In March 1902 King Lewanika of Barotseland and his entourage took to the Zambezi River on a royal flotilla certain for London. From his capital, Lealui (as we speak in western Zambia), Lewanika started a two-month journey to take his seat on the coronation of Edward VII in Westminster Abbey. He travelled downriver in direction of the Victoria Falls, overland by oxen-drawn wagon to Bulawayo, by rail to Cape City, and over sea to Southampton. Arriving in England on 24 Might 1902, Lewanika was met by a letter from Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of state for the Colonies:
The King is happy that you’ve come so many 1000’s of miles from your individual nation to just accept his invitation to attend the Coronation, with the representatives of his dominions from all elements of the earth.
That’s how the British press and public would see Lewanika’s presence: as a loyal topic from the depths of empire whose journey to the metropole was made to pay homage from himself and his folks. Reportage of the go to was in depth. Someplace between Lealui and London, The Occasions heralded his arrival:
