Zambezi River Basin

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Kuomboka is a survival strategy in which the
paramount chief of the Lozi in western Zambia
leads the people in an annual migration out
of the rising floodwaters. Kuomboka is held
when the annual inundation of the Bulozi
floodplain of the Upper Zambezi River reaches
a height (up to 12 metres above normal) that
requires the people to move to a drier area.
The paramount chief, the Litunga, leaves the
floodplain and journeys by barge to higher
ground. This is usually at the end of March or
beginning of April, although the date changes
each year and is kept secret by the Barotse
royal establishment until close to the day.
The route taken today is from the village
of Lealui (which was the capital of the Lozi
kingdom in the time of paramount chief
Lewanika, 1878-1916) to Limulunga, the
summer or flood-time capital where the
current Litunga spends most of his time. The
ceremony is preceded by heavy drumming of
the royal Maoma drums, the sound of which
echoes around the royal capital the day before
Kuomboka, announcing the event. Thousands
gather to dance, feast and watch the royal
barge, the Nalikwanda, rowed by dozens of
oarsmen beneath a giant replica elephant.
The kuomboka is the cue for local people, who
are traditionally cattle herders, to follow the
paramount chief in escaping the rising waters.
However, the reality of climate change is
catching up with this colourful traditional
ritual. In 2008 the flood came too soon
and too strong, killing at least 31 people in
Zambia’s western province. The devastating
aftermath left people hungry and homeless.
Source: Oxfam 2007, in SADC and HBS 2010,
Responding to Climate Change Impacts: Adaptation
and mitigation strategies as practised in the Zambezi
River Basin;
The floods came early for Kuomboka
Ndebele traditional Dance is one of the many cultural activities in the Zambezi basin.
© ZACPRO 6.2
© Oxfam