Zambia’s culture is a blend of values and traditions of 73 ethnically diverse people.
It is amazing that even with the existence of so many tribes Zambians have managed to live in harmony unlike other African countries who have tribal animosity. English is one of the eight official languages and the most often spoken in schools, work, media and everywhere else. The other seven widely spoken languages are Bemba,Kaonde, Nyanja, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale and Tonga.
I have come to find out that many urban Zambians will speak at least passible English and as you move to rural areas do not be surprised to find a rural Zambian that speaks flawless English.
In as much as I appreciate English as the official language, there should still be room for our languages to prevail and help our culture.
I am engaged to be married and it worries me that I did not know what language I will pass on to my children. My father is a Kaonde man who speaks English all the time, a bit of Bemba because he grew on the Copperbelt province and speaks Kaonde and Bemba with my mother or his relatives. My mother is Bemba and speaks English, Bemba, Nyanja and Kaonde. My brothers and I speak English, Bemba, Nyanja and do not understand a word in my father’s language. When we all come together we speak English or Bemba because my father does not understand a word in Nyanja and my brothers and I do not understand a word in Kaonde. This worries me a lot because eventhough I speak my mother’s language, it is not perfect because I mix Bemba with English so it is basically broken Bemba.This bothers me because my fiance is Lunda and can speak it. He speaks English, Nyanja and is learning how speak broken Bemba from me.
I think I have to look for dictionaries in Bemba and Kaonde on Amazom.
