Strong and free

Today – 24 October 2014 – Zambia celebrates 50 years of independence.

Ten years ago I was living there, though I missed the main celebrations at 40 years as I came home for my sister’s wedding (darn her!) If nothing else, Zambians enjoy the chance to celebrate!

Zambia is, perhaps, one of Africa’s best kept secrets: peaceful and politically stable, in a continent that is known for instability. Formerly Northern Rhodesia, Zambia became independent of the United Kingdom, instating Kenneth Kaunda as its inaugural President. Fifty years, five presidents and some turbulent times later, the country celebrates its independent standing in the world, and KK (as he is known) is still alive to honour the occasion.

In a talk I gave last week, I showed a photo I’d taken of a fish eagle. It is a magnificent bird. It sits high and proud on the trees, easily distinguishable. And then, seeing something invisible to human eyes, it takes flight, swoops down over the water and rises up with a fish in its claws.

The fish eagle is on the Zambian flag, to symbolise the country’s ability to rise up above all its difficulties. Green to represent the lush flora (though perhaps not in the heat of October!), and stripes of red, black and orange (respectively for the people’s freedom struggle, the people of Zambia and the nation’s mineral wealth) complete the flag: a well-designed representation of a nation.

Readers of this blog, and my book, will know I have a great love of the country. It may not make the news headlines, but that is probably a good sign: things are going well. But – today – you, dear readers, will know that there is something to celebrate.

So today, raise a glass for Zambia: one nation, strong and free.

Stand and sing for Zambia, proud and free,
Land of work and joy in unity,
Victors in the struggle for the right,
We have won freedom’s fight.
All one, strong and free.

Africa is our own motherland,
Fashion’d with and blessed by God’s good hand,
Let us all her people join as one,
Brothers under the sun.
All one, strong and free.

One land and one nation is our cry,
Dignity and peace ‘neath Zambia’s sky,
Like our noble eagle in its flight,
Zambia, praise to thee.
All one, strong and free.

Praise be to God,
Praise be, praise be, praise be,
Bless our great nation,
Zambia, Zambia, Zambia.
Free men we stand
Under the flag of our land.
Zambia, praise to thee!
All one, strong and free.

Listen to the Zambian National Anthem here (words appear on flag background) or here (better sound quality, picture of hills).