The University of Zambia Journals
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Nkolola Initiation Rite in Munyumbe Chiefdom of Gwembe District in Southern Province of Zambia, 2018-2020
No full textConducted in 2020, this study explored reasons for the decline in the number of girls undergoing Nkolola rite of passage for girls among the Tonga people of Munyumbwe Chiefdom in Gwembe District Southern Province. The socialisation theory as explained by Anthony Giddens of making a younger member of a community become part of it culturally was employed and confirmed in the study. The objectives of the study were: to describe the Nkolola initiation rite, to establish its value, to explain the reasons for the decline in the practice of Nkolola initiation rite, and to show measures being taken to preserve it. The study was a descriptive case study. The target population included village headmen, women, initiators, girls and boys in two selected villages of Munyumbwe Chiefdom with a population roughly of 45 000 people. The sample was 36 participants; 2 village headmen, 6 men, 6 women, 6 initiators, 8 girls and 8 boys. Purposive and snow-ball samplings were employed to get the intended respondents. Data was mainly collected using focus group interviews and some semi-structured interviews, as well as an observation schedule. Data analysis was done by making sense of themes arising from the responses of the participants in the study. The findings of the study indicated that fewer girls who had come of age in Munyumbwe chiefdom were undergoing Nkolola rite of passage due to a number of reasons such as anti-Nkolola teaching by some churches, girls’ belief that they have the right to refuse undergoing Nkolola, and the inability by some households to host the celebration to mark the girl’s coming out of seclusion. However, those who participated in this study still held the practice in high esteem, arguing that it gave them an identity as Tonga people. In addition, the lessons taught to the girls during the initiation rite were described as vital to the girls because they prepared them for marital and adulthood roles. The article recommends that chiefs, village headmen, initiators and women come up with measures to save Nkolola initiation rite from going into oblivion
The Role of Christian Churches in Creating Peace and Order in the Face of Confusion in Society
No full textThis article analysed the role that the Christian churches played in combatting violent crimes and promoting peace when Kitwe was terrorised by a group known as the Tokota Boys. Guided by the interpretivism paradigm, it discusses some general perspectives regarding gangs. Furthermore, by using data collected through key interview questions, using a non-probability purposive sampling method, the article describes the activities of the Tokota Boys, and how they negatively affected the lives of Kitwe residents. It also highlights the measures that Christian denominations instituted to combat the impact of this gang as well as to restore peace in the district. In the final thematic analysis, the article concludes that whereas Christian denominations played a part in fighting the gang, their role was limited. This was because their interventions did not fully address the underlying cultural, economic, social and moral factors that were at play in the wake of this this. Thus, in an event of such gang activities, the article recommends mainly that the churches should focus more on fostering social values such as family life, community life, responsibility,
respect for life and other fundamental human rights
SYNERGISING GALLERY NARRATIVES AND ART AND DESIGN TEACHER EDUCATION CURRICULA FOR ENHANCED VISUAL ART PRACTICE
Get PDFThis study explores the nature of visual art gallery narratives by contemporary Zimbabwean artists and their relationship with the Art and Design pre-service teacher education curricula in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from visual artists and college art lecturers using a hermeneutic ethnographic design through interviews, analysis of artworks, studio observations, and analysis of art syllabuses. Data analyses were according to emerging themes and visual texts. It emerged that there is a need for deliberate collaboration and partnership between art galleries and teacher education institutions since student utilisation of these galleries has been at an informal peripheral level and sometimes ad hoc. Pedagogical implications are proffered
THE EMERGENCE OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA
Get PDFThe book Emergence of Teacher Education in Zambia is a product of many decades of Professor Brendan Carmody’s experience as a teacher educator at Chikuni and the University of Zambia. It is an excellent contribution on the emergence of teacher education in Zambia. Carmody acknowledges the major contributions of Professor Austin Cheyeka who provided data from interviews and contact with those linked to teacher education in Zambia. His contributions are evident in Chapters 4 and 5. He also acknowledges Professor Michael J. Kelly who shared his vast experiences in teacher education in Zambia. Further, Carmody provides a trajectory on the evolution of teacher education from colonial times to post-independence Zambia. In doing so, he maps out in detail how over a period of more than a century, teacher education evolved from imparting a narrowly conceived ability to transmit the three R’s, through delivering some of the basic skills needed for formal employment, down to developing the in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subject – matter that is required today
A Socio-Semantic Etymological Analysis of Selected Nicknames Within the Zambian Senga Social and Cultural Onomastics Cosmology
Get PDFThis study examined the social-semantic meaning of selected Zambian Senga nicknames within the Senga social and cultural milieu. It unveiled the social- semantic significance of selected Senga nicknames in relation to their social and cultural setting. It also established the etymology of the names as well as the social cultural significance of meanings expressed in the nicknames. This study adopted a qualitative approach. A purposive sampling technique was employed through which fourteen persons, who were considered sufficiently knowledgeable in the Senga language, provided an accurate explanation of the data. The participants were drawn from Chama District of the Eastern Province of Zambia. Data was collected through an interview guide, which was administered to the selected research participants. Data was analysed using Social Semiotic Theory. In line with social semiotics, nicknames express both connotative and denotative meanings. In addition, Senga nicknames have social and cultural significance in that they warn witches, discourage selfishness, provide wisdom, encourage, demonstrate endurance, reprimand, teach self-reliance, show ownership, discourage laziness, expose promiscuous behaviour, hard work and traditional beliefs. Lastly, it is recommended that other aspects of Senga anthroponyms may be researched on. These might include personal names, their etymology and semantic value
Household Energy Conservation Practices used in Chalimbana Ward, Chongwe District
Get PDFEnergy conservation is a subject that has continued to attract global attention as it is essential in ensuring that the growing energy demand does not pose a threat to the environment. In view of this, the current study aimed at finding out the household energy conservation practices used in Chalimbana ward of Chongwe District, Zambia. The study adopted a convergent mixed-method research design. Qualitative data from 10 purposively sampled key informants was collected through in-depth interviews using semi-structured interview guides. Additionally, quantitative data from 175 households selected through cluster sampling technique was collected using a questionnaire. The qualitative data was analysed through content analysis, whereas quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.
The study found that most households in Chalimbana ward depend on traditional biomass energy (Charcoal and firewood). Through multiple linear regression, the study found that expenditure on household energy consumption in the study area is influenced by social and economic factors such as family size, house size and education. To conserve energy, the households in this area use a variety of conservation methods, of which the most used involves switching or putting off unused household energy appliances or sources. The energy used among these households causes air pollution, habitat loss, land use change, and exposure to hazardous waste, among other environmental atrocities. While the study findings show that households in Chalimbana ward do practice energy conservation, this is not done at a substantive level that can yield sustainable environmental, economic and social benefits of household energy conservation
In Vitro Susceptibilities of Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli to the Inner Gel of Aloe nuttii Baker and Aloe chabaudii Schonland found in Zambia
Get PDFThe genus Aloe has a long history of medicinal usage in the world and is believed to treat various ailments. It contains bioactive compounds that work synergistically against various microbes.
A comparative study of the two Zambian Aloe species Aloe nuttii Baker and Aloe chabauddii was done with the objectives to determine the antimicrobial activity, the minimum inhibition concentration and the susceptibility of microbes namely Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.
The study was a quantitative, comparative laboratory based study. A Liquid-Liquid extraction method modified from Marjory Cowan, 1999 was used. The extracts were tested on microbes using the Agar Disk Diffusion Method modified from Kirby Bauer 1966 and assessed by the growth inhibition zones. The two fold dilution method modified from Doughari, 2007 was used to find the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration.
Only the water extracts of Aloe nuttii Baker inhibited the growth of all the five microbes tested as indicated by the growth inhibition zones as follows: S. aureus 12±2mm, S.spp.10.3±0.7mm, P. aeruginosa 9.3±1.7mm, E. coli 10.7±1.3mm and Candida albicans 14±0.6mm. In contrast, Aloe chabaudii extracts displayed no antimicrobial activity. The MIC of Aloe nuttii Baker was found to be 1500mg/ml for Candida albican, P. aeruginosa and E. coli and 3000mg/ml for S. aureus. In contrast Aloe chabauddi did not inhibit any microbial growth.
Invitro, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeriginosa and Escherichia coli were susceptible to the inner gel of aloe nutty baker but in contrast showed no susceptibility to the inner gel of aloe chabaudii schonaland found in Zambia
An Investigation of Nutrition in Selected Early Childhood Education Centres in Lusaka, Zambia
Get PDFLiterature underscores an association between nutrition and learning. However, less is known on the nutritional value of foods that children bring in early childhood centres and its implications on general well-being and consequently learning in early childhood education (ECE) centres in Zambia. This article reports the findings of a research that investigated the type of foods and drinks that children in ECE centres bring from home and their nutritional value. The study employed a case study research design. Data generation methods included qualitative methods using observations and interviews in ten ECE centres. The sample comprised ten ECE teachers and 442 ECE learners. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings suggest that children do not carry balanced diet meals to school. They mainly brought foods high in carbohydrates and sugar. Learners bought some of these foods from the tuckshop. Data from interviews showed that teachers understood the need for nutritional food but were unaware of existing policies on nutrition that would empower them to intervene in the choice of foods children bring in the ECE centres. Teachers also suggested school feeding programmes to ensure that children in ECE received a balanced diet at school
Teachers and Learners Language Practices in Selected Multilingual Primary Schools of Choma District of Zambia
Get PDFThis study analysed classroom language practices in multilingual primary schools of Choma district of Zambia and was informed by the three-language orientation theory (Ruiz, 1984). The study adopted the qualitative mode of inquiry and used the descriptive research design. The study sought to address three objectives: (i). To establish the views of teachers on classroom language practices in selected multilingual primary schools of Choma district. (ii). To analyse classroom language practices by learners and teachers in selected multilingual primary schools of Choma District. (iii). To ascertain the prospects of translanguaging in multilingual classrooms of selected primary schools of Choma district. The sample size was 852 participants comprising sixteen teachers who were teaching grade 1 and 2 classes in the lower primary section and 836 pupils from four lower primary classes. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data that were gathered through interviews and observations of classroom lessons. The findings revealed that teachers used translanguaging to promote linguistic inclusivity and diversity. Additionally, the study showed that most grades 1 and 2 classes of Choma district were multilingual in the sense that both teachers and learners were able to speak more than one language. The study recommended that primary grade teachers of Choma district needed orientation on how to mix languages in culturally and linguistically diverse classes. In addition, the study recommended that policy makers such as the Directorate of Curriculum Development (DCD) and Ministry of Education should reconsider the use of monolingual practices in primary schools and adopt translanguaging practices for teacher training institutions to reinforce the component in their curricular
A Stylistic and Thematic Analysis of Zambian Prison Poetry: The Case of Mwembeshi Maximum Security Prison
Get PDFHow the same theme is expressed in different poems, among different poets, is an interesting area of inquiry because style can determine the treatment of theme. Thus, this article dealt with a stylistic and thematic analysis of selected poems written by inmates of Mwembeshi Maximum Security Prison, and the relationship between the poetry and the prisoners’ prison experience. The study proceeded from the premise that inmate poetry offers authentic experience about life in prison. To achieve its aim the study utilised thematic and stylistic analysis of the poems. Among the key findings of the study is the idea that the poems were not only authentic but were reflection of the deepest feelings of the writers, thematically fresh and touching. The study concluded that most of the poems exhibit themes and stylistic approaches that reflect their prison lived experience and that not all poems use figures of speech to express their prison lived experience