In February, I got the opportunity to travel to Zambia. While there, I got to know a man, Pastor Edward, who told me about a tradition that they do out in the village called “Insaka”.
What is “Insaka”? “Insaka” is a Zambian term describing a traditional open hut in the middle of the village.
It served as a kind of “town hall” and often at the end of the day, villagers would meet to talk and share meals. It was always a great place of learning for both young and old. Insaka is a Bemba word for “place to gather” or “a place to come together”. An Insaka is a structure which is similar in Western thought to a gazebo. In Zambia, these structures have significant social roles in traditional village life. The young generation would come and listen to “Tushimi” (traditional stories) and learn how to live as wise, responsible adults.
What does Insaka have to do with the Men of Clarity? The dads of Clarity are coming together on the second monday of every month to TALK to each other, EAT some good food, and LISTEN to an older man share what they have learned so that we can endeavor together to be good fathers and good husbands…in short, to be good men.
The most remarkable part about Insaka is the notion of “citango”. “Citango” refers to someone who never passed through Insaka. They are like a clay pot that was never hardened in the kiln. The idea is that if we have never learned from the older generations, we are not prepared to live out our purposes in our own life. We are as unprepared and easily broken as a half-baked clay pot. I personally can relate to times that I didn’t know how to be the kind of father/husband I knew I wanted to be. The only real success I found was when I surrounded myself with other men – MEN better than me. Then I began to learn the things I needed to know so that I could be the man I wanted to be.
Insaka is a simple notion, but if we are committed to it we will better ourselves, better our families, and become the men we were created to be as we “PASS THROUGH INSAKA” together.
Join us for our first Insaka event May 8th at 6pm as we talk, eat, and listen together.
Originally published on ClarityKy.com – April 25, 2017.