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Having been a teacher of English
Language and Literature for over twenty years, I cannot help but register disappointment
at the number of ‘foreign books’ that are continually featured on the Zambian
syllabus. Well, I would not blame anybody. I too was schooled in these great
books: ‘A Wreath for Udomo’ by Peter Abrahams, was a lengthy text that I had to
master back to back in addition to the regulars in the curriculum. What can one
expect in a country where not many people are writing? Actually there is
nothing wrong with using text books from other countries, isn’t that what
Literature is about- the study of anything artistic and of value? There is everything wrong with not having our
own local products being ‘glorified’ in like manner. If the study of literature
helps one to learn about other people’s cultures and traditions, then it can be
safely said that high school students of literature have adequate knowledge of
the Ibo culture as ably outlined in ‘Things Fall Apart’, a book that has hardly
left the Zambian syllabus for years. There is need to create and develop a
Zambian Genre in order to propagate our own ways of life and traditional
beliefs for the future generations. Readers and learners alike will grow
interest in works that they are familiar with while creating a seedbed of
knowledge that they will pass on for generations to come. There is great
history, rich culture and warm traditions that Zambia has to share, not just
among its citizens but with the rest of the world. If we are headed ‘Toward a Zambian genre’,
then we can do better than once in a while having only two or three books written
by Zambians. We appreciate books like ‘Tongue of the Dumb’ by Dominic Mulaisho
and ‘Quills of Desire’ by Binwell Sinyangwe. However, there is need for a crop
of writers who will compete favourably for space on the literature syllabus.
This way we can finally move away from learners being so well vested in the
ways of other people and becoming professors of their own culture, languages
and traditions. The school syllabus itself is fertile ground where the literary
arts can be developed and a place where with time, a Zambian genre can be
harvested. It is a good habit to read widely, for
who can ever forget the hilarious ‘Government Inspector’ by Nikolai Gogol and
the amazing ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell’? However, a nation should identify
its own literary works, and learners and readers alike should pride themselves
in what is truly theirs. Despite the challenges, if people are encouraged to
write for the national syllabus, imagine what great strides we would make ‘Toward
a Zambian Genre’.
