SWAMPY TALES

To tell their stories, individual biographies would be ideal. They made important contributions to the village economy. But, due to time and   the fact that no one can give adequate and in-depth details about their diverse social and other aspects of their well-lived lives today,   a mere glimpse in their role   as observed in my childhood might remind   compatriots of where we are coming from;   and jerk our dormant conscious   of how much we have neglected   our tourism package which is still covered in dust in the   archives. It will also serve to remind all the born-frees that there was life before us, which was enjoyed just as much. Hunter. Blacksmith. Carver. Tanner. Potter. Brewer. Weaver.   And other artists . Armateur Knives & Cooking Sticks from an urban market- Pic by Vincent Mwanda These are some of the unsung contemporary ‘industrialists’ and artists who contributed immensely to the village economy a...

                      Ministry of Education-Curriculum Development Center (CDC) Approved. CHAPTER 3 FIISA MU NSHIKU “Pilikiti, tanasha fikali. Kano male male.” Bushe mumfwa shani nga ifyo mulefawaisha ukucitika fyakokola? Bushe mulasuswa no kutendeka ukucita ifingalenga mwakana ukupokelela icalailwe? Umfweni ifyacitike mu Mfumu Chipangano. Kale, ubwina nama nabo bwaleteekwa nga abantu. Mu mushi mwa Kanabesa ba Chipangano mwali imitundu ya nama mpanga iyapusanapusana. Inama shonse shalepyunga imilimo yalekanalekana umo shalesangila utwakulya. Shimbi shalebombelela ukulingana nefyo imilimo yaliko yalefwaya ababomfi no bwishibilo baakwete. Kwali ne fibusa Kolyokolyo na Lufwinyemba, abalebombela pamo no kwakanya utobabombela.  Kolyokolyo no munankwe Lufwinyemba baileipusha incito ku Mfumu. Balefwaya bakabombeleko kwisano. Imfumu yakwete amabala ayengi, kanshi ne milimo yalesangwa ku balefwaya. Pa mbali ya mulaasa, imfumu ...

It was in the 80s. I was going to catch some fledglings with my cousin from one of the bird sanctuaries in the Bangweulu swamps. Fledglings made excellent relish because of their tender meat and great taste. You had nothing to throw away! It was “normal” for fishermen from nearby fishing camps to capture small birds from their nests from time to time to have some nutritional variety, as long as the “fools” from Department of National Parks and Wildlife were still asleep. Many times, we got away with hundreds of fledglings of different species for our own consumption and for sale to villagers when we returned to the village. Victims of flash floods wading through water  in Lunga. Pic by LDA On this particular eventful trip, on our way, a bird dropped its guano (pooped) on me. I exclaimed in disgust at the mess as I washed away the poop and wiped my face. To my surprise, my cousin who was twice older than me, advised me not to clean it up as that was a “sign of blessing...