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Gule wa mkulu dancer buried with the snake that killed him

Pemba village, located in Chief CHIKUWE’s area of Chipangali District, witnessed scenes of confusion and tension during the burial ceremony of Joseph Lungu, a member of the Gulewamkulu traditional dance group who tragically lost his life after being bitten by a black mamba.

The unfortunate incident occurred around 06:00 hours on Wednesday as the Gulewamkulu members were preparing for a performance. The burial, which took place today (Friday, January 26, 2024), was marked by disorder, particularly sparked by the controversial decision of some family members to display the deceased snake to mourners.

As the family attempted to showcase the venomous snake, a dispute erupted among mourners, leading to physical altercations. One family member reportedly resorted to beating those who sought to catch a glimpse of the snake. Elder members present at the ceremony eventually intervened, managing to calm the situation and conclude the burial program.

Joseph Lungu was laid to rest with the snake that took his life , adding an unusual and controversial element to the traditional burial proceedings.

Expressing concern over the increasing frequency of such incidents, Joseph Lungu’s grandfather, Josphat Banda of Mchenga village, called upon local Indunas and headmen to brief Chief Chanje, the caretaker of Chikuwe chiefdom, about the concerning events unfolding in the area. The plea underscores the need for community leaders to address and mitigate potential risks associated with traditional practices, ensuring the safety and well-being of community members.

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25 COMMENTS

  1. The snake and the victim buried together, the victim has mourners but what about the snake? Isn’t it a victim too? The Hulewamukulu snake experts should be investigated for causing unnecessary death through negligence. They should not hide behind tradition without taking precautions.

  2. A certain man was killed by an animal in Mumbwa at a wildlife conservation site. He was taking photographs when the beast charged at him. He wasn’t buried alongside it. Another man was killed by a car he was driving. He was rushing to Lusaka after officiating a wedding as MC on the Copperbelt. He also was not buried with the car. Where is this serpent lying alongside the traditional dancer’s body from? Horrible.
    When I die from Cholera, please bury me with it.

    • When you die you wont mind whats buried with your body.I hear some bachelors are buried with a piece of charcoal stuck in their an*s

    • The charcoal is inserted in the ujeni when a married person dies CHILDLESS not because he is a bachelor.
      Agreeably, it’s still taboo for a man to be childless. No wonder a second alternative is sought, where a man’s wife is secretly given another man in the family to bear that husband a child just to avoid that charcoal insertion. Typically, no man is childless. But women are. All are ought to openly see her carry a fruity womb. That is an age old tradition. Not serpents to lie side by side in burial! Shame.

  3. All these youths in the village can be integrated into various sports especially Soccer and boxing…Cameron…Congo and Senegal they go and look for Soccer players in the Villages no wonder they’re very strong and they can play soccer 120 minutes not these teketeke we have in our National soccer team

  4. Why kill the snake. You provoked it and it bit you in defence. Then it had to die just because of its natural instinct? All animals have a right to live.

  5. Munir Zulu was the lawyer of Kaizar Zulu. He signed papers in court that he would present the homosexual criminal in court. Kaizar Zulu reneged on his responsibility to show up in court, and Munir was thrown in jail for it. Munir was jailed for it, here is the story as told by this wannabe Mwewa: https://youtu.be/j9lKAADwyyk

  6. A Chimbokaila prison guard confirms what I have been saying: Kaizar Zulu was a meek and obedient little “boy” when he in Chimbokaila prison. Mwewa confirms that Kaizar Zulu will be put in prison for a long time when he is caught. Here listen to this interview: https://youtu.be/j9lKAADwyyk Being a meek little boy, Kaizar Zulu will be turned into b!tch and repeatedly eaten in his anas by the long term prisoners there….

  7. A Chimbokaila prison guard confirms what I have been saying: Kaizar Zulu was a meek and obedient little “boy” when he was in Chimbokaila prison. Mwewa confirms that Kaizar Zulu will be put in prison for a long time when he is caught. Here, listen to this interview: https://youtu.be/j9lKAADwyyk Being a meek little boy, Kaizar Zulu will be turned into a b!tch and repeatedly eaten in his anas by the long term prisoners there….

  8. The snake and the victim buried together, the victim has mourners but what about the snake? Isn’t it a victim too? The H%lewamukulu snake experts should be investigated for causing unnecessary death through negligence. They should not hide behind tradition without taking precautions.

  9. Gule wa mano.You have no right to impose your age-old traditioons on Gule wamukulu.The serpent was allowed to be buried beside their masquerade and I am very sure the dead body does not aware of it.

  10. @muzambian. You seem hurt.
    You didn’t know about the right use of the Charcoal Tradition. Someone just explained to you. Now you choose to twist the whole thing in stead of thanking me for the lesson. I am not imposingly forcing any tradition on anyone, but clarifying the Tradition. Neither am I justifying this shocking and abhorrent tradition. As for the other detestable tradition: snake buried together with the dead, it is also noted to be a new idea traditionally. Please learn to be analytical. Stop condescending when someone outwits you.

  11. Gule wa mungono
    You should not mind that I cant thank you for your unrivaled knowledge on snakes,charcoal and anuses.That is simply the kind of knowledge I would not love to acquire

Comments are closed.

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