Kuomboca Ceremony (April)

Kuomboca Ceremony takes place once a year in Mongu (Barotsenland, 7 hours from Lusaka) . The Lozi King is moving during the Ceremony from the Summer Palace to the winter palace. All his and his family belonging, and themselves travel with a boat down the river... Beside the "getting on and off the boat" there is also a lot of other events, that most people are not aware of. Actually the Ceremony is not only lasting a day (as most people think) but 7 days. Rowing contest, dancing,... we didn't know and came only for the weekend...

Mongu, Harbor, early in the morning
Apparently the bridge disappeares for the duration of the ceremony. Everybody has to take the canoe for crossing the 10 meters! It costs of course...
While waiting for the kind, I read a "book" and got a first impression
people waiting
stuff being transported to the boat
the kind has left
others are following
others are getting their canoe ready for transporting people over the "10meter river"
getting ready to go back to Mongu
Mongu
people heading to the place where the king arrives with the boat
dancing and other rituals in front of the king's throne
king and queen watching (no speech and my zoom is just not good enough)
some more impressions from Mongu befor leaving and driving back to Lusaka


straight road to Lusaka (going through Kafue national park)