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!
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.
Director General, National Museums Board, Mr Flexon Mizinga, giving a speech during the official handover ceremonyHandover of the new ablution block by the contractor, Clean Construction Company Ltd.The courtyard’s new look after being refurnishedNewly refurnished conference room
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Livingstone Museum has active research departments. The Natural History Department has been carrying out biannual waterbird monitoring in Livingstone under Wetlands International’s African-Eurasian Waterfowl Census programme since 1993. The results are sent to a central coordinator who compiles them on behalf of Wetlands International. Every year in both the wet season and the dry season, a count is carried out at 6 sites in the Livingstone-Victoria Falls area. Volunteers are invited to join in, and the activity attracts both amateur and expert birders from within and beyond the local community. We are particularly grateful to our long-term partners in this project, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Savannah Southern Safaris and Taonga Safaris. If you are interested in joining in or finding out more about this programme, please get in touch with our Ornithologist, Maggie Mwale.
