Mpombo and King

Defence minister George Mpombo and the King of of the Lozi People emerge from the palace before boarding the Nalikwanda, the boat that transports the King from Lealui to Limulunga.

Last week, the Lozi people of western province in Zambia commemorated the annual Kuomboka traditional ceremony. This ceremony is all about migration from lower land to higher land.
The Litunga (King) moves on the Nalikwanda (big boat) with all his belongings from Lealui (low land) to Limulunga (upper land). He is escorted by a flury of smaller boats and the whole journey, which lastst almost the whole day is characterised by what some people may decide to call pomp and splendor.
When he reaches Limulunga, he is welcomed by a large multitude of his subjects and other visits from different parts of the world. Here, the Litunga performs a few traditional rituals before proceeding to the palace grounds where official speeches are made. The dancing and singing continues over night after the speeches. The Kuomboka ceremony has been commemorated for several years now. It is one of Zambia's major ceremonies and contributes greatly to Zambia's tourism development efforts.