zambezi plains due to flooding to his highland palace. He is moved in a special burge called Nalikwanda peddled by dozens of men accompanied by his Subjects in their canoes.

The journey takes over four hours according to those who have attended the festival. In this video, the Nalikwanda is taking off from Lealui to mark the beginning of the Koumboka ceremony.

Thousands of local and international Guests turned out for this event which is held annually.

Our Correspondent in Lusaka says this year's event was not only unique in that the organisers invited another powerful Traditional Ruler from the North to grace the event as Guest of Honour in preference to the Head of State a situation that led to controversy.

Zambia's president Hakainde Hichilema still attended the festival as a Citizen.