Abashimba: The Return of Lions to Nsumbu

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Lions to Nsumbu follows the ambitious mission to reintroduce lions to Zambia’s Nsumbu National Park—once the stronghold of the Tabwa people’s royal clan, known as the “Clan of the Lions.” With lions long absent, their return is vital for restoring the ecosystem and cultural identity. But can a community welcome back Africa’s top predator? This documentary explores the challenges of large-scale conservation, the role of cultural heritage in biodiversity restoration, and the deep ties between people and place in one of Africa’s most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes