Chanda Penda

Encyclopedia of Zambian Names (TM) Chanda Penda

More than 7000 personal names drawn from about 30 of Zambia's 73 languages and dialects across all ten provinces including their meanings and, in some cases, pronunciation and brief backgrounds in preservation of indigenous cultural knowledge. The continuous lifelong research has been adopted by the House of Chiefs, with some traditional leaders contributing to its expansion, and has currently about double the initial published volume of names. Due to enormous similarities of names in Central Africa, this work has brought researchers together to work on regional volumes of the Encyclopedia. SYNOPSISGrinding all the indigenous Zambian names in the spirit of national unity, as roasted ground nuts with mortar and pestle, forms one attractive and closely related culture. Regarding naming rites in Zambia, there is a fine line between our traditions and the Hindu theology of reincarnation. Zambian names are more centered on religious, environmental and socioeconomic activities that politics. Ngoma (Eastern, Northern), Goma (Eastern), Hangoma (Southern), Kamungoma (Western), Kaoma, Mondo (Luapula, Northern), Kamangu (Eastern) or Mwondo (Northwestern) are perhaps the most powerful, or at least among the most powerful traditional names in Zambia. The non expanded meaning of 'Ngoma' is 'drum'. The power of drums can be likened to that of the media today. Furthermore, besides being a powerful tool for mass communication, drums played a crucial role in upholding the spirituality of a community. In fact, Ngoma is an institution, or rather, a stronghold for much of the COMESA region and its influence goes beyond the continent. It infiltrates every stratum of society in some regions and is also referred to as 'the African Rhythm'