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Mutomboko Ceremony

The Mutomboko ceremony is an annual traditional festival held by the Lunda and Luba people in Mwansabombwe District, Luapula Province, Zambia. Celebrated during the last weekend of July, "Mutomboko" means a dance of victory or conquest, commemorating the historic migration of the Lunda from Kola (in the modern-day Democratic Republic of Congo) into Zambia.Key Highlights of the CeremonyThe Victory Dance: The peak of the event features Paramount Chief Mwata Kazembe performing the energetic Mutomboko-themed royal dance in full ceremonial regalia holding a traditional sword.Historical Reenactment: The festival dramatizes the ancient tribal journeys, battles, and territorial conquests that established the Lunda Kingdom in the Luapula Valley.Ancestral Homage: Rituals and prayers are conducted to honor Lunda ancestors at sacred historical sites and shrines.Cultural Festivities: Participants showcase traditional royal drumming using the umondo (talking drum), folk songs, and authentic Lunda-Luba feasts.