A viral video featuring genuine Chewa cultural performance featuring Nyau dancers and a snake at President Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration has been taken out of context. There is no evidence that the performance was a sinister ritual or intended to undermine Zambia’s Christian identity. The snake and dancers were part of a cultural display showcasing Zambia’s diverse heritage.
CLAIM
A Facebook video posted by Augustine Mukoka on 3 September 2026, with the caption “WHY THE SNAKE & NOT A DOVE”, shows men dressed in traditional Zambian attire dancing with a snake at the National Heroes Stadium during the inauguration ceremony of President Hakainde Hichilema.
The post questions the meaning and purpose of the performance, particularly the presence of the snake as traditional drums are played and dancers perform around it. It also raises questions about whether such a performance was appropriate in a Christian nation and in the presence of church leaders.
The video has attracted attention and prompted questions among viewers about the cultural significance of the performance and what the snake was intended to represent.
VERDICT: MISLEADING
RATING JUSTIFICATION
iVerify Zambia reviewed the claim and determined that it is misleading because the video shows a genuine cultural performance, while the accompanying caption encourages an interpretation that is not supported by evidence.
The performance was identified as part of the Chewa cultural heritage, in which Nyau cultural performances are an established tradition. Nyau dancers and related cultural displays are prominently featured during the annual Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people in Eastern Zambia and at other cultural occasions.
The presence of the dancers and the snake at President Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration should therefore be understood in the context of the cultural performances presented during the ceremony. The available evidence does not establish that the performance was a religious ritual intended to undermine Zambia’s Christian identity or that it had a sinister purpose.
The caption “WHY THE SNAKE & NOT A DOVE” is an interpretation of the performance rather than evidence of what the performance represented. The video itself does not establish that the snake was presented as a substitute for a Christian symbol, nor does it demonstrate that the performance was intended to challenge or contradict the country’s Christian identity.
Zambia is constitutionally recognised as a Christian nation, but it is also a culturally diverse country with numerous ethnic groups, each with its own traditions, customs and forms of cultural expression. Cultural practices and religious beliefs may coexist, and the presence of a traditional cultural performance at a national event does not, by itself, demonstrate a conflict with the country’s Christian identity.
The inauguration ceremony provided a national platform for cultural groups from different parts of Zambia to showcase aspects of the country’s cultural heritage. The presence of a Chewa cultural performance should therefore be considered within this broader context.
There is no evidence in the material reviewed by iVerify Zambia to support the suggestion that the performance constituted a sinister ritual or was intended to undermine Christianity.
CONCLUSION
The claim is misleading.
The video genuinely shows a Chewa cultural performance involving Nyau dancers and a snake. However, the accompanying caption gives the performance a religious or sinister interpretation that is not established by the available evidence.
The presence of the snake should be understood in the context of the cultural performance rather than automatically interpreted as evidence of a ritual intended to undermine Zambia’s Christian identity.
People may hold different religious or personal views about traditional cultural practices. However, those interpretations should not be presented as established facts without supporting evidence. Misrepresenting cultural practices can contribute to misunderstanding and may negatively affect perceptions of Zambia’s diverse cultural heritage and the communities that preserve it.
EVIDENCE
Facebook video showing the cultural performance
