Patchwork Designs >ZAMBIA PATCH PROGRAM

ZAMBIA PATCH PROGRAM
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1. Zambia borders 8 different countries. Identify its flag, find it on a map, and learn the flag.

2. The official language of Zambia is English, used for official and educational reasons. However, locally the most widely spoken languages are Nyanja and Bemba. No single cultural group dominates the population, leaving many smaller ethnic groups, that generally have their own language. Therefore, there are as many as 80 different languages spoken. Learn some words or slang that is spoken in Zambia.

3. There are many traditional Zambian ceremonies and rituals. Among the many cultural rituals in Zambia, initiation ceremonies for girls and boys are very popular. These take place in order to instruct growing children on the values of their culture. Some examples of Zambian ceremonies are: Kuomboka, Mutomboko, and Lwiindi. Lwiindi is a Thanksgiving festival that takes place in the Monze district, and normally happens in early summer. Learn about festivals in Zambia, go to a festival, participate in one, OR complete a craft that represents a festival.

4. The Zambian cuisine is very traditional due to the country's isolation from the rest of the world up until the 19th century. Staples are rice, sorghum, maize, and millet. Zambian soups are very thick and are served with the main courses. Usually they contain a variety of vegetables such as bitter leaf, spinach, kale, collards, turnips, and then some sort of meat or seafood. A popular main course is beef and greens in a peanut sauce. This dish is very rich and savory. Try a recipe, food, or drink from Zambia.

5. As in all African cultures, music is an essential part to the daily lives of Africans. Traditional dancing accompanied with drums and others instruments make ceremonies and important occasions lively and upbeat. Instruments are generally made locally. Dances are preformed as line-dances, and reflect the occasion in which they are being preformed. Watch a dance OR listen to music OR sing a song OR learn more information about a dance from Zambia and try your own moves.

6. Legends and stories of Zambia reflect the many cultural backgrounds in Zambia today. Folk Tales and nature poetry make up many of Zambia's early literature. Read a story, legend, OR listen to a legend or play.

7. The land in which Zambia is now has been populated for about 200,000 years. About 100,000 years ago, there is sure evidence at a site called Kalambo Falls of an existing community. Archaeologists can tell this by findings such as wooden clubs, spears, and other tools. There is also evidence here of fire, meaning it was used probably for warmth, protection, and cooking. In other parts of the country, there have been multiple skeletal remains from as far back as the Stone Age. Learn more about prehistory in Africa OR about archaeology, and what archaeologists do!

8. Zambia's climate is very enjoyable, and is considered to be a tropical climate. There are multiple bodies of water in Zambia, including two major river basins: the Zambezi, and the Congo basin, with multiple other tributaries leading out. The wildlife of Zambia is usually protected through parks. Animals such as rhinoceros's, elephants, lions, hyenas, crocodiles, hippopotamus's, and lechwe's are all found in Zambia. Choose [3] animals from Zambia to learn more about. Also, locate the Zambezi, and the Congo River basins, and learn what a river basin is.

9. Mask making is a special art in Zambia. They are made from bark, and mud and are painted in black, white, or red. Other handicrafts are decorative beadwork, basket making, weaving, and woodwork. Create a craft or project using a traditional a skill OR jewelry OR observe someone creating a handicraft OR a traditional craft from Zambia.

10. The national dress of Zambia is called a chiteng. This is a brightly colored cloth that is wrapped around the body and worn daily. Both men and women wear these brightly colored garments. Draw a picture of the clothing, dress up in a Zambian themed costume, create an accessory, complete our paper dolls OR view traditional clothing through books or the Internet or our country manual.

11. There are a variety of games played by children in Zambia. Learn a traditional game OR play a game that symbolizes Zambia OR play a water game OR play a game in our manual.