Luvale tribe resumes initiation ceremony

THE Luvale tribe of Victoria Falls resumed their traditional mukanda initiation ceremony this past weekend, marking the first time since 2014 that the practice has been conducted.

The ceremony, which had been interrupted due to the conversion of the initiation site into residential stands, saw 30 boys between the ages of six and 15 graduating from tutanda (juveniles) to bakwenze (young men).

The mukanda tradition, deeply rooted in Luvale culture, involves circumcising young boys, followed by three months of rigorous cultural training in the bush. Traditionally, circumcisions were performed by tribal experts within the camp, but this year, the 30 boys were circumcised at Victoria Falls Hospital before beginning their initiation.

The community celebrated the boys’ graduation with a vibrant carnival atmosphere, featuring a night vigil of song and dance. The Luvale, an umbrella tribe for clans such as Luchazi, Mbunda, Lwema, Chokwe, and Bakangala, gathered in the Chinotimba suburb to welcome the new bakwenze with a procession from the bush to Emadonkini, where the graduation ceremony took place.

The boys, dressed in traditional nzombo (amabhetshu) with faces hidden under hats made from tree bark and bodies painted with ashes, were introduced to the community through a series of traditional dances, including the makichi. The ceremony was attended by Luvale kinsmen from Zambia, further emphasising the tribe’s deep roots in Zambia, Congo, and the DRC.

A Chronicle news crew visited the ceremony yesterday and spoke to the leaders of the group.

One of the chilombola (trainer), Mr Kaunda Antonio, shared insights into the boys’ experience during the three-month initiation.

He said despite their time in the bush, the boys continued attending school, with their absence from the community kept secret.

“They were circumcised at Victoria Falls Hospital and treated before we took them to the bush, where we also used traditional herbs. They wore nzombo while their bodies were smeared with ashes and their faces should not be seen by women and outsiders,” said Mr Antonio.

The training focused on teaching lifelong skills, ubuntu (humanity) and various cultural practices, including traditional dances. The initiation process was closely monitored, with 10 trainers overseeing the boys’ development.

The ceremony, which took place in a sacred area marked by red cloths and flags, was protected from outsiders, with women and strangers prohibited from visiting the base or seeing the boys’ faces.

Mr Antonio said the revival of the mukanda ceremony was made possible through temporary permission to use a buffer zone for the ritual.

“We last did this practice in 2014 and had been engaging the local authority for land. The event was celebrated with a night vigil filled with singing, dancing, and traditional beverages, culminating in the graduation ceremony on Sunday,” he said.

Mr Antonio said women played a crucial role in the initiation, preparing and delivering four meals a day to the boys in the bush.

He said the resumption of the mukanda ceremony represents a profound connection to their roots and a reaffirmation of their cultural identity, ensuring that their traditions continue to thrive for future generations.

Ms Mariya Phiri, one of the elders, highlighted the importance of women in the practice, noting that they prepared the meals without entering the sacred base.

“We are lucky to have support from our Zambian kinsmen. The families of each graduating boy wore unique attire, including nyakandanda (head beads), chiwamba (waist beads) and nsangu (amahlwayi), symbols of happiness and cultural pride,” she said.

Ms Phiri said they are also committed to preserving their cultural heritage for girls, with a separate indoor initiation practice held annually. — @ncubeleon