Just to illustrate that we just do not feature stories about politicians below is an interesting story by Austin Kaluba some Zambians in the UK who are "more British than the brits" . I have met this class of Zambians and sometimes it is every embarrassing how they conduct themselves. Nothing wrong with integration but equally important to remember your roots.
The PANEL.
BY AUSTIN KALUBA (Times of Zambia)
SOMETIME last month, I visited a friend in Manchester. He had left Zambia 10 years ago and has settled down in England where he works as a banker. His wife who is a nurse joined him three years later.But When I visited the couple, I was struck by the contrast between them concerning their attachment to Zambia.While the wife spoke in a high-tonal nasal accent, the husband still speaks like any down-to-earth Zambian speaks back home.The woman went out of her way to show that England, and not Zambia is her home (despite being in the country for a shorter period).The man opened the door for me and greeted me in chi-Bemba hugging me cordially.Then I heard a female voice in the kitchen reprimanding someone. ‘Stop it! I said stop it! Stop being silly Lucy!”As we settled down in the lounge, I saw a pekinese dog trot in the room, its tail erect. The woman followed it and lifted it up. ‘I have got you, silly thing.’ I realised who Lucy was. It was a dog!
The woman nodded a greeting in my direction but her husband reprimanded her in chi-Bemba. “Efyo uposha abantu ifyo (Is that the way you greet people)?” The woman put the dog down and came over to shake my hands.After introductions, we sat down to chat.
“When did you leave ‘Zembia’?” she asked in a forced accent. I nearly answered rudely that I did not know any country by that name but I had to be polite “Five years ago,” I replied. ‘I am told they have a new president Rupiah …Rupiah Benda…he…” ‘mmh Bana mwana mulelanda kwati tamuli bena Zambia (my wife you are speaking as if you are not a Zambian)…who is they?” the husband cut in but she ignored him.“You worked as a journalist. Write something about me. I want to stand as Member of Parliament for Kafue. Zambians need help. They need food.”
When I left the home late that evening, I started thinking about the types of Zambians who have come over here. There is one group that is still loyal to the country and support most things, which are Zambian.This group usually attends the independence celebration day at the residence of the High Commissioner in London, might have a small Zambian flag in their homes or cars, and sometimes eat nshima and play Zambian music.This group is also abreast with events back home through the Internet.
Then there is the type that is striving to be more British than Zambian by accommodating everything British and rejecting anything that links it with Zambia.This group has people talking about the British Premier Gordon Brown like he is ‘our leader’.This group has people who never speak any vernacular language in their homes.
The last major group is in between encompassing both British and Zambian values.Surprisingly, the second group, which is de-Zambianised, comprises largely people who have lived here only for a few years.It is also surprising to hear the number of people who want to bring change when they go back home as Members of Parliament. These are the people who write in the tabloids as ‘worried Zambians’ or ‘concerned Zambians’.To them Zambia is some remote, backward society whose solutions are in the hands of people in the West.Like the Western journalist, these homegrown armchair critics feel they have solutions affecting ‘Zembia’ that President Rupiah ‘Benda’ cannot solve.
2 comments:
A well observed piece.It is an area of the Zambian Psyche that is worth phycological investigation.WHY are Zambians particulary prone to this type of behaviour? Personnally, I have nothing agaist Zambians naturally developing accents of host contries (i.e Brits that live in America for a long time develop American accents). What i cannot stand is a Zambian with an almost pathological self hatred, the denial of any zambian flavours, a lack of national pride, who pride themselves on denigrating anything Zambian..what is that about? I have heard 'educated' zambian men, in the UK for a couple of years proudly proclaim that they dont sleep with black women!as if sleeping with white women is some sort of archievement!I have no time for the 'more Zambians than thou'either. I think there is a middle way, a balance of cultures(as most Asains do successfully) where one learns, grows and intergrates successfully in British society but still returns core Zambian values such as respect.As someone who has lived in the UK for 19 years , I like to think of myself as a truly Zambian/African man with some international flavours!Thanks.
Perception is everything. I don't particularly regard turning up at embassy functions as the barometer for my patriotism. If anything past experience has shown me that is where you are most likely to meet the most boorish of individuals.
My parent's advice remains paramount in staying grounded. Have a Zambia room or Zambian items in your home, don't ever give up your Zambian passport and be yourself. I was thought of as not Zambian enough when in Zambia and I'm sure at the embassy functions I would be considered not Zambian enough either. I started school in England but spent my childhood and teens in Zambia. It was the right mix for me and there are many Zambians raising kids here who sadly allow the kids to look down on Zed in order to integrate... disturbing.
It is through interaction with people of all persuasions including fellow Zambians that I find comfort in my identity as a Zambian and have convinced countless people to make that a place to visit.
Some Zambians spend too much time analysing each other by standards they would not apply to themselves. The people in your example are ignorant but that probably hides an inferiority complex which was definitely acquired in Zambia.
I'm a musician and therefore have lived the ignorance in Zambia of the illusion of what Zambian music is... as in we spend so much time touting what some colonial studio forced us to water down as the real thing, then behave like part owners of the success of the Congolese.
How is it that Africans enslaved in another continent took melodies, rhythms and skills - they have evolved musically while we cling on to three chords for dear life or diss tracks over poorly produced but popular beats.
When Louis Armstrong visited us in the 50's he heard sounds, melodies and rhythms that influenced him so much he returned to the states and birthed a new genre from which modern music would develop. Do we hear it too? I believe some do as that will explain Messrs Nkhaya and Mhlevu.
Why do we not succeed? Because we categorise to death our mixed cultures, I am trying to evolve by tapping into the untainted roots of our traditional music so once translated into a future sound I care not if some will choose to call it unzambian, My ancestors live on in a new key and chord progression, more power to those who will finally understand sometimes the most American American is identical to the most African African.
Thanks for your article. As Zambian as I am don't expect me at any Zambian event any time soon but I'll be happy to have a pap with you any day of the week, even though Malawian rice rules... The internet brings us shared knowledge. I humbly bookmark you and will look out and support your evolution. More Brit than the Brits is a bit of a conundrum as the Brits have no idea who they are...
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