Stories of Kalingalinga - Yande Yombwe

I took pictures of the various texts which include names of shops or rather businesses, random wall writings and print outs of services being offered in Kalingalinga. The texts represent the advertisers personalities, hopes of what they wish to achieve and also how creative they can be.

Through my interaction in Kalingalinga, I have learnt that there is always more than what meets the eye anywhere you go. We can learn a lot through interaction as we people have different needs, lifestyles & experiences. There are so many untold stories and photography is one way I can share them.

My name is Yande Yombwe. An early career visual mixed media artist born in Lusaka, Zambia. My studio space is at Wayiwayi Art studio & gallery which is in Livingstone (southern part of Zambia) , where I live. I mostly paint, but I'm also crafty & can make jewellery. I love experimentation and try to infuse recycling in a lot of the things I do.

Work in Progess - Danny Chiyesu

The first thing which hit me when I visited Kalingalinga was the ‘Life must go on’ attitude among the residents. Despite the place being a poor area many went on with their lives hoping for the best in the near future. Kids, in general, were a marvel to watch as they freely danced, played football, netball or other games. Another subject I chose was the saloons, traders and craftspeople along the main road and streets. The colourful plastic containers were turned into ‘geysers’ or heating elements. Others were converted into washing basins. High-quality metal gates, door, window frames, wood furniture were made and sold. Innovation was all over. Kalingalinga reminds me of my home town compounds. From now on after this workshop, I will do my own story in Ndola.

 I also took time to talk a few old people who told me about the roots of Kalingalinga. According to them ‘Kalingalinga’ is a Nyanja word a person who moves from place to place, denoting its previous role as a transit area. It is a land of two abandoned farms belonging to a Mr Duddia and a Mr Mendo, who lived in the area in the 1950s.

Stories of Kalingalinga - Edith Chilliboy

Kalingalinga is a place in which people craft their hopes and dreams through manual labour. For me, the hands became a symbol of this hard-working community and a homage to the individual.

I am a self-taught photographer that decided to follow my passion to find fulfilment as an individual as well as expressing myself through what I see and how it affects me and the environment around me.

Stories of Kalingalinga - Margaret Malawo Mumba

Stories of Kalingalinga - David Daut Makala