Likumbi Lya Mize Ceremony
" ceremony of the Mize "
- Ruled by: Mwata Chiefs
- Tribe: Luvale
- Purpose: coming-of-age
- From: August
- Location(s): Mize
- District(s): Zambezi
- Province: North-Western Province
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General Information
The Likumbi Lya Mize is a vibrant and culturally rich ceremony that celebrates the coming-of-age of young men in the Luvale community, marking their transition from boyhood to adulthood.. It showcases their unique traditions and strengthens their cultural identity.
The ceremony takes place annually in the last weekend of August at Mize village, the traditional headquarters of the Luvale people, located near the town of Zambezi in North-Western Province, Zambia.
The main attraction of the Likumbi Lya Mize ceremony is the Makishi Masquerades.
The Makishi Masquerades are linked to the Mukanda, an initiation ceremony that recruits and trains boys for about six months to a year where they undergo several rites of passage into manhood.
This involves learning certain survival skills, hunting, learning about women, how to be a good husband and fatherhood. The Mukanda climaxes into the circumcision of initiates. This symbolize the passage into adulthood.
The Luvale speaking people consider uncircumcised men as dirty or unhygienic.
For its magnificent cultural presence and artistry, the Makishi masquerades and Mukanda were in 2005 conferred with a diploma by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for being a master piece of world cultural heritage for posterity thus safeguarding the two practices.
History
The Likumbi Lya Mize Ceremony has been kept original for the proper transition of culture from one generation to the other for over 60 years now.
Procession
The Likumbi Lya Mize is the concluding part of a complex initiation process called the Mukanda.
The Mukanda involves a period of seclusion for the initiates, where they undergo physical and mental training, receive cultural knowledge, and are prepared for their new roles in society.
Circumcision is a symbolic element of the Mukanda, signifying the transition to manhood for the Luvale people.
One of the most striking aspects of the Likumbi Lya Mize is the presence of numerous Makishi masquerades. These masked figures wear elaborate costumes made from plant fibers, feathers, and animal skins.
The Makishi perform dances, sing chants, and interact with the crowd, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. They are believed to represent ancestral spirits and serve as guardians of the initiates.
Dress
One of the most striking aspects of the Likumbi Lya Mize is the presence of numerous Makishi masquerades. These masked figures wear elaborate costumes made from plant fibers, feathers, and animal skins.
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