Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe is an area shrouded in myths and legends of cultural belief and spirituality. Fed by the mighty Zambezi River, the life source for 6 countries, its waters are regarded with respect, awe, gratitude and fear. The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa, harnessed for hydroelectric power by the Kariba dam wall, an impressive feat of engineering which created the largest man made lake in the world. The wild waterways and ebbs and flows of the Zambezi are both sustaining and destructive, giving and taking life in the raw nature of survival.
Water is liquid gold in Africa, sacred as well as essential, playing a major role in local life. Whether this be for transport, for farming, for hygiene and hydration, its access is vital for survival. The Zambezi River is a life-source for wildlife and communities in Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, as well as revered for the dangers which lurk beneath its waters, in reality as well as mythology. With such life and death dependence on water, reliant cultures bestowed powerful beliefs upon its existence. Myths and legends revolve around its fluctuations, River Gods directing its flow.
The principal god of the Zambezi River is known as the Nyami Nyami, an ancient and powerful force in the society of the Zambezi Valley. In Zimbabwe and Zambia, the local Tonga tribe inhabited the banks of the Zambezi River for many years, connected to its waters and gods through rituals and ceremonies along its shores, keeping the Nyami Nyami happy. The Tonga tribe worshiped the god as their protector, providing them with sustenance throughout the seasons.
It is believed that Nyami Nyami and his wife lived together in the waters of what is now known as Kariba. As legend has it, his wife traveled down the gorge to visit other people in the valley, answering prayers and delivering blessings at the time when the Kariba dam wall was built. This separated the two gods, angering the Nyami Nyami, causing unrest, devastation and floods in the land. The Tonga people warned against the building of the wall in protection of their god, but their advice fell upon deaf ears.
In reverence of the Nyami Nyami god, the Tongan people craft an incredible wooden walking stick, carved out of an incredible story. The stick is truly a piece of art, created with the deep respect and beliefs surrounding the river god and its powers. Made out of a single piece of wood, the stick has many facets to it, symbolic of its influence over the people and the land.
- The handle is in the shape of a snake, representing the Nyami Nyami’s head.
- There is a tree woven into the wood, an acknowledgment of the Mopane tree which is found in the Zambezi Valley.
- Spirals represent the waves of the Zambezi River.
- The fish is an acknowledgement of the staple food of the Tonga people.
- The figures are those who lived along the Zambezi River, performing their ceremonial dances to the river god.
- The wooden rings represent the bangles the women would wear during ceremonies.
- The hand signifies holding the ‘magical ball’ used by spirit guides and fortunes tellers to ward off evil spirits.
- The women’s pipe is a traditional calabash used for smoking tobacco.
Each stick is a masterpiece of its own, an ancient story carved timelessly into wood, commemorating an ancient god. They can be found in markets on a day tour with Hideaways Kariba Safari Lodge, lining the road with culture and tradition. The stick is a beautiful representation of the sacred belief in the Zambezi River, an ancient cultural symbol of Zimbabwe.
