Edina or ‘Ba
mbuya’ is the matriarch of our compound. She was the one who allowed Peace
Corps volunteers to live on her property, under her always-watchful eye. We live with her, and her three
daughters (who have full families of their own) on a 100-acre farm. We thought it might be fun for everyone
to get to meet the members of our Zambian family. Who better to start than the
woman who runs it all.
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| I'm in charge here! |
What is your full name?
Edina Chibuye Mafito
When and where were you born?
March 24, 1950 at Chitambo Hospital, Northern Rhodesia
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
Three brothers and four sisters. Three have passed away
(one brother, two sisters).
Did you go to school?
Yes, I went up to grade 5 at the standard school.
When were you married?
I was married in 1967, I was 17 years old. My husband was
52 years old. I was his second wife.
 |
| Mr. Kalula (Ba Edina's husband) |
Were you given a chance to say no to the marriage?
No, my parents chose the marriage.
When did you have your first child?
When I was 18.
What did your husband do for work?
He was a businessman and farmer. We had over 100 acres.
At one point we owned cattle, a
tractor, three vehicles, and this house [a concrete house with glass windows].
What happened to the cattle and vehicles?
After my husband died, I was forced to remarry his
younger brother. His younger brother took everything away, and left me with
just the house and property.
When the British were here, was it easier or more
difficult to find a job?
It is difficult now to find a job, but it was even more
difficult back then.
Was the school system in better under the British?
It was worse under the British. There were very few
schools, and they were spread very far apart.
What was the most exciting day of your life?
The day I got married. It was a very nice wedding.
What was the saddest day of your life?
When I lost my husband. It was 4:00 in the afternoon on
May 12th 1993. He
passed due to what we believe to be BP.
Do you like having Americans live on your compound?
I like it very much. Americans are so friendly with
everyone, even with the young ones.
