Tuwimba

Tuwimba is a thanksgiving annual festival in Zambia that is held every October for the Nsenga people. This is a cultural festival celebrating a mythical/historical event in the distant past of the Nsenga tribe.

The story is that one year there was a severe drought, and the rains that usually come in October or November did not arrive. Since there was no rain to soften the ground, no planting could occur, and no food could be grown. This was a serious problem. So the Chief led all of the Nsenga people into the deep bush. There they found a huge special tree. They prayed to the spirits at this tree and made offerings (tuwimba). Before the tribe even got back to their homes, it had started to rain.

Now every year on 15 October, the Nsenga celebrate the Tuwimba Ceremony near the start of the rainy season. Nowadays it is characterized by lots of typical Nsenga music and dancing. Groups of choirs and dance troupes come from all over the Nsenga-speaking areas. Political leaders from Lusaka come and give speeches about the importance of cultural heritage, about development plans they have for Eastern Province, and the need to work together to be “One Zambia, One Nation.” And people still bring traditional (and modern!) gifts to the Paramount Chief Kalindawalo, who makes an “offering” on behalf of his people in a traditional shrine.