Abstract:
Culture plays a significant role in people’s lives in Zambia and in Africa as a whole.
Consequently, there is a need to take Zambian or African culture seriously in order to look at
the salient elements of cultural practices in rites of passage that influence the spread of HIV
and AIDS. This article analyses four rites of passage associated with birth, puberty, marriage
and death. There are numerous rites of passage in Zambian culture. Some of these rites help
to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, whilst others exacerbate the spread of the virus. Using
the Reformed Church in Zambia Bible Study Method of Subgroups, discussions were held
that allowed victims of cultural practices to tell their stories using the narrative model. This
article sought to shed light on cultural practices that exacerbate HIV and AIDS and more
importantly, provide culturally sensitive alternatives to these harmful practices.
