50 Things That Define Zambia
By Joram Mutenge
50 Things That Define ZambiaMay 04, 2024
KARIBA DAM
It's a tourist attraction. It's a source of Zambia's electricity. And it's on the land that was the home of the Tonga people for centuries.
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STATE HOUSE
State House is Zambia's White House, and it has the coolest address of any place in Zambia (or even the world).
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PHIRI AND BANDA
Every country has the most common last name. These are the top two most common last names in Zambia.
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YOTAM MULEYA
He died before the age of 20, yet he has a government school and a public road named after him. Very very few teenagers can boost about such accomplishments.
DEATH OF A PRESIDENT
On June 29, 2008, President Mwanawasa left Zambia to attend the African Union Heads of State and Government summit in Egypt. When he returned to Zambia, he was in a coffin. That’s because on June 30, the eve of the summit meeting in Egypt, Mwanawasa was reported to have suffered a major stroke that left him in a critical condition. He was subsequently flown to Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France for treatment where he stayed for almost two months. Unfortunately, the president died on August 19, 2008, at a tender age of 59. The complications that were caused by the stroke were the major reasons for his death. It was the first time in the history of Zambia for a president to die in office.
1997 COUP
In the early morning of October 28, 1997, just four days after Zambia celebrated its 3rd independence, something shocking happened. A man who went by the code name “Captain Solo” and his subordinate soldiers broke into a weapons storage place, roughed up some army officers, and then took over the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) studios. This was a big deal because ZNBC is Zambia’s main state owned news station.
THE AFCON CHAMPIONSHIP
It was a remarkable moment in the history of the nation when Zambia lifted the cup for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations!
DENNIS LIWEWE
The legendary football commentator who became the "Voice of Zambian Football"
He popularized the phrase 'It's a goal!'
SHOW GROUNDS
The Agricultural and Commercial Show is an annual event organized by the Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia. The event takes place annually for a period of five days.
KWACHA
Zambia switched its currency from British Pound to Kwacha, but what does 'Kwacha' means?
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CAIRO ROAD
It was almost called Queen Elizabeth Avenue. Thank God that didn't happen.
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MUVI TV
Muvi TV is a Zambian television station that was founded in 2006 by Steve Nyirenda but it was officially launched in 2007.
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THE 2021 ELECTION
Change is what happens when people come together as one and speak with one voice. This is exactly what happened on August 12, 2021.
THAT ZED PODCAST
An interview, an interrogation, and a conversation all rolled into one. A look at Zambia's number 1 podcast.
LOBOLA (DOWRY)
"The best things in life are free," Kanye West told us. I'm sure you'll agree that love is one of those things, but it's not free in Zambia.
THE POST NEWSPAPER
The truth hurts, but it must be heard. No newspaper understood this more than The Post.
KABANANA
Every country has a TV show/soap opera that defines it. Kabanana being the first Zambian soap opera set the tone for TV shows and movies that came after it.
BATA
The company that had a monopoly on school children's shoes.
CHITENGE ATTIRE
Every country has a national costume. Zambia has many variations, but they're all made from the same material. What's that?
KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA
He’s the George Washington of Zambia. He’s the founding father and freedom fighter who led the country through independence by becoming its first president.
FINDECO HOUSE
It doesn’t make the list of the world’s skyscrapers, but it’s the tallest building in Zambia.
TRADE KINGS GROUP
If Jeff Bezos was in Zambia, he’d be running Trade Kings.
CITY MARKET
A look at the market that allowed the wheels of capitalism to roll on the Zambian soil, allowing more citizens to run their own small business.
UTH
Looking into the hospital which is Zambia’s last resort for all things medical.
ZESCO
An exploration of Zambia’s one and only true monopoly, from its inception to the present.
NSHIMA
Here, we dive into Zambia's staple food and the politics behind it.
COPPER
The oldest metal used by man--copper drives Zambia's economy than any other mineral so much so that without it, the country's economy would be crippled.
LANGUAGE
Language is arguably the single most important aspect of a particular culture. It's no wonder we can tell where people are from just from the way they talk.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
What's the most sung song in Zambia? It's definitely not Justin Bieber's Baby or Abel Chungu's Extra Time. These songs come and go, but the national anthem will always be there.
MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM
Once upon a time, Zambia was a one-party state. Apart from the ruling party, no other political party existed. The Multi-Party System changed all that, allowing citizens to establish their own political parties and contest in the presidential elections.
FREEDOM STATUE
Zambia's most recognized statue--the Freedom Statue isn't just a mere piece of art. It's modeled on a real person, who could be considered an overshadowed freedom fighter. In this episode, Joram casts the spotlight on this forgotten freedom fighter.
Trailer
Zambia is one of those countries that don't make a lot of headlines in the news. As such, most people outside the country don't even know that it exists. Introducing 50 Things That Define Zambia, a podcast about Zambian things that will make this unknown country worthy of your attention.
VICTORIA FALLS
The Victoria Falls is one of, if not the most important natural feature Zambia has. It's magnificence was is as intriguing to the locals as to hundred of thousands of tourists who visit it every year.