Lebanese mark mysterious Zambo festival in Tripoli

The annual feast, of unknown origin, is held on the last day before the Orthodox Christian observance of Lent begins.

By AFP

2018-02-20

Lebanese take part in the Zambo carnival held in the northern city of Tripoli on February 18th, the eve of the Christian Greek Orthodox observation of Lent. [Ibrahim Chalhoub/AFP]

Residents of the Lebanese city of Tripoli donned bright, curly wigs and dark body paint Sunday (February 18th) for Zambo, a festival on the eve of the Orthodox Christian observance of Lent.

The origins of the annual celebration remain unclear, and it only seems to take place in a seaside suburb of Tripoli, a Muslim-majority city with an Orthodox minority.

But that has never dampened revelers, dozens of whom hopped and danced their way through Tripoli's streets, glittery hats on their heads and sceptres in hand, a day before the beginning of the fast for eastern-rite Christians.

"Zambo, zambo, zambo!" they chanted.

Lebanese take part in the Zambo carnival held in Tripoli on February 18th. The inspiration of the annual celebration is unclear, though it is a local tradition that stretches back over a century. [Ibrahim Chalhoub/AFP]

A Lebanese woman takes part in the Zambo carnival held in Tripoli on February 18th. The festival, of unknown origin, draws revelers from many different backgrounds. [Ibrahim Chalhoub/AFP]

"This festival is more than 100 years old, passed on and enjoyed from generation to generation," said Beshara Hassan, 48. "People come from all over to take part, from all sects."

Pluralistic society

Lebanon, a country of over four million, is home to 18 religious communities.

Muslims and Christians often take part in each other's festive holidays -- but no one is quite sure where Zambo came from.

Ahmad Sawalhi, 25, is a native of the Mina suburb of the northern city of Tripoli where Zambo is celebrated.

"Zambo is a Greek custom, but it only happens here in Tripoli before our Christian brothers begin Lent," said Sawalhi, who is Muslim but takes part every year.

Ibrahim Touma, another Zambo enthusiast, said the tradition dates back at least to 1932, but perhaps even earlier.

"There is no doubt that the real origin of the festival is unknown," he said.

One theory is that it originated with Lebanese visiting from Brazil and Argentina, Touma said, while another traces it to Senegalese forces stationed in Lebanon during World War II.

"My grandmother used to tell me that Senegalese units used to put on these evening masquerades to calm down people in Mina, who were scared of the Vichy (French) bombing," Touma said.

After a two-hour parade through Tripoli, the crowd reached the shores of the Mediterranean and ran into the sea, washing off their paint to cleanse themselves before Lent begins.