Edward The Storyteller
on May 29, 2009
Edward The Storyteller
Edward Minyoi is Royal Livingstone’s Storyteller. His real title is Guest Relations but his main job is to make sure that our guests feel comfortable in our part of the world. If he sees someone looking a bit glum or in need of company he will pop over and have a chat just to make sure that they are happy.
Edward is amazing in that he has taught himself so many languages over the years. He can hold a fairly basic conversation in many European languages. Languages come naturally to Zambian people. Generally, Zambians are brought up speaking a minimum of three languages so learning a few more does not faze them at all. Edward, though, is very special because he has made an art of it.
Edward is a Lozi. The Lozi people are from Western Province in Zambia. They have a special dress, the siziba, which they wear for all traditional occasions. Edward prefers to wear his traditional dress at all times when he is on duty at The Royal Livingstone. He says that every day is special when he is there.
Edward was not brought up in the town. He did go to school in Livingstone but every holiday he went back to the village where his father was a fisherman and his mother tended the fields. He learned all the village ways, helping both his parents in their work. He especially liked going out onto the Zambezi River to cast the nets for fish in a makora (dugout canoe).
In the evenings the villagers would sit around the fire and tell stories. There was, of course, no TV, no radio and definitely no electricity. The villagers would tell their stories of the old days and the old ways. Edward has stored all of them into his memory.
Now, when he is chatting to guests at The Royal Livingstone, he can tell some tales from village life in Zambia. I have seen the guests listening to Edward, sometimes in awe, sometimes with laughter. He certainly brightens their day.
I listened to one of his stories the other day and I laughed so loud. It really cheered up my day. They say that laughter is the best medicine, so I’ll tell you one of his stories in the next blog.
we have just finished our fisit at the livingstone and eddy made our stay worth well seeing him evry day was delight full and me and my family became very good friends with him during our stay he is a verry nicve gentleman!!