Southern Africa leaders meet for traditional fete

Presidents of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia are this Saturday expected to officiate at an annual traditional homage-paying ceremony in rural eastern Zambia.

As part of regional integration, Malawi’s President Bingu Wa Mutharika, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza and host Rupiah Banda will officiate at Kulamba traditional ceremony of a large ethnic group, the Chewa people, who are settled across the three countries.

Lucas Phiri, the invitation and publicity secretary of Kulamba traditional ceremony organising committee, confirmed that Banda, Wa Mutharika and Guebuza would attend the ceremony which is held in Katete District at the headquarters of the Chewa people, situated about 490 kilometres south of the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

Wa Mutharika and Guebuza together with the late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa graced the same ceremony in 2007 but this will be the first time they come to the ceremony since Banda ascended to the Presidency.

Kulamba traditional ceremony is meant for Chewa people to pay homage, explain their achievement and problems to their paramount chief, Kalonga Gawa Undi, who is the overseer of his people in the three countries.

Kulamba traditional ceremony displays various Chewa dances, particularly the Nyau dance performed by male youths clad in a mask, feathers on the head, animal skins and sacks on their private parts.

Nyau dance, which is performed as a symbolic process for a young male’s turning into adulthood, is shrouded in secrecy. Nyau dancers emerge from the nearby bush with their attire smeared with mud to disguise themselves.

Zambia shares borders with Mozambique on her south east and Malawi on the eastern side.

Since the beginning of this year, Banda has been inviting various heads of state to join him officiate at traditional ceremonies, to consolidate his political grip.

In February this year, South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) leader, now head of state, Jacob Zuma graced the Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province, who trace their roots to KwaZulu Natal in South Africa – Zuma’s home province. Banda is Ngoni on his maternal side and Chewa on paternal side.

In July, Banda invited Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who came to officiate at Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony of the Tonga people of southern Zambia.