Book Description
Zambia stands out in Africa as one of the continent's most peaceful countries. In its early years as an independent state, Zambia became a regional bulwark against imperialism and colonial domination and South African apartheid. Today, it stands out as an important example of Africa's recent democratization, experiencing both incredible success as well as some notable setbacks. The country is also one of the most urbanized in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a result of this urban influx, Zambia's diverse ethno-linguistic groups interact regularly. Moreover, many contemporary Zambian households, especially those in cities, are also exposed to the media, technology, and influences of western urbanized cultures, from Internet cafes to hip hop music. The interesting ways that "tradition" and "modernity" conflict and combine in contemporary Zambia are prime considerations in this book. This book explores Zambia's culture, with an eye toward its historical experiences and its particular endowments. It focuses on how "traditional" and "modern" interact, and sometimes collide, in the country through topics such as religion, gender roles and family, cuisine, the arts, literature, and more. The major groups are examined to give the reader an idea about how many Zambians live. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A perfect choice for reports.
You never hear much about Africa's Zambia because it's one of the continent's most peaceful countries - that alone will attract any high school or college-level student to a research project assigning an African country - making CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF ZAMBIA a top recommendation despite its quiet appearance. Zambia is home to many diverse cultures and thus holds far more variety than many African nations: CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF ZAMBIA is the high school or college-level student's key to understanding the complex nation - and it's a perfect choice for reports.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Book Description
The book focuses on the politics of democratization in Africa, especially the strategic choices of the political elite, both incumbent and opposition within the context of transition politics. The decade 1990- 2000 saw a total of 78 top leadership elections involving 43 of the 48 sub-Saharan African countries. Of these elections, only 27% led to regime change. Yet even where regime change occurred, authoritarianism persisted. The objective of the book is to analyze and explain this dual paradox of limited change of regime and persistent authoritarianism in the face of democratization. Its central thesis is that this eventuality is a function of the strategic environment of political engagement, which was not reshaped fundamentally to enable the emergence of a new mode of politics.

Whereas the book focuses on Kenya and Zambia, it draws examples from a cross-section of African countries and its conclusions are applicable to most African countries and other democratizing countries across the world. The significance of the book is that it eschews country-specific analysis and employs the comparative approach in examining the social struggles for democracy in Africa. Its treatment of the rise of authoritarianism and the democratic counter-forces as well as the juxtaposition of "demo-pessimists" and "demoptimists" in Africanist scholarship is particularly innovative and cogently illuminating. ... Read more

Book Description
In Makishi: Mask Characters of Zambia, Manuel Jordán reveals the beauty and complexity of the remarkable masquerade traditions of the Chokwe, Mbunda, Lunda, Lwena/Luvale, and Luchazi peoples who live in the “Three Corners” region of northwestern Zambia, northeastern Angola, and southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The distinct yet overlapping mask types and styles used by these groups reflect their continual interaction and demonstrate the constant reformulation of visual and performance genres. Relations among peoples of the “Three Corners” are further complicated by recent refugee flows, and the masquerades that Jordán considers and vividly illustrates in his field photographs reflect histories of compromise and creative tension, as well as contemporary struggles for survival. While exquisite masks drawn from the Fowler Museum's collections demonstrate long use, Jordán shows how new characters can be created within earlier categories, so that basic dramatic plots are preserved while reference is made to new technologies, foreign encounters, and the dynamics of social interaction in a rapidly changing world. In many ways, as the author astutely argues, the masks are a performative mechanism used to explain, cope with, and, often enough, celebrate life's most difficult transitions and transformations. Makishi vibrantly documents the ability of theater to perpetuate tradition while providing an adaptive leading edge. ... Read more

Product Description
This issue contains the following articles: Views of a Continent; Inventing Nairobi; Oil Boon; Living with AIDS; Who Rules the Forest?; Return to Zambia; and Spirit of the Wild. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a romance and adventure novel. An African man is riding in a taxi north of Belfast on a dirt road in Northern Ireland with great urgency. A Middle-aged Irish woman is driving south, on the same dirt road, from her small Irish village. The unlikely couple finally meets at their Internet secretly pre-arranged rendezvous on the rural road under the most inauspicious circumstances, in a romantic face-to-face encounter. A Police Squad car and an ambulance soon arrive on the scene and the African man is arrested.This is the dramatic beginning of the transoceanic love story between Trish and Kamthibi. Because of compelling circumstances beyond their control, Kamthibi agrees to take Trish with him to visit his boyhood village in Zambia in Africa. Kamthibi and Trish develop a deep passionate romantic love for each other, which leads them to cross so many bridges. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

How Writers Digest Rates and Evaluated "The Bridge"
15th Annual International Self-published Book Awards
Commentary Sheet

Author: Mwizenge S. Tembo
Title: The Bridge
Category: MainstreamlLiterary Fiction
Judge: 27
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning "poor" and 5 meaning "excellent," please evaluate the following:
Plot: 4
Grammar: 4
Character development: 4
Cover design: 5

Judge' s commentary:
What did you like best about this book?

IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH. Author Mwizenge S. Tembo's passion for his subject in
THE BRIDGE infuses every page and is infectious. In this story, Tembo brings Zambia to life, "like a
secret hidden at the end of a mysterious bush trail." Impressive visual descriptions and incredible attention
to detail make the reader feel as if he, too, has entered Zambia. The story concept is compelling and
includes enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages. The physical packaging of the book is
evocative and eye-catching. The cover photo is lovely and serves to capture the reader's interest. The back
cover bio gives a very good account of the author and lets the reader know that he is an expert on the
country of Zambia.

How can the author improve this book?

While THE BRIDGE gives a wonderfil glimpse into a fascinating country and its people, there are a few
areas the author might wish to consider improving. There are a few plot threads that aren't hlly developed,
such as at the book's opening when it's unclear to the reader exactly how the police were summoned or
knew to arrive. At times narrative is used in places where dialogue and action would be more effective in
revealing the story. The pacing moves a little too slowly or too quickly at times and needs more balance
and flow. The book might be improved by careful editing, with attention to spelling and word choice.
Overall, readers will enjoy THE BRIDGE and its unique journey into Zambia. ... Read more