Niamkolo Church, The oldest Stone Church in Zambia

Niamkolo Church

About two kilometres east of the town of Mpulungu is Niamkolo Church, this Church has been said to be the oldest stone Church in Zambia. It was built in 1895 by the London Missionary Society. It all started with James Swan of the London Missionary in May, 1893 when he negotiated to purchase some land at the Niamkolo and a mission was established there. The fifteen meter tower was a landmark for boats using the port of Mpulungu.

Two years later, the building was taken over by Adam Purves who had joined the mission as an industrial helper and a teacher, it is also said that Adam might have been the architect. There is the main hall an a three-storey tower. The walls' thickness comprises of two thin skins of roughly dressed sandstone quarried on the mission estate, with mud or ant-hill bonding. The gap between the the skins were filled with rubbie. In 1908 the mission decided to move inland due to the high incidence of sleeping sickness and the church fell into disuse and decay.

For half a century after the Niamkolo Church was deserted, the upper part of the building crumbled and fell.

In 1954, the Church's preservation was needed and this prompted some action from the London Missionary Society who handed the church over to the National Monuments Commission. The Niamkolo Church was declared a National Monument in April, 1955. Preservation work was carried away.

"What a significant piece of history, this Church will sure stand time for the next and the next generation to see it. A true National Monument".

KABWE (BROKEN HILL), ZAMBIA

Kabwe is the provincial capital city of Zambia's Central Province. This town was called the Broken Hill in the old days. It was founded in 1902. Kabwe is also known to be the birthplace of Zambian Politics. The name Kabwe or Kabwe-Ka Mukuba means "ore" or 2smelting", but the European/Australian prospectors named it after a similar mine in Broken Hill, New South Wale, Australia.

THE FAMOUS BIG FIG TREE OF KABWE

The Big Fig Tree

The Big Fig Tree is probably the only visible tourist attraction in this town. In the old days, this tree's shade served as a resting place during the colonial days for users of basic transporter forms such as donkeys, horses and caravans. To this day, the tree offers shade to visitors and locals alike. The fig tree is actually what you also see on the Zambian 50 Kwacha note.

The 50 Zambian Kwach Note (k50)

There is a plague that has been erected by the Central Bank at the Site...it reads.., "This unusually large and magnificent fig tree, situated in the centre of Kabwe, was the meeting place of the town's people during early years of settlement here".

WHERE TO STAY IN KABWE
                                                                    Tuskers Hotel

SHIWA NGANDU HOUSE., THE AFRICA HOUSE.

Far in the Northern part of Zambia between Mpika and Kasama lies a mansion so to say that is so different from a typical Zambian mansion. This mansion was built by an English man by the name of Sir Stewart Gore-Brown in the 1920s. Its an amazing story and i will share it with you in a bit.

I have been to Shiwa Ngandu myself, its a bit difficult to get to the house because of its location. This house was built in the deepest bushes of the Northern Zambia and upto now i still wonder how this man managed to build such a house in 1920s because if it is difficult to get there now, it must have been extremely difficult to actually build something there. I have to visit this place again, the last time i was there was about ten years ago.

Sir Stewart Gore-Brown was born in England in May 1883. He came on a mission in 1911 to determine the border between Northern Rhodesia and Belgian Congo. He feel in love with the surrounding countryside and he became determined that after his work was over, he was going to come back to build his dream house and settle in this part of Africa. He had a dream from his childhood to have a huge estate but this was not possible in England and he saw this part of Africa to be just right to fulfil his dream. He came back in 1914 He built his dream English house in the deep bushes of Zambia. Shiwa Ngandu actually means " Lake of the Royal Crocodiles".

     SHIWA NGANDU HOUSE IN PICTURES

Sir Stewart with the First President of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda

Shiwa Ngandu House under construction in 1920s

The hot-spring at Shiwa

"We Suddenly came upon what i thought was the most beautiful lake i have ever seen. I was surrounded by hilly country, and along its shoes were groves of rare trees, of kind sacred to Africans. Friendly folk inhabited the one big village on the lake shore and there were dozen herds of different wild game. The surrounding land seemed to be reasonably fertile judging by the crops that were ripening there. I knew at once that i had found what i was looking for." ....Sir Stewart's words.

Sir Stewart Gore-Brown died in 1967 at age 84 and he was honoured by the Bemba chief to be buried at the Holly Hill in Shiwa.

BORN AN ENGLISH MAN AND DIED A ZAMBIAN!!!

THE KABWATA CULTURAL VILLAGE.

The Kabwata Cultural Village is located along Burma road in the heart of Lusaka. Its a home of about 72 crafts men and woodcarvers. 

The Lusaka Culture village is a historical site of the capital city Lusaka. These small mud houses were occupied by the low skilled Zambian workers built by the British during the Colonial era. It was reserved and made a historical site that will let people see how people lived long time ago. Now, it is part of the tourist at traction in Lusaka and it has been made into a small market were you will find all sorts of crafts and  wood carvings. 

If you are visiting Zambia and you are in Lusaka, care to pass through this place and admire the real art of Zambia. Its a good place to actually get a present for your beloved ones. If you love art like me, you will definitely like this place.

Have a pleasant view and enjoy the shopping. 

ZAMBIA, THE REAL AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!