SPIRITUALITY
The Zambian constitution promises freedom of religion to all, and most people practise their faith in peace. Most Zambians define themselves as Christian, but traditional African religions remain important, especially in rural areas. Many people follow a blend of Christian and traditional beliefs. Most Christian Zambians are Roman Catholics, although Protestant churches, such as United, African Methodist, Anglican and Seventh-Day Adventist, have large memberships as well. 

Traditional beliefs, rituals and religious festivals differ greatly from one ethnic group to another. However, in most African religions, people worship a supreme being, but believe that natural and ancestral spirits have a more immediate influence on human lives. People often appeal directly to the spirits for favours or protection. The Tonga, for example, traditionally believe that each person has a guardian spirit called a mizimu.

 In some areas, people may ask the spirits of their ancestors for help or empowerment. They believe that the dead live on as spirits, who pay close attention to their family's affairs. Some of the Toka-Leya, who live near Livingstone, think that their ancestral spirits live in the gorges of Victoria Falls. During the Lwiinde festival in February, they offer sacrifices and ask the spirits to send rain.
 
  Did you know?
The Lungu people, who live near Lake Tanganyika, traditionally believed that Mount Kapembwa was the guardian of the lake. They identified two huge slabs of granite as "the mother and father of the people," and built a shrine for offerings at their feet.
Some Zambian peoples, including the Bemba, believe that spirits inhabit animals and natural features such as rivers. Many of the Tonga lost their homes and farms when the Zambezi River was dammed in 1956 and Lake Kariba flooded their land. Some people believe that Nyaminyami, guardian spirit of the Zambezi, will one day rise up and tear down the dam. The year after construction started in 1956, the river rose 30 metres during a storm and destroyed months of work. The next year, the river rose again to record levels, but the dam held. 
In villages, traditional healers act as spiritual advisers as well as health care providers. If a healer suspects that an unresolved dispute is making someone ill, he or she may interview other members of the community. To find out whether an evil spirit is causing an illness, a healer may go into a trance. People will also summon a healer to remove spells. Depending on the problem, the healer may recommend herbal or plant remedies, incantations to exorcise evil spirits, or animal sacrifices. With the influence of Christianity, many of these traditional beliefs and practices have become less common. 

Zambia has Muslim, Hindu and Baha'i citizens, who together represent about 2% of the population. The country's largest mosque is found in Chipata, on the border with Malawi. The Muslim Association in Zambia has about 10,000 members.