Zambian Culture -What is it?

The Zambian Culture consists of a rich diversity of cultures since there are 73 ethnic groups. Zambia is a big country: it is 752,614 square Kilometers, divided into ten provinces.

But what is culture?

According to the article authored by Mubanga E. Kashoki, Professor of African Languages at the University of Zambia, appearing in the Post Newspapers dated 24th March 2008, quoting from the UNESCO world Conference held in Mexico in 1982, he said about culture:

“The whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems and beliefs."

Therefore, the culture that is discussed here follows the above quotation.

The Zambia Cultural Heritage shown here is an attempt by the Zambian government to wage a relentless war against the modern stranglehold of globalization.

In these web pages you will come to know that culture does not necessarily mean things of the past. It also means the way the culture in Zambia is responding to the new emerging culture. Indeed the Zambian culture and in fact all cultures are dynamic.

Zambian Culture also involves the Zambian Customs or the life style of people. For example, simple things such as the Zambian Drum may be weaved into culture. Zambian Traditional Dancing is also Zambian culture. Zambian Curios and crafts bought at Kabwata Cultural village in Lusaka and Mukuni Park Curio Market in Livingstone are equally part of Zambian culture.

Not to be forgotten in culture is marriage, which includes traditions such as paying dowry In Zambia and Ichilanga Mulilo.

Yes, culture covers a wide range of activities. It includes the Tonga music festival , harvest ceremonies such as Juba ja Nsomo of the Kaonde of Northern-Western province, Initiation ceremonies of the Kulamba traditional ceremony of the Chewa people of the Eastern province.

Other traditional ceremonies are Umutomboko of the Kazembe Lunda, Nc’wala of the Ngoni of Eastern Province, Likumbi lya Mize of the Luvale people of the North-Western Province, Kuomboka of the Barotseland, Ichibwela Mushi of the Bisa, Swaka,Ila and Lamba of Central Zambia, Shimunenga cattle drive of the Ila of Southern Province, Lwiindi traditional ceremony of the Tonga in Southern Province and many others.

A trip to any one of the Zambian museums is also a good way of learning the country's culture and the lives of it's people.