While Richard (Tim) Dening was District Commissioner in Mwinilunga District,
Northern Rhodesia, Queen Elizabeth's coronation took place. Tim was given £25 to organize
celebrations in the District. He arranged a varied show programme for the day-time and an
evening fireworks display (which would be a totally unique and never-before seen event for
the local tribes). All the local chiefs and villagers were invited.
The show programme included traditional dancers, a
variety of sports, a scout parade and a baby show.
The Baby Show
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Elisabeth (Betty) Dening,
Tim's wife was in charge of organizing and judging the Baby Show. The show went ahead
(despite advice from the Head Messenger who had told her that he thought it was an unwise
idea, because all the Mamas would want their babies to win). There
were two categories for entry: Birth to 6 months and 6 to 18 months. However, entrants
included children of school age (no argument involved!) The Kapita 'baby' (left) was one of the
competitors.
Every entrant had to have a prize. Betty came up with bars of
Sunlight soap and small bags of sugar for everyone. |
The Fireworks Show
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All the local chiefs were
present for the show day and the finale fireworks display, sitting on carefully arranged
rows of kitchen chairs covered with lions' skins, as befitting their rank and importance. Not only had none of the local people ever seen a firework before, Tim had
never actually set one off before either! He and his Junior Officer in the Administration
had earlier set up an array of rockets in a row. When it came time to start the display,
the first rocket was lit, but misfired, coming down right in the middle of all the
assembled chiefs.
Before anyone could draw breath, they had all disappeared, fleeing
in terror along with the villagers, leaving the fireworks display to be admired solely by
the remaining administrators! |
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Picture Gallery of the Day.
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Hunting Dance - Katomboka
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Ikishi Katotoji
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Chief Sailunga
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Chief's Drummer
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Lunda Crowning Ceremony
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The Baby Show.
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| The three-legged race. |
Tito Ngambi winning the
Cycle Race |
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