Palace Expedition

There is a drive by the Zambian government and mobile network operators to bring GSM coverage to rural Zambia.  A logical starting point is ensuring that Zambia’s 287 chiefdoms are covered.  Connect Africa is working on a strategy to roll out new cutting edge low tower, low power transmitters for remote communities.  As our start, step one is to identify the location and current coverage status of these chiefs’ palaces.

Follow the Palace Expedition as it unfolds here, in our blog posts:

  • Naked Leadership: Lessons from Rural Zambia June 24, 2013 During our expedition we spent time with one of the elders, Mutapwe, of Chiefdom Moono. During  a couple of hours of driving from Moono Palace to the Chiefdom of Shakumbila, the conversation with Mutapwe focused around Leadership.  What struck a chord is ...
  • Music of Palace Shakumbila September 13, 2012 After the day of the festivities of the traditional “Ikubi-Lya-loongo” Ceremony, the inhabitants of the palace were winding down, and listening to the enchanting singing of group of men standing under the large tree in the courtyard.   We were ...
  • Connect Africa on the road... Palace Expedition September 5, 2012 In July, Connect Africa and a crew set out into the Zambian bush armed with laptops, dongles, cameras and smart phones. The aim was to capture what happens when ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) meet remote rural village life. Blogging...
  • A Clip of Culture September 3, 2012 This is the dancing group who arrived at the Palace with drums and spears to collect Senior Chief Shakumbila who was all dressed in black with a headdress.  They then escorted him to this field nearby where the crowds were gathering and waiting. This w...
  • Sharing Culture August 30, 2012 The drums went all night. The village outside the Shakumbila Palace was preparing for their important ceremony the next day, with singing and dancing throughout the night. At times I would stick my head out my tent, to watch the festivities when the...
  • A Modern Chief August 19, 2012 Senior Chief Shakumbila waved at us as he passed us on the dirt road in his Prada 4X4 at a little bustling intersection. We had been waiting five hours in the small rural town Mumbwa before we got the phone call saying he was heading back to his Palace...
  • Possibilities Podcast August 17, 2012 This expedition set off into rural Zambia to explore the impact of technology meeting traditional culture, and find out the needs and desires of the Chiefs and their rural communities. Dion, Telana and Chris talk about some of their experiences in the ...
  • Connectivity Challenges August 10, 2012 We experienced the connectivity challenges of rural Zambia first hand. We’d left Lusaka just three days ago, and now all our batteries were flat, or flashing red.  We’d come prepared as we could - knowing this eventuality would occur - with bags of wir...
  • Spears and Netball August 9, 2012 "We will be running on the modern life (with access to technology)... You see our children when they see visitors like you, they think it is strange, but we are all the same.  So technology will help them learn about others.” This statement from one of...
  • Teacher dependency? August 8, 2012 We arrived at break time, where the courtyard was fill of children playing, whose attention moved to us when they saw the Connect Africa land rover and van arrive.  Morag and I had fun playing with them, where we’d chase them for a bit, then turn around a...
  • Behind the scenes... August 5, 2012 As “connected” travellers, we were on a quest to engage with cultures and communities in rural Zambia that have not enjoyed – to date – the benefits of technology. Vivid Productions followed our expedition with their cameras, with the view of making a ...
  • Patient patients August 3, 2012 On our way to one of the schools in the Chiefdom of Moono, we stopped off at the Nambala Clinic.  Although it was busy with many expectant mothers, with Thursday being the antenatal clinic day, Dr Shadrack Sichilindi gave us some of his time to answer our...
  • An Agricultural Account August 1, 2012 “It will increase our standard of living” exclaimed Charles Kasebausha in response to our question about what introducing more technology in the rural areas would mean for him.  A few curious children’s faces starting appearing on top of the bales of cott...
  • Brewing beer July 31, 2012 The team visited Kabulwebulwe Palace where the women were preparing and brewing traditional beer for an important upcoming ceremony in a few days.   Ladies outside the enclosure were preparing the roots, and then boiling the brew in large drums...
  • Traditional Healers and Cellular Phones July 30, 2012 We drove for a while on a “road”, thankful that our vehicles could handle the bad condition of the dirt, and with a more sympathetic awareness of why the elders of Moono Chiefdom, in our earlier discussion at the Palace, had said that a priority for them ...
  • Chief Moono's Palace July 30, 2012 As I was saying, Thursday was the day we explored the Chiefdom of Moono.  We walked from our campsite along the few hundred metre dirt path, flanked with tall grass, and came to a dirt road lined with large trees, that led up to the Moono Palace. At th...
  • Impeccable Timing July 28, 2012 Thursday was the day we explored the Chiefdom of Moono.  This meant that we didn’t have to get up when the roosters started their crows, but could have a bit of lie in because the Palace was a 500m walk away from our camp. And those that hadn’t had a “sho...
  • Simon says July 28, 2012 After our audience with the Chieftainess Kabulwebulwe, our refreshments at the Palace was some beer brewed from honey, served in beautiful blue and gold glasses for those who were near the Palace, or in a shared tin mug from the Security Guard’s wife, for...
  • Roosters are chief July 27, 2012 In the chill of the winter night, Prince Lloyd put some more logs on the campfire, building them up tight in the centre, to create a hot fire.  “This way, we will still have fire in the morning” he said softly, as the rest of the crew were settling into t...
  • A catalyst for change July 27, 2012 As recently as ten years ago, the Ila people in chief Moono’s palace used to communicate by drums. Whether it was a funeral, celebration or emergency, different drums were used to call people in surrounding communities to come together.And thinking ab...
  • Technology to entertain July 27, 2012 Francois Hayden, the documentary film producer, shows the children who hung around our rural campsite near Mumbwa, next to Chief Moono's Palace, what technology can do. Connectivity sponsored by MTN Zambia, using their Huawei Wifi Modem...
  • Respect and honour July 26, 2012 “Communication is important where there are people” shared Sunday Shamabanse, the District Commissioner of Mumbwa, from behind his large wooden desk with us in the plush, emerald green armchairs in his office. He’d arrived a few minutes late for our me...
  • Going rural July 25, 2012 It's one thing hearing stories. It's another actually having the experience yourself. I am fortunate enough to have a few friends who have been, or are currently on, adventures in Africa. I've hung on every word of their stories, creating my own movie ...
  • Knowledge is power July 25, 2012 The big smiles that greeted us when we entered the classroom were coupled with a warm welcome: “Good morning sir, and how are you?” Their text books covered in dust-proof plastic bags sitting neatly on their desks, the rows of students stared wide-eyed at...
  • Exhausted smiles July 23, 2012 We’re in full expedition mode.  Boxes and bags all over the flat, the trailer packed and ready to go, and the film crew here to document the next week too. Tomorrow we head off into more rural Zambia, and set up camp next to one of the Chief’s palaces....
  • The Power of a Switch July 22, 2012 I've been watching the Connect Africa story for many years. It's been developing and growing as different technologies have been taken into rural areas for testing, and to find out what the needs of the people living there actually are. The Connect Afr...
  • A Colourful Zambian Riddle July 21, 2012 You buy me in either two metre lengths, or six metre pieces. I can be flimsly, see-through, thick, even waxy. Sometimes I'm made of synthetic polyester, and sometimes of cotton. I come in many different colours, with a multitude of designs printed o...
  • When Technology meets Education July 19, 2012 “The problem and solution for Africa is education” Dion mentioned in one of our many intriguing conversations on our three day drive from Johannesburg to Lusaka.  It struck a chord with me, as I believe that education is key to so much in this world. A...
  • Protocols and Planning with a Prince July 18, 2012 A starting point in bringing coverage (ICT) to rural areas in Africa, to where the people who will use the infrastructure are living, is to make sure the key areas, such as Chiefs’ Palaces and surrounding villages have coverage.  Then to expand the covera...
  • Entering Zambia July 17, 2012 From the Botswana border, we went across the Zambezi by ferry, and entered the chaotic border of Zambia.  Once we had our passports stamped, and got passed all the people and trucks, we headed for our next stop over: Kubu Cabins, a lovely lush camp spot r...
  • Technology is not everything - yet July 16, 2012 By Dion Jerling, Connect Africa Special Projects Director Technology is such a fragile resource, in that it can be lost in a split second. Add to that a lack of food and you'll last one month; a lack of water and you will last a few days; at which poin...
  • Elephants rule! July 16, 2012 "Who ever see's the first elephant, doesn't have to do the dishes tonight" Dion dared Jane and I, as we drove into Northern Botswana. "Game on!" I declared, watching eagerly for my first sighting of some wild animals besides the warthogs we caught a gl...
  • Vichitika July 15, 2012 Having left the border of South Africa and entered Botswana, we drove along the pothole-ridden road towards our stop for the night: Elephant Sands. With Alanis blasting on our radio, singing "I'm lost but I'm hopeful..." and the syrupy after-taste of a...
  • The Lost Palaces Expedition July 11, 2012 21st century technology meets rural village life If you can't see yourself getting through a whole week without checking your emails, firing off a quick text or googling something, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Try, for a minute, to image...