We're not so different

STAFF REPORT

The feeling one got from Tuesday’s presentation on the nation of Zambia was that no matter how different we all think we are, there are always similarities with everybody, regardless of race, creed or nationality.

On Tuesday afternoon, Eastern New Mexico University student Sase Mumba of the African nation of Zambia shared some insight about her native land with fellow ENMU students in the Campus Union Building.

While it may seem odd, there isn't much difference between the cities of Clovis and Portales and the country of Zambia, according to Mumba, as both locations primarily rely on agriculture — specifically farming — for work.

"Agriculture is big farming business in Zambia," Mumba said. "It provides more diversity for jobs than mining. It's really good business."

The mining Mumba refers to is the business of copper mining, one of the other primary exports in Zambia.

That's not where the similarities end though.

As a former British colony, the national language of Zambia is English, so even though there are 72 different tribal languages that are spoken throughout the country, any tourists in their country will always find signs written in English.

These similarities between local eastern New Mexico communities and the African nation brought Zambia royalty to Portales and Clovis twice in 2011 to visit with city officials.

With the British rule still a not-too-distant memory, the education system mirrors the one in England, said Mumba.

Children start off by going to "primary school," which would be first-seventh grades in the U.S. Before graduating to "secondary school" — eighth and ninth grades — students must pass a series of tests set up by the ECZ — Educational Commission of Zambia. Following completion of secondary school, students again must pass another set of tests before going to high school.

"Education is very important in our country," Mumba said. "Without it, you'll be nothing in society."

During her presentation, Mumba did point out the misinterpretations many people around the world have when they hear the word Africa. According to Mumba, most people associate the continent as one that's built of nothing more than grass huts and wild planes where animals roam. While both of those things are certainly present in Africa, they aren't as common as most people think.

"I've never seen a grass hut in my life," Mumba said. "I know they exist, but it's more historical to have them. I've never seen a real hut, just pictures of them. We have large cities like other countries, too."

Mumba also spoke about the Zambian national flag and explained what each color and symbol represents.

The primary color of the flag is green, representative of the vegetation and by extension, their livelihood. The next three colors are vertical stripes. The red symbolizes the blood that has been spilled through what Mumba referred to as "freedom fighting," the black stripe represents the color of the people who live there and the orange stripe is for the color of their land. Atop the stripes is a familiar animal, the eagle, which represents freedom.

Even though the distance between Zambia and New Mexico is about 9,000 miles apart, some of the foods, as well as the words, will sound quite familiar.

Mumba said her favorite dish is a meal that's made up of a "strange vegetable" known in Zambia as maize, which is what Americans call corn.