The recent discovery of a wooden toolbox inscribed with an ancient writing system from Zambia has stirred excitement on social media. Samba Yonga, co-founder of the virtual Women's History Museum of Zambia, points out the long-held misconception that Africans lacked literacy. “We had our own methods of writing and passing down knowledge, which have often been overlooked,” she tells BBC, emphasizing the project's aim to reclaim Zambian cultural history and highlight women's contributions to society.
The toolbox is among 50 artifacts featured in an online campaign that seeks to revitalize the roles of women in pre-colonial societies and revive cultural heritages suppressed by colonialism. One of the project's noteworthy objects is a leather cloak intricately decorated and missing from Zambia for over a century. “These items signify an important, yet largely unrecognized history,” Yonga asserts.
Inspiring this campaign, called the Frame project, is a commitment to reposition Zambian narratives that colonial experiences distorted. The artifacts, stored in museums mainly around Sweden, were collected during the colonial era but reveal a rich tapestry of Zambian indigenous knowledge and artistry. Interestingly, Yonga's encounter with the National Museums of World Cultures in Sweden sparked her interest in understanding how so many Zambian artifacts were housed abroad despite Zambia's non-colonial status.
Among the 650 cultural items in the Swedish museum are reed fishing baskets, ceremonial masks, and twenty well-preserved leather cloaks collected during expeditions in 1911-1912. These cloaks, crafted from lechwe antelope skin, have intricate geometric patterns and were traditionally worn by women. The museum lacked knowledge about the cloaks’ cultural significance; Yonga discovered the local communities had lost the art of crafting them.
Yonga's favorite artifact is Sona, an ancient writing system once used by the Chokwe, Luchazi, and Luvale people. Sona’s geometric patterns were inscribed in sand, fabric, and on wooden items, embodying complex community principles that blend natural understanding with survival skills. With ongoing collaboration from women elders still familiar with Sona, Yonga is uncovering a wealth of knowledge.
The Frame project has generated excitement on social media, with many users shocked to learn about Sona's existence. Other posts, such as the "Queens in Code: Symbols of Women’s Power," reveal the historical importance of everyday items like grinding stones - which traditionally belonged to women and were used as tombstones in honor of their contributions to community sustenance.
Established in 2016, the Women’s History Museum of Zambia seeks to document women’s histories and indigenous knowledge while creating an online archive of formerly collected items. “We’re piecing together history without having all pieces in hand; it’s akin to a treasure hunt.” This venture, reflecting a connection to community and heritage, has changed Yonga’s understanding of her identity and hopes it will resonate with others as well.
