At the invitation of Litunga, paramount chief of the Western Province of Zambia, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin, commercial counselor Wang You, together with their wives, drove over 1000 kilometers to attend the famous Kuomboka Ceremony.

 

Ambassador Li Qiangmin, President Banda, (first two from left, front row) and their wives at the celebration ceremony

 

The Kuomboka Ceremony is a traditional festival of the Mongu District in the Western Province, and also the largest and most influential traditional celebratory ceremony in Zambia. It is listed as world cultural heritage by UNESCO. The Mongu District of the Western Province is a relatively underdeveloped area in the country with poor transportation facilities. Located on a small island on the Zambeziriver in the Mongu District, the tribe of Chief Litunga suffers from floods almost every year. Every April after the harvest, the locals move off the island before the flood comes, and return in August after the flooding season. They live on crop growing and poultry raising. Wearing traditional ethnic costumes and beating drums, the locals row their boats in a competition in the evacuation process to celebrate the good harvest of the year and pray for good luck in the coming year.

 

Group photo of Ambassador Li Qiangmin, his wife, the Chief, and Zambian minister of finance in the Royal Palace (winter palace)

 

President Banda who also came a long way to attend the ceremony announced that the construction of a highway linking Mongu and Kalaba, a project assisted by the Chinese government, would soon start, which would greatly improve the transportation conditions of the Western Province and help lift the local people out of poverty. The news was well received by the local people. Before the celebration ceremony began, Ambassador Li and his team called upon Chief Litunga at the Royal Palace. He thanked the Chief for his kind invitation, and said that the Chinese Embassy came for friendship, cooperation and development. He reaffirmed that his embassy was willing to make due contribution to the economic development of the Western Province. Ambassador Li also presented colour TV sets, bicycles, sewing machines, footballs, and basketballs to the Chief, who presented Ambassador Li and his team traditional local handicraftsin return.

 

Ambassador Li presenting gifts to the Chief on behalf of the Chinese Embassy	Chief Litunga presenting a wine jug, a traditional African handicraft, to Ambassador Li to express gratitude