At mystery festival, Muslims and Christians chant ‘Zambo, Zambo’, wear wigs and body paint. But no one knows why

Residents of the Lebanese city of Tripoli donned bright, curly wigs and dark body paint Sunday for Zambo, a mysterious festival on the eve of the start of the Orthodox Christian period of Lent.

The origins of the annual celebration remain unclear, even to celebrants. 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 revellers, 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.

“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.”

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

Muslims and Christians often take part in each other’s festivities here – but no one is quite sure where Zambo came from.