Community of Beauty and Dignity
BY KAI KIM, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA –Yesterday we went to Livingstone which was the capitol city before Lusaka. We saw Victoria Falls and it was spectacular. The falls and the cliffs were massive, much larger than Niagara Falls. Afterwards, we went on a wildlife tour to see the animals in the wilds of Africa. We saw monkeys, water buffalo, rhinos, warthogs and two sleeping rhinos. As we were leaving, we were stalled for a long time by a herd of elephants on the roadway. It was a pretty amazing.
Today we visited the Kawata craft village. It is a village of artisans who live and work in the village. As Fine Art Faculty at Mesa Community College, we were very interested in our Zambian counterparts. We interviewed basket weavers, wood sculptors, textile artists and jewelers. They talked about how they learned their art from family members or friends. The art in this village is passed on from generation to generation and also from artist to fellow artisan. It was incredible to see a community of artists who live and work together with their families. These artists earn a modest living making their art. They are able to support their family and do what they truly love to do. This gives them a great sense of pride and sense of identity. It really was wonderful to see this village adorned with art. Behind the thatched huts, men and women were working diligently on their pieces. As you go through, it is apparent that they have built a strong sense of community. They are supportive and appreciative of one another. It really was beautiful in a unique way.
We also drove through the high-density area of Lusaka, which is the urban sprawl of the city where we got to see the real side of Lusaka. Shanti towns of urban living with street vendors and people going on with their daily lives, exhaust and dust mixed with rust and bright colors. To some foreigners, this could appear as poverty but I really didn’t see it that way. It resembled any other city where the hard life of urban high-density living situation, like the ghettos of Detroit. But the difference was that the Zambian people looked proud and in a strange way there still exists a sense of order and dignity.
We have been here in Zambia for five days now and our experiences have been unbelievable. Since our arrival, we have been welcomed and accepted into their lives with much warmth and kindness. We are staying at the Kwazulu Resort, courtesy of Dr. Ng’oma. The resort is a modest enclave of rooms with a common courtyard in the center. This living space seemed to have been made for us. It has created an intimate community for all of us to bond and share our experiences. This whole experience has been enhanced by an incredible chef who has made us the most delicious meals. Food is a great way to bring people together and eating the incredible meals together has brought all of us closer. Working and eating, building a community of our own in Zambia.