Temporary Closure
Please note that the Livingstone Museum will be closed to the public from 13hrs on Wednesday, 11th August to 9hrs on Monday, 16th August 2021.
We are open again!
After having closed on 18th June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are happy to inform you that we are now open to the public again and you are all welcome to come and visit. However, note that public health measures including washing hands and wearing of masks will still be required for all visitors.
Temporary closure
Please note that the Museum will be closed from 18th June 2021 until further notice due to the escalating number of COVID-19 cases.
Exhibition on Chokwe Masks
We are excited to share with you an exhibition entitled “The role of Chokwe masks and symbols in Mukanda”. The Chokwe people were late arrivals into present-day Zambia, travelling from Angola in the early 1900s and settling in north-western Zambia. They are closely related to the Lwena, Luchazi, Lwimbi, Songo and Ovimbundu peoples of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, and share many cultural traits and traditions. This exhibition highlights the symbolism of Chokwe masks in the male initiation ceremony which is known as ‘Mukanda’. The collection of Chokwe masks and other cultural materials was donated to the National Museums Board and acquired with the courtesy of the Embassy of France in Zambia, Alliance Francaise of Lusaka, StArt Foundation and Total Zambia’s Financial Support. The exhibition opened on 4th June and will run until 27th June 2021.
Hairstyles in Zambia exhibition
On 20th November the Livingstone Museum launched its “Hairstyles in Zambia” exhibition. The exhibition compares Zambian hairstyles from 1920 with those from recent times. It also looks at the tools and accessories used over the years. Zambian hairstyles have played an important role in the identity of various ethnic groups. Different hairstyles revealed one’s status in life and are also a statement of beauty. While tools and techniques may have evolved over time some hairstyles have remained the same over the passage of time. Hairstyles are used as important forms of expression in many cultures in Africa, including Zambia. They help people showcase their artistic skills and they stimulate and encourage creativity among people. They also give people a sense of identity.
During the launch programme, a team of local models livened up the programme by modelling both traditional and modern hairstyles, courtesy of Jane Hair Salon. We are thankful to the models: Memory Mabuku, Lisa Mudenda, Mutinta Hamubotu, Eugine Chilandula, Memory Muluka, Jennifer Muzaza and Loveness Hangoma, who brought this exhibition to life. The exhibition was opened by Livingstone District Commissioner, Pascalina Musokotwane.
We are also thankful to the following, without whose help this exhibition and its launch would not have been possible: NATSAVE, WayiWayi Art Studio and Gallery, Green Tree Lodge, Magamba Hills Lodge, Smart Media Production, Muma’s Beauty Enhancement and Natural Hair, Musa Arts Studio, Jane Hair Salon, Mr. Felix Thindwa, Mr. Gift Chilufya, Ms. Kabwe Moyowanyambe, Mr. Debson Nyeleti, Ms. Bertha Namutowe, Mr. Benjamin Mibenge, Mr. Mungoni Sitali and Mr. Patrick Kasoka.
The exhibition will run until 20th January 2021 so please find time to pass through and see it!
Handover of new ablution block to the Museum
Today the Museum celebrated the official handover of its new external ablution block by the contractors, that will serve the restaurant and education hall. This was part of a project funded by the Private Enterprise Programme (PEP) Zambia (now Prospero) which began in 2019. The project also involved creation of a Museum website, expansion and restocking of the crafts shop, and refurnishing of the conference room and courtyard, among other things. The main aim of the project was to improve the financial sustainability of the Museum.
World War II 75th Anniversary Exhibition
The Livingstone Museum, in collaboration with the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, today launched an exhibition commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War 2. The exhibition looks at victory in the Second World War as one of the significant uniting factors of the Allied Forces and aims to honour the heroes and victims of the war by preserving their memories and retelling the history of the war as a reminder to all that never again should the world experience such terror. The exhibition contains more than 100 photos and original artefacts covering 8 avenues of the War, including the Main event; Heroism; the role of Africa in WWII; The Genocide of the War; Alliance against Fascism; and the Nuremburg trials. A tour of the exhibition was given for invited guests by Dr Aleksandr Anisimov, Director of the Russian Centre of Science & Culture. The exhibition will run for one month.
Livingstone Museum Re-opening
We are excited to inform you that, having closed on 25th March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Livingstone Museum will be re-opening its doors to the public on 15th June 2020 in accordance with government advice. Note that since the pandemic is not yet over, strict health safety measures will be in place to protect our staff and visitors. The Museum will be open every day from 09:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs.
Bat Research and Zambian Bat Atlas
The Livingstone Museum has been carrying out research on bats for a number of years, and has a substantial collection of bat specimens. From 2017-2019, with funding from the European Union via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility’s (GBIF) Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) Project, the Museum managed to publish all its bat records (as well as some more acquired from a local researcher and other museums around the world) to GBIF’s online biodiversity database. More information about the project can be found here. The Museum is currently working on the creation of a Zambian Bat Atlas that will show the current known distributions of Zambia’s nearly 80 species of bats. If you want to find out more or get involved in this project, please contact our Mammalogist, Clare Mateke.
Surveys and excavations under the ‘Deep Roots’ Archaeological Project
In July our Archaeologist, Maggie Katongo, joined Larry Barham from Liverpool University in the field for the third season of surveys and excavations under the ‘Deep Roots’ Archaeological Project. The project is investigating the deep roots of human behaviour. This year the surveys were carried out at Kalambo Falls in northern Zambia.