Lubinda Ntongo ceremony: a mix of both old and new symbols of tradition.

Kajima Lwendo (right) with North-Western PS Nathaniel Mubukwanu

By Innocent Daka

Kajima Lwendo was ecstatic when he joined, for another moment in his life time, celebrations to mark the eleventh Lubinda Ntongo traditional ceremony of the Kaonde people in chief Mumena’s area of Solwezi.

He stood at the entrance of the annual ceremony ground next to the 17^th century copper smelting traditional furnace of soil brickwork.

“The furnace is a symbol of long history of the Kaonde people having lived with the art of working with copper since time immemorial before modern mining arrived here,” he said.

Kajima Lwendo is a member of the Mutembuzi, the Lion Clan of the Kaonde people, who celebrate the Lubinda Ntongo ceremony—a mix of both old and new symbols of tradition.

It is this day of the ceremony that the Kaonde eulogise their chief, as they retrace their tradition of hunting wild game and cultivating field crops to sustain their livelihood.

“The whole ceremony is centred on chief Mumena as King of the Jungle and mighty hunter. It signifies the moment the chief, who is our guardian Lubinda, samples the meat from the big kill and first fruits of harvest from the crop fields,” he

According to Kajima Lwendo, Lubinda means the hunter, and Ntongo is the food from a hunting expedition and the crop harvest.

“The ceremony celebrates the hard work of the hunters coming home with big game and farmers bringing a good harvest,” he said.  

Although the Mutembuzi are the epicentre of the event, even Kaondes of the other clans join the carnival.

He explains: “Just like the Lion dwells among its pride and also shares the jungle with other animals in a symbiotic niche of both beauty and survival, so is the big Mutembuzi—chief Mumena accommodating to other clans of the tribe like bena mbuzi (the goats).”

This year’s ceremony was celebrated on August 2 and indeed the illustration of this symbiotic existence roared to life in the arena of Lubinda Ntongo.

People of all kinds started arriving as early as 06.00 hours to witness the carnival of the Lion Clan and his pride. The black smiths, the wood carvers, farmers and brewers also converged at the arena to showcase their wares and products. Some were selling t-shirts with an effigy print of chief Mumena for the Lubinda Ntongo ceremony. 

As the midday approached, the ceremony arena swelled dramatically with people. Government dignitaries led by North Western province minister, Nathaniel Mubukwanu and his counterpart deputy minister of chiefs and traditional affairs, Taundi Chiseke, arrived to grace the event. Their permanent secretaries Augustine   Seyuba and Coillard Chibonta, respectively, accompanied them.

“This gives me a sense of pride. Kaondes are creative people, there are village ba sendwe (artisans and artists) who work with wood and other natural materials to eke a living,” Kajima Lwendo said, as he guided the dignitaries and the media around to look at handcrafts and tools on display.

There was no dull moment. Nsakwa Ya Ba Kaonde live band alternated with traditional performers to entertain the crowd to shonongo and machancha dances. In deference of chief Mumena’s area hosting refugees at Maheba, a parade of drumming and feet stomping Burundi’s staged a performance to an ecstatic standing ovation.

Then entered the invited chiefs, among them Kanonengesha of Mwinilunga, Kasempa of Kasempa, Mujimanzovu and Matebo from Solwezi. Senior chief Kaponda of the Lamba people from the Congo DR also came as a special guest.

Shortly, chief Mumena, with his wife, made an equally spectacular entry into the arena. He was given a double boom muzzle loaders salute as he arrived in a black convertible jeep car, as he stepped out on to a 50 metre ‘red carpet size’ traditional straw mat and walked majestically to the throne. Life-size trophies of a standing lion on the left and a laying lioness on the right decorated the throne.

With such display, one would not falter the astrologer for professing that the zodiac sign of Leo, associated with the lion, is one full of regal pride in pomp and splendour.

In between speeches were read. Provincial minister, Mr Mubukwanu, reiterated government resolve to fight early marriages which he said were detrimental to development. He also urged chiefs to engage government when sourcing for investors to ensure rigorous screening purposes. He further applauded chief Mumena for making great efforts aimed at developing his chiefdom.

And Lubinda Ntongo organising committee national chairman General Sande Kayumba, a former Zambia Air Force commander, said they were happy with chief Mumena for his leadership and efforts in attracting investment to the area.

Nsakwa ya ba Kaonde vice chairman Ephraim Mateyo, a former inspector general of police, advised chiefs against indiscriminate selling of their land as it was the most important asset that must be guarded jealously.

Chief Mumena tastes the first harvest 

Then followed an exciting spectacle—a choreograph performance by 18 women accompanying the Kasungami (a traditional laureate to chief Mumena). They entered the arena crawling on the sides of the traditional mat, eulogising the chief with chants, clapping of hands and rolling in dust.

While the choreographers crawled back, chief Mumena walked into the arena and entered a makeshift ‘shrine’ of fresh leaves and dry twigs. Assisted by the ‘chief’s mother’, he sipped from a calabash—a ritual known as ku-somona, the ceremonial tasting and blessing of the first fruits of the harvest.

Now on the stage, the chief joined the Kasungami and members of the Mumena royal establishment to perform a celebratory dance.

Upon the royals departing, the ‘Nsakwa’ band took over, blasting out Kaonde tunes. The crowd rushed on to join in shonongo—a popular Kaonde bowl-dance that the dignitaries could not to resist.

For people like Kajima Lwendo, the Lubinda Ntongo traditional ceremony is an important cultural heritage. It reflects the rich identity of the Mutembuzi clan of the Kaonde people which, otherwise, was going to be unknown today if government did not continue supporting the growth of such cultural events as seen by the representation of dignitaries at this year’s occasion.