Alexander Nisbet Photographs: An Introduction
Following this page, the first sub-page focuses on Solwezi in the early 1960s and the following two pages focus on Chitokoloki (Chit’) in the 1950s. Use the menu on the left to see the sub-pages or click one of the following three links:
Alex’s hobby was photography and he took the pictures of Chit’ and the surrounding Zambezi (then Balovale) District in the 1950s after his arrival as a young missionary to run Chit’s Upper Primary School. After a decade at Chit’, he opened Solwezi Secondary School in 1960 for the Northern Rhodesian Government (GRZ). His photographs on the following pages were provided by Alastair Nisbet, Alex’s son. He and his sisters, Janette and Dileas, have approved of their use. Paul David Wilkin has written the text.
The following paragraph biography of Alexander and Marjorie Nisbet appeared (1984) in the series: That the World May Know, Vol. 6: Light over the Dark Continent, whose editor was Fredk. A. Tatford, in association with the Editors of Echoes of Service, in Chapter 32: “Copper and More” pp. 412-3. From a note to me (see my correspondence with him) just before this time, he or Marjorie indicated that he had drafted this material.
“Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Nisbet were challenged about missionary service by an address . . . . Alex was friendly with Dr. James T. Worsfold and when the latter went to Chitokoloki in 1947 he told him of George Suckling’s vision of a secondary school in the north-west Zambia. They felt that this was the way. The secondary school did not materialize, but they soon settled into schoolwork at Chitokoloki and had fifteen schools in all. In 1952 the government took over the schools, but a number of young Christians were trained for the purpose, including Solomon Manjombo, a headmaster who retired in 1981 and is an elder of an assembly, William Nkanza, another elder, who became a government minister, Wamwene Muyondi, an elder who became Chief Education Officer, etc. In 1958 the Nisbets moved to Lusaka, where they taught Scripture to up to 600 children a week and took part in Bible classes at other institutions. Alex also served on a committee to arrange radio broadcasts. . . . In 1960 they moved to Solwezi to take charge of the secondary school there. Many refugees flocked through Solwezi and the Nisbets catered for over 1,000 people at the school at one time. They moved to Lusaka where Alex became the principal of a large technical school. Ill-health compelled their return to U.K. in 1970 but in 1971 Mr. Nisbet was back in Swaziland and as headmaster of a large high school. In 1974 ill-health again compelled his return home.”
Check here to see Mr. Nisbet’s photographs on Solwezi: Nisbet’s Solwezi Photographs