ZAMBIA-Country of Copper

 

 

This week we are learning about the peaceful picturesque country, Zambia.  Located in south-central Africa, Zambia is the continent's biggest copper producer and home to the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Victoria Falls - also known locally as the ''Smoke that Thunders'' - are located along the Zambezi River and have UNESCO World Heritage status. They are one of the country's many natural features which have been enticing a growing number of tourists, along with the wide variety of wildlife to be found in large game parks.

 

                                  

 

English is the official language. However, Zambia is home to many different groups, speaking more than 72 local languages/ dialects. Bemba is the most widely-spoken, spoken by more than two million Zambians in Lusaka and across the Copperbelt.

 

 

Following the arrival of missionaries in the 1800s, Zambia became predominantly Christian, so Easter and Christmas holidays are celebrated. But many people also retain some traditional beliefs and customs. Traditional ceremonies are held annually in various regions. Some mark when children become adults or commemorate a season, for example Shimuenga gives thanks for the safe delivery of crops and livestock. Others mark an historical event – Umutomboko celebrates the Lunda's conquering of the west.

                                  

 

The most famous traditional ceremony is the Kuomboka, when the Lozi people make their way in boats along the Zambezi for a ceremonial trip away from the annual floods. Kuomboka literally means ‘to get out of the water onto dry ground’. The Litunga (king) and his family lead the procession in a barge with white-dressed paddlers. This ceremony dates back more than 300 years when the Lozi people first settled in the upper regions of the Zambezi.


                                
 

In 1993, Zambia lost 18 national football players in an plane crash. The squad were headed to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal and were expected to do well. The captain, Kalusha Bwalya, was not on the ill-fated flight and held the Africa Cup trophy high with the winning 2012 team.

 

As in many countries, sports are very important. Football is the main passion and Zambians were euphoric when their team won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The win was significant and moving because of a tragedy which occurred in 1993.

Traditional arts and crafts, such as wood carving, basket-weaving and pottery, are valued. But these crafts are under threat because of migration away from rural areas and the arrival of modern manufactured goods. National museums and craft organisations in Zambia aim to promote craftwork to keep traditional skills alive.

                    
 

 

Zambia draws a lot of visitors because of their peaceful and generally trouble-free culture, especially compared to most of the eight neighbours with which it shares a border.

The area was colonized in the 1800s and ruled by Britain as Northern Rhodesia until 1964, when it made a peaceful transition to independence.   Zambia was also made to suffer for its support of liberation movements trying to remove white rule in South Africa and what is now Zimbabwe.
 

                      

 

The country's economic fortunes began to change in the late 1990s when the privatization of the mining sector began to draw in foreign investment and improve output. Government support for agriculture is also said to have contributed to economic growth, averaging around 6% a year in recent years.

China in particular has invested heavily in Zambia, creating jobs and new infrastructure. Census date suggests about 100,000 Chinese live in the country, and about 500 firms are active in sectors across the economy.

Zambia has a reputation for political stability and a relatively efficient, transparent government. However, social conditions are tough. Poverty is widespread. Life expectancy is among the lowest in the world and the death rate is one of the highest - largely due to the prevalence of HIV/Aids.

 

We cooked three very traditional dishes to Zambia. The first is called Nshima. It is a sort of porridge made from white corn flour and water. Zambians eat Nshima as a staple in their diet as the west uses bread or rolls and the east uses rice. I thought it would be terribly bland, but with a little salt, pepper, and butter, it was quite tasty. We made a very delicious greens dish called Fisashi. It is traditionally made with pumpkin leaves, tomatoes, onions, seasoning, and peanut butter.  Since we were unable to find pumpkin leaves, we used mustard greens. They were delicious! The star of the show was the Griddled Tilapia. We used a mango habanero dry rub with a little curry powder to season it and then pan fried it in the griddle with a little oil. It was so moist and delicious. Not a bit fishy, very flavorful. The heat from the spice rub was tempered beautifully by the spongy Nshima. Everything was a symphony of flavors. The entire family agreed, the food of Zambia is delicious!

 

               

 

 

Recipes used this week:

 

http://www.pepperandstew.co.uk/2012/02/19/zambian-africa-cup-of-nations-victory/