Thursday, November 28, 2024

Chipata open doors to Ncwala ceremony

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Thousands of people have flocked to Mtenguleni to witness this years Ncwala ceremony for the Ngoni people in Chipata in Eastern Province.

Vice President George Kunda said when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief Mpezeni that government would ensure that it brings development through out the country.

Mr Kunda said government was working on establishing farm blocks through out the country to boost agriculture.
He said Zambia has a rich culture which is exhibited among the people through out the country and it unites them.
The two former President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Dr Fredrick Chiluba have attended this year’s Ncwala ceremony.
N’cwala ceremony of the Ngoni-speaking people, signify their rich culture and exposes the agricultural potential of the area. Agriculture is the mainstay of the people of the Eastern Province.

Their spear and shield-wielding war dances illustrate the rich heritage that the tribe has strived to maintain over the centuries.

As a sign of a good agricultural season, a black bull is slaughtered at the arena and the chief leads the way in drinking blood before eating (Msamulo) the roasted meat offered to all the guests.

The popular television series Shaka Zulu which showed in the early 90s is a typical illustration of how the Ngoni roots and the Zulus of South Africa and Swaziland share the same heritage.

According to some exerts of recorded history, the N’cwala ceremony was banned by the British government after a series of battles with the Ngoni people in Fort Jameson, now Chipata.

12 COMMENTS

  1. #2 The same strength in which our fore fathers demosntrated courage to resolve their own situation in the face of the British is how we should resolve to be proud to overcome our economic challenges as a nation. We have a shortage of ngoni warriors in the economic mtenguleni of our countrys development arena. Muster courage and stand for your country for the development of high ways, brdiges, roads, satellite. We should send some scientist to the moon also. Let us dream beyond the tribal wars of yester years and venture into the unexplored future as a giant Zambian nation. Let us inspire. Many of the so-called ngoni warriors who are so drunk on Ncwala only travel to Chipata during that period alone. They have no investements in Chipata, thier villages are dilapidated. Ncwala is the future,

  2. Ncwala is victory. We should celebrate the victories we are currently acheiving – for instance, chipata/mchinji, etc if we have any to celebrate. If we can’t find any let us work hard so that next year we can celebrate a lot of victories as a nation. Not pariochial advances here and there, thats not nation building.

  3. When it is any of the tradition ceremony from North Western we do not have former head of state in attendance, why! we have Likumbi Lya Mize for the Luvale and Lunda Lubanza of the lunda ( zambia)
    If you want to continue enjoying our ( vote) support else we shall give a vote to the pack

  4. MMD Cadre #6 Does it mean that if a former head of state does not attend Likumbi Lya Mize, or Lunda Lubanza it means the people of that area should vote for another political party. Is the former Head of State responsible for your holding / or not holding the ceremony of your choice by their presence or absence. Are you saying, ‘let us not hold Likumbi this year because KK will not come? ‘ That is rather incorrect. Prepare your ceremony and ensure it is attractive enough not only for a former Head of State but for tourists who will bring you M-O-N-E-Y. You won’t even notice that so and so is here or not here. Or is it difficult in our country to operate with that mind set at our tradition ceremonies. Are they really so traditional, coming to think of it?

  5. There are four main ceremonies that will always attract tourists with or without politicians bieng involved . These are Ncwala. Likumbi lyamize , Umutomboko and the Kuomboka ceremonies, maybe it is the other smaller ones that need political involvement to attract tourists.

  6. #9 you are misinformed. The Bemba’s were no match for the Impis of the Ngoni, and they gave away a chiefs daughter as a peace offering. Problem is these very talkative Bembas just wont accept defeat. We kicked your ass, period.

    Ngoni Man

  7. the Bembas defeated the Ngonis.Chiti,the king of the Bembas grabbed Mpezeni’s wife.They later killed him and his older brother took over hence the name Chitimuku(the older Chiti).Bembas had guns already by the time the Ngonis arrived.The Ngoni princess the Bembas got then had kids with the Chitimukulu thats why the cousinship between the Bembas and Ngonis is by blood.Later some of these Bemba/Ngoni kids were incorporated in the Mpezeni household.

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