Today, May 25, was African Freedom Day. It is also known as African Liberation Day. In April 1958, the first “Conference of Independent African States” was held in Accra, Ghana. Various political leaders got together for the first pan-African Conference ever held in Africa to form the Organisation of African Unity. African Freedom Day was created as one of the ways these leaders saw to unify those countries that had found independence, and those who were soon to follow suit. As it did in the 1960’s, “freedom” in Africa affects people of many shades and shapes. For example, in Zambia, Muslims and Hindus account for 24-49% of the total population. From top to bottom, Africa displays arguably the most culturally diverse population in the world.Today, Peter and I hung out at the Kafue River Cliffs with a group of Hindi Indian friends that I’ve become pretty good friends with. We were picked up early and drove south for about an hour. The landscape was obviously beautiful and I relish in the days I can spend outside the urban life in Lusaka. The area we set up our braai at was cozy and private, but still full of different kinds of people who call themselves Zambian. To our left, was a group of black Zambians, to our right a group of Islamic Zambians, and the plot even further to the right was a group of British Zambians. A perfect illustration of “freedom” in a country that knew apartheid only 44 years ago.
We spent the whole day grilling, playing cricket and cards, walking along the shoreline, and taking lots of pictures. I’ve posted the pictures I took on Facebook and if you click here you can see them too. It was good spirits all around, and yet another African experience to put in my pocket. This “dark continent” has so many problems that seem to have no foreseeable solutions in sight. The Xenophobic riots that are currently creating problems in South Africa make it feel like perhaps even the most developed parts of Africa haven’t come that far since the first pan-African conference. But, in the end of the day, there are many small examples of “freedoms” that have been achieved, and I felt them at today’s braai. We can only hope that the next 44 years brings a clearer meaning to Africa Freedom Day.Caption 1: This is the view of the Kafue River from where we were having our braai. Caption 2: This picture is of Peter and Annand Patel. We were playing a card game called, Cricket.
4 comments:
Hi you guys. Angeline, we have been reading. Thanks so much. It sounds like it is a beautiful area , a different cultural (but aren't we all), and challenged. I passed on the address to Bob Thimjon who you met at Jazz Fest last summer. We are/were both Rotarians. We'll miss you this year at Jazz Fest but hope to see you next year. It was great seeing pictures of Pete "mugging" for the camera. Nice smiles. The same look he gave coaches when he missed a call. We are heading to Lincoln this weekend to see Steve and Amanda. Jeff and Brooke are going to be there too. Take care and keep writing when you have a chance.
Angeline!! I've spent the last half hour reading the blog and checking out the pics...looks like everything is going great there! The comment you made about "no young couples being able to have the experience you and peter have had/are having" is so true. That's awesome Peter got to come visit. Keep on, keepin' on... :)
Angeline and Peter,
Georgia gave me your blog info. We are headed to Sioux Falls this weekend for soccer (Kira and I staying in your room-thanks Peter). Our days seem so mundane compared to what you must get to experience in Zambia. Whatever you choose to do in your lifetime will be forever changed because of your time in Zambia (it probably already has). We love reading about your experiences! Glad Peter can be there to share in some of them. Hugs from Fargo, ND - The Larson's
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