photos from zambia
15 November
A student walks through the front gate at Kaunda Square Basic School, Lusaka.
Clementine (last name in my notes somewhere), a teacher and sponsor of the Anti-AIDS Club at Kaunda Square Basic School.
A classroom at Kaunda Square Basic School, just outside Lusaka.
A man paints a sign at the administration offices of Premium Medical Services, a Lusaka clinic I'm writing about.
A billboard for Harveytiles, a roof tile concern that has billboards and ads up all over Lusaka. Many of them have a Christian theme, like this one. The flip side of this particular one says: "A roof without Harveytiles is like fire without flames. Remark: Even hell fire cannot destroy Harveytiles."
One question, though: If "only heaven is covered with Harveytiles," isn't that limiting to your business potential? So I can't put Harveytiles on my own house, just because it isn't heaven? On the other hand, heaven's supposed to be pretty big, so I can see how that one order could keep Harvey busy.
I think my favorite, though, is one on a roundabout on the east side of town. It says something like "Harveytiles: Coverage for heaven. Other tiles: Coverage for hell." Accusing rival brands of being on Satan's team! Cheeky!
10 November
Clement (last name somewhere in my notes), coordinator of the Network of Zambians Living With HIV/AIDS.
Tony Chitambo, an HIV-positive electrician in Lusaka.
Two teachers at a meeting of the Anti-AIDS Teachers Association of Zambia, Mtendere Township, Lusaka.
Dr. Tian, a Chinese doctor in Lusaka I'm writing about.
Another fellow named Joshua. This one's shorter than me. He's the son of Remmy Mukonka, a local teacher whose graduation I was attending. He really, really doesn't like cameras.
Traditional dancers lead in the procession of professors, Evelyn Hone College graduation ceremonies, Lusaka.
The Zambian flag flies at Evelyn Hone College's graduation ceremonies, Lusaka.
28 October
Me and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the man who led Zambia's fight for independence in the 1950s and early 1960s and was its president from independence to 1991. A grand old man. Taken in his government residence, Lusaka. At the moment this photo was taken, KK was singing me an anti-AIDS song ("We shall fight and conquer AIDS"), a variation of an old anti-colonial song Africans sang in the days leading up to independence.
Falling backwards into Batoka Gorge, as part of the Zambezi Swing.
Someone flying across the Batoka Gorge highwire. Such great fun -- and at the end, they'd just yank you back to the gorge to go again. Superman's got nothing on me.
Rap-jumping (that is, rappelling facing down) down the Batoka Gorge, outside Livingstone, Zambia. (That's not me in the photo, for the record.)
Victoria Falls, as seen from a distance (from the Zambian side). I very nearly went all the way to Livingstone without seeing the falls once. I ended up snapping this photo about 20 minutes before leaving town.
Me and Benson, the local guy who's helping me track some people down. He insists there's no Robert Guillaume connection in his name. I think that's a shame.
White "Wispy Walker" dolls for sale in Lusaka's Shoprite. There was a row of more than a dozen white dolls. No black dolls.
The intersection of Cairo Road and Church Street, Lusaka.
Straight from the heart of Texas, no doubt. Afrikaans is just about the ugliest looking language in the world, no? Looks like something the Swedish Chef would say on the old Muppet show.
16 October
Israel Miti, Lusaka.
Israel Miti and Felix Chiputa, two Lusakans.
My official Zambia press pass -- a passport photo glued to a piece of yellow cardboard. Cost me $50.
Felix Chiputa, Lusaka.
Two men walking apart, Helen Kaunda bus stop, Lusaka.
A kid hanging out at the Helen Kaunda bus stop, Lusaka.
08 October
A Thompson's gazelle stands in a tall grass field in front of Victoria Falls, which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe.
A chimpanzee sleeping at the Chimfunshi Chimpanzee Orphanage.
Zambia's flag. Its meaning: "Red represents the struggle for freedom; black, the people of Zambia; orange, the country's mineral wealth; and green, the natural resources. The eagle in flight symbolizes the freedom in Zambia and the ability to rise above the country's problems."
