Study and Communication Skills: Exploring Zambian Ethnic Culture

This essay explores the Zambian ethnic culture, specifically focusing on the Bemba people, who constitute a significant portion of Zambia's population. It delves into their rituals, norms, beliefs, and values, highlighting the Bemba's origins, social structure, and religious practices. The discussion covers the Bemba's belief in a single high God, Leza, and the influence of Christian missionaries. The essay also touches upon the Chisungu initiation ceremony for girls and the importance of respect for elders in Bemba society. Furthermore, the essay discusses the aims of writing, communication channels, including formal, informal, and unofficial channels, and their importance in organizations, emphasizing the impact of communication on organizational operations and the flow of information.

STUDY AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
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Table of Contents
Assignment 1..............................................................................................................................3
SECTION A: Essay Writing......................................................................................................3
SECTION B...............................................................................................................................5
Reference List............................................................................................................................7
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Assignment 1
SECTION A: Essay Writing
Discus, any Zambian Ethnic Cultural group aspects under:
I. Rituals
II. Norms
III. Beliefs
IV. Values
Introduction
Zambia is a South African Country located at the east of Angola and south of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (McNamee et al., 2012). Lake Kariba on the Zimbabwe-Zambia
boundary is considered as one of the largest reservoir by volume that holds 180 cubic
kilometre of water. About 100,000 Asians and Europeans settled in Zambia after they were
chased from Zimbabwe. There are different ethnic groups that have settled in Zambia. They
have their own rituals, norms, beliefs and values that will be discussed.
Discussion
Bemba is one of the largest ethnic groups that constitute 21% of the total population. This
group is also referred to as the Babemba, which means the people of Bemba. Their origin is
suspected to be from the upper Congo basin and are said to have entered through Kola
considered to be as mythical land. They were considered hunters initially and were known as
the matrilineal group. This group mainly occupy the northeastern part of Zambia. Bemba had
an image as a warlike and fearsome people (German et al., 2011). People of Zambia speak
variety of languages. English is the national language of Zambia. Around 33% population of
Bemba group speak Chibemba language. Bemba is again divided into 30 clans, which are all
named after animals and natural organisms. The paramount chief, Chitmukula, headed the
government. The paramount chief had territorial chief under him. These territorial chief head
various districts (Mwansa, 2018). There is a myth about the origin of the Bemba group. They
are sometimes referred to as the Bemba Charter Myth.
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The story of the myth identifies the richness of the poetic, aspects of politics, religion and
ceremony of the Bemba group. Bemba use myth, folklore and oral tradition to pass on the
required information about their beliefs, habits and traditions from one generation to another.
Bemba believes in one single high God, Leza. The God of Bemba, Leza is believed to have
all power and control things like thunder and fertility. He is also considered the source of
magic power. In the late nineteenth century, Christian missionaries visited Zambia during
colonization and converted many of the people in Zambia including Bemba to Christianity
(Simpson, 2010.). Few people of the Bemba group have followed the traditional belief
whereas most of Bemba do not see any conflict between the two and practice both religions.
Initiation ceremony called the Chisungu is celebrated for only the girls in Bemba group
(Richards, 2013). This celebration intends to aware a girl about their traditional roles of
women. In terms of relationship, older persons are given more respect in the Bemba society.
Shaking hands is the normal way of greeting. Bemba group follow their beliefs, respect their
values and celebrate their ritual in their own way.
Conclusion
The discussion mainly covers the living, culture, rituals norms and beliefs of the Bemba
group, which is the largest ethnic group of Zambia. From the discussion, it has been
concluded Bemba, as other ethnic groups in Zambia live a life of his or their own. There is no
much difference in the living in terms of culture, ritual, norms and beliefs. Paramount chief
heads the government of the group and there are territorial leaders like the ministers in a
legislative system that runs the districts. The ritual of initiation for girls has been discussed
and their belief in single God has been discussed as well.
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SECTION B
Writing is an art, which cannot be taught. With examples, discuss the aims of writing.
Writing is considered an art of expressing one’s own belief, thoughts and perspective to a
reader. Writings are mainly of four types namely, expository, persuasive, narrative and
descriptive.
In expository writing, the author aims to inform or explain the matter written to the readers.
In persuasive writing, opinion of the writer written in a way is an attempt to persuade the
reader. In narrative writing, the author dictates a story. The story could be of any type, fact or
fiction. In descriptive writing, the type of writing is expository and the writer uses his senses
to describe the writing beautifully as if it looks like a picture to the readers. The writer tries to
inherit imagery and specific details in the writing.
When a writer writes a novel, the writer tries to picture his story in such a way that it
becomes interesting to the readers. The writer lets the story of his own flow through him. The
purpose of writing a novel is to entertain the readers who love to read books. The story
follows in an order of plot development, settings and themes.
There are writers who write informational writing. The aim of these writers is to incorporate
as much information and transfer it to the readers. There are readers who have interests in
gaining information through reading. These informational writings help in fulfilling their
needs.
Writing mainly depends on people’s own perspective. Different people have different
thinking and ideology hence there cannot be a match in thinking of two people. Writing
hence cannot be taught to other, as the perspective of the learner may be completely different
from the teacher.
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Discuss on Channel of communication.
The flow of information forward and backward is termed as communication (Broadbent,
2013). The way by which the information flows or the communication takes place is referred
to as the channel of communication. The communication channel works in various ways.
Communication can take place through face-to-face conversation and inter-department memo
and others.
Communication channel is important as it creates chaos among people due to lack of
communication (Berger and Iyengar, 2013). Lack of communication affects the operations of
an organisation. Unless communication flow is smooth, there would be problem in running
any organisation effectively.
There are different communication channel that an organisation chooses for their
communication. Video conferencing, mobile, electronic media and bulletin boards are some
of the potential channels of communication that an organisation can select. The
communication channel is divided into three distinctive parts.
Formal Communication Channel– In this channel, the goals, objectives policies and
procedures of an organisation are transmitted. In this channel the information, follow a chain
of command.
Informal Communication Channels– Quality circles, teamwork, training programs are used
for the information flow in this channel. This chain flows outside the formal hierarchical
chain.
Unofficial Communication Channel– This is considered as the grapevine of an organisation.
This is the channel where rumours circulate in an organisation. This is a negative channel of
communication, which may affect an organisation in various ways.
Different communication channels have different functions. Use of each communication
channel helps an organisation in maintaining the workflow and operation. It also maintains a
healthy environment within an organisation.
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Reference List
Berger, J. and Iyengar, R., 2013. Communication channels and word of mouth: How the
medium shapes the message. Journal of consumer research, 40(3), pp.567-579.
Broadbent, D.E., 2013. Perception and communication. Elsevier.
German, L., Schoneveld, G.C. and Gumbo, D., 2011. The local social and environmental
impacts of smallholder-based biofuel investments in Zambia. Ecology and Society, 16(4)
McNamee, T., Mills, G., Manoeli, S., Mulaudzi, M., Doran, S. and Chen, E., 2012. Africa in
their words: a study of Chinese traders in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia and
Angola. The Brenthurst Foundation Discussion Paper, 3.
Mwansa, J.M., 2018. Bemba. In The Social and Political History of Southern Africa's
Languages (pp. 31-49). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Richards, A., 2013. Chisungu: a girl's initiation ceremony among the Bemba of Zambia.
Routledge.
Simpson, A., 2010. Christian identity and men's attitudes to antiretroviral therapy in
Zambia. African Journal of AIDS Research, 9(4), pp.397-405
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