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Entertainment
lasts for three days. It is generally observed at the
Ba-ila people’s private residences.
MUSIC & DANCE
Many traditional instruments are played throughout
the country. The more common ones are the hand
piano, a small instrument with iron keys mounted
on a rectangular box and plucked by both thumbs.
The silimba, a xylophone type instrument with a
range of flat wooden keys, is also a commonly
played instrument. The drum is perhaps the most
emblematic instrument of Zambia. It plays an integral
part in rituals, ceremonies, celebrations, and even in
community communication.
Dance is an important part of musical expression
among many African peoples, and Zambians are no
different. Dance is used to express ideas, emotions,
and serves to reflect life and thought of the past,
present and future, times of war and peace, and of
course celebration.
The influence of the west and other parts of Africa
can be identified in the music and musical tastes of
the current generation of Zambians. In the larger
cities, you will find the sounds of kwela and rumba
flowing from nightclubs and shebeens.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Due to the country’s cultural diversity, Zambia
boasts a wide variety of traditional skills. Fine crafts
are made throughout the country, with some of the
continent’s finest basketry found here.
Fishing, raising cattle, or the cultivation of crops is
what sustains most craftspeople. The economy has
not yet developed to the point that they can live off of
the production of their art or crafts. Craftwork is often
produced seasonally to supplement the incomes
of many families in between harvests. Traditionally
produced pots and baskets are quite common in
populated areas. Such items, however, are slowly
being replaced by commercially manufactured
goods that are made of plastic or tin.
Basket weaving is popular among both the men
and women. The many forms and raw materials
used to produce baskets reflect the environment in
which they are made. They are most often made of
bamboo, liana vines, roots, reeds, grass, rushes,
papyrus palm leaves, bark, and sisal.
GASTRONOMY
Nshima
The Zambian staple meal, nshima, is made from
plain maize, corn meal, or maize flour, and it is known
as mealy-meal among Zambians. Nshima is eaten in
most homes twice a day—usually for both lunch and
dinner. Nshima is served with a second smaller dish,
or “relish” (ndiwo, ndiyo, or umumunani). The ndiwo
is often fish, beans, chicken, beef, or vegetables.
Eating is done only with the right hand. Both hands
are never used when eating nshima. Nshima is
eaten by molding a lump of nshima into a ball and
dipping it into the ndiwo before eating it.
NSHIMA RECIPE
4 Cups Water
2 Cups plain corn meal
*
serves 4 people
• Pour 4 cups of water into a medium-size
cooking pot
• Heat the water for 3-4 minutes until lukewarm
• Adding one tablespoonful at a time, slowly
sprinkle 3/4 cup of corn meal into the pot while
stirring continuously
• Continue stirring slowly until the mixture begins
to thicken and boil
• urn the heat to medium, cover the pot, and let
simmer for 3-5 minutes
• Remove the lid and slowly pour 1 and 1/4 cups
of corn meal into the pot and stir briskly until
smooth and thick
• Cover, turn the heat off and let sit for another
2-3 minutes
• Serve hot with a vegetable, bean, meat, or fish
dish
Ndiw
o
One of the most significant aspects of a traditional
Zambian meal, ultimately identified with nshima, is
the “relish.” The relish is a second dish that is always
served with nshima. The ndiwo (relish) is often
made from domestic and wild meats including beef,
goat, mutton, deer, chicken, wild pig, or vegetables
like beans, cabbage, squash, pea leaves, cassava
leaves, bean leaves, and kabata leaves, among
others.
