Voice of an African Nation

BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, ARIZONA, USA - Sometimes, people ask me, "Why Zambia?" It's a good question. Initially, I became interested in the Zambia feature film and documentary project because of Jabbes. As my student, he made short films that I found compelling, including the loss of his son. While it was sad and moving, it was the determination that Jabbes had to honor the memory of his son by establishing the film industry and stimulating economic growth that continued to propel me into the project. This project was about more than just his personal loss. It was about making a significant contribution to his country.

I started writing the Innovative Project Grant Proposal and researching everything I could find about Zambia. I started with the CIA Factbook. I found out that:

• Zambia was about the same size as Texas
• The population is about 12 million
• The national language is English
• It is predominantly Christian
• Zambia is a demoncracy with elected government officials
• It has been independent since 1964
• Mining and agriculture are the chief industries
• Infant mortality is 86/1000 live births
• About 16.7% of the children are growing up without parents because of HIV/AIDs

Zambia came out of the horrific colonial slave-trading past (To better understand that period, you can watch the Spielberg film or go to the website on AMISTAD). In 1964, Zambia gained independence. Zambia's first president said that Zambia could not truly be free until all African were free. A very profound conviction.

Like Jonathan and Lorra Gilbert wrote in their posts, it's our responsibility to do our best to commit our lives to make a difference in the world. By the grace of God, an accident of birth, really, we were born in the richest country in the world. Now, we have a chance to support economic growth and build an industry in an African nation that would really benefit from that effort. It will improve the lives of many Zambians.

Why Zambia?

How could we refuse? Initially, one of Zambia's sons asked us to bring the stories of his people to the world. Since then, Zambian citizens, arts patrons and many government officials have invited our participation. As photographer and Kenyan Activist John Schaefer said to me yesterday, "We save our own souls when we do this work." We are lucky to have been asked.