If you're coming to Zambia for the first time,it's advisable that you learn a bit about the country's major traditional languages.This will help you interract easily with anyone you're going to meet. And what's more, you'll know how to greet local residents in their native languages.
Here are the two main languages you'll hear in Zambia's major towns and cities
In Lusaka,people speak mainly Nyanja,though recently swahili sprung up due to unprecedented influx of nationalities from Democratic Republic of Congo as well as East Africa.You can encounter swahili speaking people in public places such as soweto market in lusaka and in township all over lusaka.Bemba,the official language for the Bemba people is catching on...and so is silozi and tonga.
Rarely would you find a bemba or ngoni person speaking to a lozi or tonga colleague in tonga or lozi.When you hear tonga or lozi being spoken just know it's the tonga or lozi speaking to one another.You see,both the ngoni and bemba consider tonga/lozi as the hardest language to learn.Notheless,the best way to learn tonga or lozi is to stay with the lozi and tonga for a short while.
Virtually every town in the copperbelt is awash with the Bemba people.No wonder,here in the copperbelt people speak bemba,though there are other minor languages such lala and kaonde.
Out of all tribes in Zambia,the Bemba from northern province along with their tribal cousins in the eastern part of zambia,the ngoni people, stand out from the pack.And surprisely, zambia's presidential helm has been dominated by these prominent tribes.Lately Zambia's President Mr Rupia Banda is a ngoni from from eastern province.
Local Currency
<>Kwacha is the office currency of zambia.So,if you want to buy anything at a local market or shopping mall you must change your dollars or other foreign currency you may have into kwacha.On one hand,you can still use your credit cards or cheque book at various service stations and major shopping malls around Zambia.