
Arrival at Limulunga, Barotseland, Zambia – The Barotseland and the amazing plains flooded by the Zambezi River in Western Zambia. In 2018, Lubosi Imwiko II, the King of the Barotse – also known as Lozi – has postponed the famous Kuomboka, the migration of the kingdom to dry land because for private reasons. It’s the first time it happened. April 28 he moved from Lealui (summer palace) to Limulunga (winter palace – April to June) using his Royal Barge topped with a 2m high elephant and propelled by 120 paddlers wearing leopard skins. During the 7h and 34km to reach the winter palace through the flooded plains, the drummers from the royal barge gives the rythm to all boats following, including the Queen’s barge (she passed away so her sisters and daughters are on it), the Ngambela (King’s prime minister), the royal Witchdoctor cannoe protecting the king and the royal barge with smoke and prayers, the cannoes with the gardians of former kings’ graves (dressed in white), and about 200 people with their cannoes. When approaching Limulunga there is a lot of excitment and people race with their cannoes – even 2 accidents – and sing. In the last kilometers an excited crowd of over 10,000 people welcomes the king in the sunset and the dust. A magical moment! In 2018, the chief guest wad Mwini Kalonga Gawa Undi, Chewa chief from the Eastern Province of Zambia.