ASTRONOMICAL BELIEFS, A CASE STUDY OF
ZAMBIA
BY
PROSPERY C. SIMPEMBA
Copperbelt University, Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
E-mail: pcs200800@gmail.com
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.Each society has its own beliefs
and traditions
. Some beliefs and traditions
relating to astronomy include
Beliefs about the moon, the sun
and the stars: general life style
and rainfall patterns.
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THE MOON
The shape and orientation of
the new moon.
Curved not to hold anything
Diseases are poured off
giving a disease-free month.
Not bothered to have readily
available remedies
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No diseases
3
.
New moon curved upwards
Shaped to hold things
Sign of looming disease
outbreaks.
 Elders get prepared by
Gathering traditional medicine
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Sexy of a baby
Conceiving when there is a new moon:
baby is female.
Conceiving when there is full moon:
baby is male.
 Stillborn baby
Birth to a stillborn: mother to stay away
from husband until another new moon
appears
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Moon and rain season
When a new moon appears, people
expect perpetual rains. It is believe:
the rain is washing and
strengthening the moon.
Dry spells are expected when the
moon is strengthened –full moon.
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THE SUN
Death of witch/wizard
http://living.oneindia.in/insync/2008
But these are halos produced by
refraction/reflection
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THE SUN
Shadow time
-time was measured against the length of
the shadow
-at noon they appeared to be standing on
the shadow
-other positions
• Seasons: movement of the sun relative to
overhead position.
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STARS


A shooting star : meteoroid that
burns up as it passes through the
Earth's atmosphere .
Ancient belief: a witch/wizard flying.
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
.

Star seen close to the moon
if seen often: sign of finding a lover
since the star was believed to be
married to the moon.
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



This is planet Venus,
. the Roman
goddess of love.
Saying:
“IF YOU ARE NOT RELIGIOUS, YOU
MUST BE A CELEBRATED
ASTRONAUT TO REACH GO”
Simpemba 2010
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THANK YOU
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