Chikondi (love)

"Chikwati sindalama; chikwati ni chikondi." *

(Marriage is not money; marriage is love.)

-Mathew Tembo


Valentines Day is upon us. I'm not usually a promoter of commercialized holidays, but I do like an excuse to celebrate love. Sure, romance can be nice, but you can also use the special occasion to show your friends that you love them, too! You don't necessarily need to go out and spend money on something valentiney. You could make something, bake something, knit something, write a poem or a song, choreograph a Valentine's dance, make home-made valentine's cards, anything to show your loved ones that you love them!

Here are some of the Valentines that Nzinzi and I made:

If you're not into the romantic love or the brotherly love, you can always celebrate football love, because the Zambian Chipolopolo boys are the Champions of the Africa Cup of Nations!

These football champions are giving some love to their new Valentine:

(article here: http://www.flavafm.co.zm/):

Here are some loving Nyanja words to get you through the day:

Kukonda (pr. "koo-KOHN-dah) = to love

Chikondi (pr. "chee-KOHN-dee") = love

Nikukonda (pr. "nee-koo-KOHN-dah") = I love you.

Nikukonda maningi (pr. "nee-koo-KOHN-dah mah-NEEN-ghee") = I love you a lot.

Nikonda Chipolopolo = I love the Zambian National Soccer Team! (Literally, "I love the bullet.")

Nikonda ______ = I love ______ (You can fill in the blank for yourself!)

*(Buy Mathew Tembo's "Chikwati Sindalama" here.)

And lastly, here's a great Zambian song about loving someone for who they are, not for what they have! (Some Zambian men love this idea, because they think Zambian women just want expensive gifts! Ladies, is this true? Nalu says no.) And it's in English!