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. T raditional 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 . 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. T he Lungu people, who live near Lake Tanganyika, traditionally believed that Mount Kapembwa was the guardian of the lake.