Zambia's customs and taboos
Meeting: Most Zambians have the last surname and the first name. Their names come from various sources, but most of them place some kind of hope. When addressing them, you can address them by their first name, and add Mr., Madam, or position. Zambians attach great importance to etiquette. After meeting friends, they hold each other tightly with both hands and shake each other up and down to exchange warm greetings. Zambians are hospitable. Whenever a guest comes to the door, the host will warmly welcome them and entertain them with coffee, soda, fruits, snacks, etc.
When Zambians meet guests on social occasions, they are generally accustomed to shaking hands. When exchanging greetings with guests, it is often customary to squeeze your palm around the other person's thumb two or three times. When Zambian women shake hands, they are accustomed to holding their right arm with their left hand. When they see the chief approaching, they usually clap their hands and bend down to squat or kneel until the chief walks by. When elders in Zambia pay tribute to chiefs or distinguished guests, they also like to clap their hands while bending down to squat or kneel until the chief or distinguished guests passes by. Zambian women generally do not shake hands with men. If he takes the initiative to reach out, the man reaches out and shakes again, but does not hold tightly or holds for a long time.
Zambians are friendly to people. When cars collide on the road, they get off the bus instead of blaming each other and arguing loudly. Instead, they check the damage degree of their cars, wait for the police to deal with it, and act in accordance with the law. It's common to hitchhike here, and drivers don't take a penny. Zambia has many taboos, which vary from region to region. For example, hostess generally does not receive guests; it is taboo to hand things with her left hand, because using her left hand alone is insulting.
Clothing: In Zambia, clothes for men and women are relatively simple. In hot summer, men often wear bare upper bodies and wear shorts or trousers, some with only a piece of cloth; when the weather is colder, they wear a short-sleeved or sleeveless shirt. Relatively speaking, women's clothes are more particular. They usually wear aprons. In affluent families, women love to wear earrings and necklaces, and some wear several necklaces of varying sizes around their necks.
Manure: Zambians seem leisurely and full of the spirit of hardship. Women in some tribes like to put a leather ring on their foreheads, with objects tied to the ends of the leather ring and carried them behind their backs. For older women, the leather ring will grind the forehead into a groove. A woman can carry a hundred pounds weight with a steady walk and her head never tilted.
Catering: Zambians entertain their guests very generously. They always bring out fruits and serve the best food so that the guests can be satisfied. Guests should take the initiative to ask for food during meals, because locals think it is impolite for the host to deliver the food first. It is also inappropriate not to accept food.
Joy and funeral: The coming-of-age ceremony for Zambian girls is quite distinctive. When they reached a certain age, they were hidden in the house and isolated by their families. During this period, they were not allowed to contact anyone. For a year or a week, an elderly woman delivered meals and taught them the experience of being wives and housewives. Wedding and funeral ceremonies here don't cost much, but they are all grand and usually require clergy to preside or pray.
Business: A prior appointment is appropriate, although there is no guarantee that the meeting will take place. Here, do not give gifts to government officials, nor do you give expensive gifts to personnel of state-owned companies. If you give expensive gifts to employees of state-owned companies, they will feel embarrassed. Small gifts, perhaps with your company logo, will be welcome.
Main taboos: Locals have some taboos. Don't take photos except in tourist areas. For those who have to take photos anyway, it is best to consult with the resident staff first. If women, children, etc. are photographed, Zambians will think it is a great shame and immediately call the police to arrest them and put them in detention. Presidential residences, government buildings, post offices, police stations, bridges, airports, etc. are all listed as important military facilities. If photographed, it will be regarded as espionage, and the consequences will not only be confiscation of cameras and film. Especially when shooting bridges, people will be shot with automatic rifles and feel helpless. Remember to pay attention.
Zambians believe that even numbers are a symbol of positive luck and try to avoid dealing with odd numbers. Most people avoid the number 13 and Friday, believing that "13" is a number that bodes ill luck and will bring disaster to people.
Zambians avoid others walking behind them, believing that it is impolite, and passing in front of them is a proper behavior. They avoid others pointing their fingers at them and making irresponsible remarks, believing that this is an intolerable act and a contempt and insult to others. They also taboo people treating them with a fist and waving their arms. In Zambia, this action is an expression of "curse and abuse" against people.
In addition, guests should try not to involve partisanship when talking to them.