• COMMERCE Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Miles Sampa, Works, Supply and Transport Minister Yamfwa Mukanga and Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Joseph Katema follow proceedings at the Kulamba Ceremony in Katete recently.

By JULIUS PHIRI –

“YOO!,  GAWA!” exclaimed the multitude of subjects as Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewa speaking people of Eastern Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, stormed the main arena for the annual Kulamba traditional ceremony.
Hundreds of guests led by Chewa traditional leaders and elders, clapped their hands three times before shouting again, “Yoo! Gawa!” to the man they also  refer to as their God-given King.
The guests had earlier paid a courtesy call on Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi at his  Gwalada Palace,  before being led to the Dzimbabwe arena under tight security from his royal guards.
Upon arrival in Dzimbabwe, Kalonga walked to greet the people and briefly stopped at the Tsimba to greet Mama Nyangu, the Queen Mother and the rest of the royal family.
Kalonga proceeded to Kasusu and stood in front of it to wait for the national anthem.
This year’s Kulamba traditional ceremony held at Mkaika, could best be described as one of the best ocassions in recent years as it saw traditional cousins, the Bembas, taste mice (mbeba)  which was offered at the main arena.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga was presented with a bunch of mice while Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa also sampled the delicacy,
Last Saturday also saw people such as former President Rupiah Banda, United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema, MMD leader Nevers Mumba, Information Minister Joseph Katema, Luapula Province Minister Benson Kapaya, Tourism Deputy Minister Evans Lawrence, Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga, Members of Parliament, Chipata Catholic Diocese Bishop George Lungu and other Government officials from Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique mingle together.
Dr Mumba agreed that the traditional ceremony such as Kulamba was unique because it brought about the breaking of political barriers.
Kulamba is a Chewa traditional ceremony in which Chewa chiefs pay homage to their  king.
During the ceremony, the chiefs brief the king on the situation in their chiefdoms highlighting major issues and developments.
They also present gifts to the king at the ceremony which dates back to as far as the 15th century.
In 1934, the British Colonial authorities, under pressure from missionaries, banned the Kulamba ceremony.
The missionaries viewed the Kulamba ceremony as a pagan ritual which promoted immorality and was a barrier to their mission to converting the Chewa people to Christianity.
The Kulamba ceremony remained banned for 50 years and in 1984, Kalonga Gawa Undi Chimvunga IV revived it.
The Chewa people came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, however, the original stock of people from which the Chewa later branched out and migrated into Congo basin area came from around Abyssinian Highlands.
The Chewa migrated eastwards from the Congo in search of a more peaceful environment because the Chewa are by nature a peace loving people.
The Chewa was led out of the Congo by their King Kalonga Mazizi.
Kalonga is derived from the Chewa word Kulonga which means to install or to enthrone, adding that, Kalonga distributed land in his empire to various chiefs whom he installed  and such chiefs became custodians of those lands,
Every year, each chief  is required to go to Kalonga to pay tribute to him and also give an account of what was happening to the land and the people in his or her care.
Gule wa Mkulu is both a secret cult and ritual dance practiced among the Chewa of the three countries.
In 2005, United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)  embraced it as Gule Wa Mkulu and masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Gule wa Mkulu is performed following the harvest in August accompanying initiation ceremonies as well as weddings, funerals  and the installation or the death of a chief.
On this occassion, the Nyau dancers wear costumes and masks made of wood and straw representing a great variety of characters such as wild animals, spirits of the dead, slave trade as well as more recent figures such as Honda and helicopters.
This year the ceremony was punctuated with variety of dances.
Meanwhile, Government has pledged to continue supporting the well-being of traditions and culture of all chiefdoms in the country.
Mr Mukanga said that Government has realised that traditional ceremonies were inspiring people to celebrate their traditions so as to continue to grow and adapt healthly.
He said to this end, Government’s  desire was to ensure that traditional ceremonies strengthened the integrity of the people’s origins and value systems.
“In this regard, the Government shall continue involving traditional leaders in the governance of our country because as chiefs you are the oasis of wisdom,” he said.
The minister said there was need for traditional leaders to continue preserving peace and stability in today’s world.
He said Government has paid keen attention to uphold the progressive core values of culture and traditional linkages.
Mr Mukanga said Government believes traditions and customs were meant to hold communities together, saying peace in the nation has not emerged from without but because of traditional leadership which was being influenced on grassroots.
Since the creation of the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, the Government as begun the construction of chief palaces throughout the country.
Government was yet to start the construction of Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa’s palace this year.
On health, Mr Mukanga said the Government would continue improving and expanding health services in the country like was the case in the construction of both districts and health posts across Eastern Province.
Government has strengthened partnerships with key stakeholders in order to improve health service delivery at community level inline with the Patriotic Front manifesto.
He said Government has further considered education sector as one of the most important channels for poverty reduction saying more schools were under construction in the province.
Mr Mukanga said  a Government University shall be built soon in the province.
Government would continue to drill more boreholes in rural areas adding that under the water and sanitation programme, 292 boreholes were drilled in 2013 in the province in which 50 were sunk in Katete district.
He said Government was also aware that agriculture in the province was paramount importance for the livelihood of the people in which Government shall endevour to support the farmers by increasing the quantities.
He said for 2014/2015 farming season, all of the 381,951 bags of basal fertiliser allocated in the province, have arrived in the region.
Mr Mukanga said the Government was also working on the poor road network in the province through the Rural Road Unit and Ministry of Local Government and housing.
He said more than 500 kilometres of feeder roads and 80 kilometres township roads were being improved to bituminous standard.
Government has also embarked on the Rural Electrification Programme to enhance access to electricity in rural households.
Speaking earlier, Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi who spoke through Induna Chikuta Mbewe urged the Government to improve the delivery of farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
The Paramount Chief asked parents and guardians to send their children to school including discouraging cultural practices that promote the spread of HIV/AIDS.
He said tribes must live in harmony, adding that Gule Wa Mkulu was a cultural practice and not a religion.
Malawian Local Government Minister Tarsizio Gowelo who represented Malawian President Peter Mutharika said his Government recognises Kulamba because it was promoting cultural values.
The President of Malawi wished Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi long life as he was steering the three people.
Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) managing director Felix Chaila said Kulamba traditional was unique and recognised by UNESCO.
Mr Chaila said  that there was need to promote the Kulamba ceremony internationally.
He explained that the ceremony should be promoted internationally in order to increase international tourist arrivals in the country.
“Kulamba traditional ceremony is the only ceremony in the country that brings people from the three countries, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique”, he said.
Mr Chaila said currently, most of the people who attended the ceremony were locals including others from Malawi and Mozambique.
He said long distance visitors attending the ceremony were very few and that, the Zambia Tourism Board, together with the organising committee, would look at ways on how to boost arrivals.