Mukuni village association to Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is a world heritage site. I thought it might be of interest for people to know about the history that connects the Falls with Mukuni Village.

Photo: Victoria Falls in October 2006 before the rainy season. It is possible to walk the width of the river bed during the dry season

To the western world the Falls were discovered by David Livingstone in 1855, who named them after Queen Victoria, but long before this his Makolola escorts and the Leya people called them Mosi-Oa-Tunya interpreted as The Smoke that Thunders.  

Mukuni Royal Village lies just seven kilometres from Victoria Falls lies and was founded in the thirteenth century by Bedyango the Leya Tribal Matriach, it was originally called Gundu. However it was renamed in the seventeenth century after and in honour of Mukokalya Mukuni N’gombe.

Photo: Victoria Falls in May 2007, a record year for water passing over the Falls from the great Zambezi River

Bene Mukuni Kingdom is the permanent traditional headquarters of the Leya people. It is one of the largest of its kind in Africa and is unique in having two palaces, Lumpasa for the male ruler and Nanjina for the female co-ruler.  

The Holy ground of the Victoria Falls region has been a place of worship to the Leya people for centuries. Every year the Lwiindi Ceremony takes place over the New Year period, this is The Cultural Feast of The Spray Ceremony of the Victoria Falls.

I am very fortunate to be working not only with the Leya people but also to be working in one of the most stunning areas in Africa. On each of my visits to Zambia I take ‘time out’ to visit the Victoria Falls, each season changes the appearance of the Falls and each experience is entirely new.