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Zambia has a rich culture
Aug 18, 2007 By: Crystal Crimi(Originally published May 8, 2006)
Home to traditional cousins, unique handshakes, strong Christian beliefs, polygamy and one of the world’s natural wonders — Victoria Falls — Zambia and its culture is much richer than suggested by the large advertising signs lining its urban roads.
About 10.5 million people inhabit the landlocked, south African country. Usually, all it takes is a person’s name to know which area they come from.
“The people in the east are very original,” said Paul Slomp, a Canadian volunteer with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), who currently lives in Zambia.
In Eastern Province, people often choose English names they think sound interesting, such as ‘Gearbox’ and ‘Crankshaft’, he said. Family names can signify where a person was born. And where they’re from matters. Although people may not be blood related, they consider each other “traditional cousins” depending on where they’re from. Traditional cousins can have a more relaxed attitude with each other than strangers.
In the south, polygamy is common.
David Damberger, a volunteer with Canada’s EWB, currently lives in Choma. Since arriving, his views on polygamy have changed slightly after seeing that each wife is well respected. On the flip side, Tonga women there may secretly marry more than one man. Throughout Zambia, it’s common to pay a price for your bride, often as a sign of respect. In Choma, if a Tonga woman enters a man’s house, they are automatically assumed married and the man has to pay the dowry, said Mr. Damberger. He has to be careful when he opens his door because women try to get inside.
Some blame unfaithfulness and the submissiveness of women embedded in Zambian culture as part of the reason for the spread of HIV/AIDS. Traditional medicine can also play a role in spreading the virus: some healers tell men they can cure HIV by having sex with their youngest daughter, a misconception AIDS workers are working to correct.
Although Zambia has kept many of its traditions, some are falling by the wayside, said Zambian Mary Kazunga. Some men are starting to help more at home as more women become the bread winners, but important traditions are also being left behind. In the past, households welcomed anyone, but now, some people would prefer not to have visitors, she said.
Mrs. Kazunga still keeps her doors open to guests and some end up staying for days.
“They come in for a visit and it ends up as a permanent stay,” said Zambian Kuda Bempong, now a Pickering resident and Mrs. Kazunga’s niece. “That’s how people have been brought up.”
Mrs. Bempong said people take care of each other in Zambia and there’s a real sense of community.
“Here (in Canada), sometimes you don’t even get to know what your neighbour’s name is,” she added. “We are not community minded; everyone is minding their own business.”
With a family of her own, Mrs. Bempong said even she’s too busy to meet with her neighbours. Although she’s loved Canada since she first arrived as a teenager for post-secondary school, the thing she misses most is the closeness of others.
“I wish I could have just that extended family to have more people living with you and helping you,” she said.
Life here is so busy, people can’t find time to help others with their problems and sometimes it can get very stressful for a person, she said.
