Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony is celebrated by the
Lunda people
The Lunda (''Balunda'', ''Luunda'', ''Ruund'') are a Bantu ethnic group that originated in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo along the Kalanyi River and formed the Kingdom of Lunda in the 17th century under their ruler, Mwata Yamv ...
of senior
Chief Ishindi during the month of August every year at Mukanda Nkunda in
Zambezi
The Zambezi River (also spelled Zambeze and Zambesi) is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. Its drainage basin covers , slightly less than hal ...
district of the
North-Western Province of
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...
.
Meaning
The Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony is held to commemorate the coming of the
Ishindi Lunda people from
Lunda Kingdom
The Nation of Lunda (c. 1665 – c. 1887) was a confederation of states in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, north-eastern Angola, and north-western Zambia, its central state was in Katanga.
Origin
Initially, the core of what would ...
of
Mwata Yamvo or Mwaant Yav.
The ceremony symbolizes the unity of all
Lunda speaking people that have settled in
Angola
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,
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
and
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...
.
Celebration duration and activities
The ceremony is held every year in August. The ceremony is held to remember the arrival and conquest by the
Ishindi Lunda. Although right now it is held every year, the ceremony was only revived in 1983 after a long absence.
The ceremony signifies the conquest of the
Ishindi Lunda in successfully fulfilling a mission that
Chief Ishindi was given by his father,
Mwata Yamvo or Mwaant Yav, to expand the
Kingdom of Lunda dynasty. In the 1854 ceremony, Scottish missionary Dr David Livingstone is said to have attended and he was honoured by
Mwant shindi Kawumbu.
The climax of the event is when Senior
Chief Ishindi comes out of his palace to meet his subjects and discuss matters affecting his
Lunda Chiefdom.
Lunda Lubanza: A medley of cultures, 7 October 2016
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See also
*Lunda Kingdom
The Nation of Lunda (c. 1665 – c. 1887) was a confederation of states in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, north-eastern Angola, and north-western Zambia, its central state was in Katanga.
Origin
Initially, the core of what would ...
*Lunda people
The Lunda (''Balunda'', ''Luunda'', ''Ruund'') are a Bantu ethnic group that originated in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo along the Kalanyi River and formed the Kingdom of Lunda in the 17th century under their ruler, Mwata Yamv ...
* Ishindi Lunda
References and further reading
Musicinafrica.net: Lunda Lubanza
website accessed 7 October 2016.
website accessed 7 October 2016.
Kutachika.com: Lunda Lubanza
website accessed 7 October 2016.
Lunda Lubanza: A medley of cultures
website accessed 7 October 2016.
References
{{Reflist
History of Zambia
Zambian culture
Traditional rulers in Zambia