Planning My First Menu - Zambia

My middle one (8) enjoys video games

It’s one of the last few days of the year, and the kids are fully immersed in the magic of their Christmas gifts. I love this playful stretch of time between Christmas and New Year’s when Pete and I don’t have to work (much), and the kids are home from school sometimes staying in pajamas until after lunch and forgetting what day of the week it is. It’s been a mix of helping with LEGO masterpieces, refereeing board game showdowns, playing their favorite video games, and just enjoying the chaos.

My little one (4) is really getting into LEGO this year

Play is such a universal part of childhood, which got me thinking about what kids in Zambia might be playing with today. Of course, LEGO and Barbie have made their way there—global toy companies are everywhere! But what I found even more fascinating were the traditional games that are still popular and such a great reflection of Zambia’s community spirit.

Football (aka soccer) is a classic favorite, with kids spending hours outside kicking a ball around. Then there’s Chiyato, a game of skill and coordination where kids throw and catch stones, kind of like jacks. Mbwe Mbwe is another fun one, a team guessing game like charades.

But the one I think my kids would love the most is Icidunu. It’s like hide-and-seek but with an exciting twist—a ball! To start, one player kicks or throws the ball as far as possible while everyone else scatters to hide. The seeker chases down the ball, brings it back to the center, and counts to ten before starting the search. But here’s the kicker (pun intended): while the seeker is busy looking for players, others can sneak out of their hiding spots to kick or move the ball, so the race to the ball post finding might be a bit harder than the seeker realized. Even better? If no one has a ball, they make one with plastic bags and string. It’s such a perfect combination of creativity, teamwork, and a whole lot of laughter.

So, for the menu. 

Nshima [recipe (external)]

Ifisashi [recipe (external)]

I followed this recipe, but it can be made with whatever greens are available

Stewed Tilapia [recipe (external)]

I used pieces of tilapia instead of the whole fish.  In most cultures the whole fish is preferred because it is a better judge of freshness.

Dessert

Fritters [recipe (external)]

Next post you'll hear how it went!

Resources:

• https://supertravelr.com/en/trip/zambia/capture-your-inner-child-with-these-7-traditional-games-from-zambia-50C089F109/
• https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/zambian-traditional-sports-and-games/