| Sandra's guide pages |
| Zambia |
| History of guiding The first European guide company was formed in 1924 in Livingstone on the southern border of what was then northern Rhodesia. In 1934 there are records of groups of African Wayfarers but these were not officially recognised until 1938. In 1948, the term "Wayfarer Guides" was dropped & replaced by "guides", thus from this time there were both African and European guides but the African juniors retained the title of "Sunbeams" until 1955 when the name "Brownies" was adopted. When northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia in 1964, the Girl Guides Association of Zambia was formed and they ceased to be known as a branch association. In September, 1966, Zambia was granted Associate Membership of the World Association at the 19th World Conference in Tokyo. Hiking and camping are particularly popular with the girls who are always keen to help the community with Good Turns. There are some packs & companies for blink & leper children. As many languages are in use in the country, one of the publications has already been printed in 3 languages (Bemba, Nyanja and Lozi) and it is hoped to translate and print many more. *************** From a Canadian book for brownies: brownies there are called Lechwe (said lechuee) guides & their leader is called Mother Lechwe or Lechwe Leader (the lechwe is an animal belionging to the antelope family, and only found in Zambia). The sixes are named after local birds. Their equivalent of brownie footpath, road & highway are Blue, Green & Red. Traditional crafts which they do include making clay pots, weaving basket & mats, making grass brooms, bead necklaces & decorating things with beadwork. There are a lot of road accidents in Zambia so there is a special "Safety on the Road" badge. Traditional food which is eaten every day is a stiff porridge made from maize meal, and brownies learn how to make a relish to go with it, using some of the plants that grow wild. A Zambian game is "Crocodile, may I cross the river". A line is marked on the ground and the crocodile (guider) stands on one side facing the girls. Girls come to the river bank (the line) chanting "Crocodile, crocodile, may I cross your river?" The crocodile answers "No." The girls repeat this until the croc says "Yes, if you give me a yellow flower "safety pin, something the colour of the eagle on our flag, etc.). The first girl to find whatever is asked for & bring it to the river bank is allowed to cross the river. Others continue to play unmtil they're all across or the game has gone on long enough! ******** Good morning in some of the Zambian languages: In Chibemba In Silozi In Chinyanja In Chitonga Mwapoleni Lumela Mulibwanji Mwapona |