United States Ambassador Chibamba Kanyama has praised Zambian-born academic Theresa Lungu for her dedication to teaching Zambian languages to children of the diaspora, describing her efforts as critical to preserving the country’s cultural identity among future generations living abroad.
Mr Kanyama said initiatives such as those championed by Ms Lungu play a vital role in ensuring that Zambian children growing up outside the country remain connected to their heritage, values and traditions.
He noted that language is a powerful carrier of culture and identity, and its loss often results in weakened ties between diasporan children and their roots.
Ms Lungu, who has lived in the United States since 1999, has been teaching Bemba to children from Zambian diaspora families, many of whom have never visited Zambia.
Although she is Nsenga by tribe, her commitment to teaching Bemba underscores the broader importance of promoting Zambian local languages beyond ethnic boundaries, especially among communities abroad.
Mr Kanyama said the teaching of local languages among the diaspora should be encouraged and supported, as it strengthens family bonds and helps children communicate meaningfully with relatives back home, particularly grandparents.
He added that children who understand their mother tongues grow up with stronger self-confidence and a clearer sense of belonging.
Beyond language instruction, Ms Lungu has also been recognised for her contributions to education and community development in Zambia.
Alongside her professional work at Harvard University, she has established the Luanshya Information and Learning Centre in her hometown, an initiative aimed at improving access to books and learning resources.
Through the project, which operates under the Books for Zambia platform, she has helped promote a reading culture and lifelong learning among young people.
Mr Kanyama described Ms Lungu as an example of how members of the diaspora can make meaningful contributions to national development without holding public office.
He said her work demonstrates that intellectual investment and cultural preservation have long-term impact on society.
In paying tribute to Ms Lungu, Mr Kanyama remarked that women who use their intellect to uplift others shape the direction of society in profound and lasting ways. He said such efforts deserve recognition and emulation, particularly at a time when many cultures risk being diluted by globalization.
He called on other Zambians in the diaspora to follow Ms Lungu’s example by teaching their children local languages and investing in educational initiatives that keep the Zambian identity alive across borders.
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US ambassador Chibamba Kanyama with Theresa Lungu
