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Category Archives: Culture
Farewell to Zambia
A Village in Africa has finally come to a close. This short video looks back on some of the highlights of my month in Zambia, and the text below is a copy of the farewell feature that appeared in today’s … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture, Children, Culture, Development, Education, Farming, HIV/AIDS, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty, Tradition, Zambia
Tagged agriculture, blog, children, farming, makwatata, self help africa, tradition, zambia
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Chief postpones initiation ceremonies in bid to prevent teen pregnancy, early marriage and spread of HIV
On one of my last evenings in Makwatata, more than 40 women of all ages from the village gathered together to show me what happens during an initiation ceremony, the rite of passage performed for every Ngoni girl when she … Continue reading
Women do twice the work for little social recognition
Nzima Tango Tamala lives in Makwatata with her two children. She is just 20 years old, but her children are aged 11 and 8. They are cared for by their grandmother, as Nzima is studying to be a teacher in … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Culture, Development, Health, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty, Women, Zambia
Tagged custom, education, equality, health, makwatata, pregnancy, self help africa, teenage, women, zambia
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Breaking the silence essential to end norm of domestic abuse against women
Mary Makukula was serially abused by her husband for decades. In 2008, his blows were hard enough to knock out her two front teeth. Mary’s neighbours, who had closed their eyes and ears to the abuse for years, could no … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Education, Health, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty, Women, Zambia
Tagged abuse, charity, domestic violence, education, poverty, self help africa, stigma, support, women, zambia
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Upholding traditional law in Mfumbeni chiefdom
In Mfumbeni, traditional and judicial law are distinct but interlinking entities. Opposite Chief Nzamane’s palace, there is a small court house where judicial cases are heard in front of a judge. This court house is run by the state, and … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Development, Education, Farming, Poverty, Tradition, Zambia
Tagged justice, law, poverty, rural community, self help africa, tradition, tribal custom, zambia
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Chitelele
Chitelele is a dance performed by women in all villages at all social occasions in Mfumbeni. The women of almost every village I have visited during my time here have come together to greet me or say goodbye using this … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Culture, Tradition, Women, Zambia
Tagged custom, dance, rural community, self help africa, tradition, tribal, women, zambia
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Living with disability and discrimination in Makwatata
Rachel Ngoma and Elita Ng’ombe “A few years ago, there was a lot of stigma in the community surrounding HIV and Aids. We were not permitted to join other groups or organisations, or access loans, for example. But things are … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture, Culture, Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Women, Zambia
Tagged agriculture, community, disability, education, opportunity, poverty, rural, self help africa, training
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Suffering HIV alone
Esther Sakara is forty years old. Her face is drawn, and her eyes distant. In her thin arms she holds her two year old daughter, whose gestation brought Esther the news that she was HIV positive. “When I was pregnant, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty, Women, Zambia
Tagged AIDS, disadvantage, discrimination, education, health, HIV, illness, mdgs, self help africa, women
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Traditional birth attendants deliver new life in rural areas
As a traditional birth attendant, Christina Chulu has assisted in the delivery of approximately 500 babies in the villages surrounding Makwatata over the past fifteen years. “I am on duty 24 hours a day,” she says. “When a woman goes … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Development, Education, Health, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty, Tradition, Women, Zambia
Tagged agriculture, childcare, health, maternal health, mdgs, opportunity, poverty, self help africa, services, zambia
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Father determined to send daughters to university despite challenges
“Society has deprived our women of a proper education. I want things to be different for my girls.” Lanford Mulauzi has three daughters. The first born was married last year to a teacher at the local school in Chikando village, … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Culture, Development, Education, Enterprise, Poverty, Tradition, Women, Zambia
Tagged discrimination, education, girls, marriage, mdgs, opportunity, parent, poverty, rural community, self help africa, tradition, women, zambia
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A Village in Africa 