CULTURE
There
are about 35 different ethnic groups or tribes in Zambia, all
with their own languages. Main groups and languages include Bemba
in the north and centre, Tonga in the south, Nyanja in the east,
and Lozi in the west. English is now the national language and
is widely spoken, even in remote areas. About two-thirds of the
population is Christian, though many combine that with traditional
animist beliefs. A lot of traditional Zambian music is heavily
rhythmic, usually played on drums, whistles and thumb pianos,
and nearly always to accompany dancing. One of the most popular
styles, however, is an import from the Congo (Zaïre) - the
rumba.
The
staple dish in Zambia is a stiff porridge called nshima, commonly
made from maize or sometimes sorghum. It's typically served in
a communal dish and eaten with the right hand, rolling the nshima
into a ball and dipping it into a sauce of meat or vegetables.
In areas along rivers and lake shores, fish are also eaten. Popular
freshwater types include bream, lake salmon and Nile perch.
