Evaluating the Validity and Reliability of Divination Methods: A Case of North Western Province in Zambia

This was a study conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of divination methods used in Zambian traditional society conducted between December 2013 and March 2014. Zambia since pre-colonial rule has seen changes in so many sectors including education, health and the legal systems. The study investigated the divination practices used by the people of North Western Zambia, how different divination practices were applied in different communities in North Western Province of Zambia. The study used a mixed method approach in which both quantitative and qualitative paradigms complemented each other in collection and analysis of the desired information. Three Hundred and forty Nine questionnaires with both open and close ended questions were answered by Kaonde, Lunda and Luvale respondents. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The results showed that divination was still prevalent in the province. People mainly consulted diviners because hospitals or clinics failed to cure diseases, stop death, overcome barrenness and sexual impotence among other reasons. There were several divination methods which were difficult to tell their validity and reliability. From the results, divination is likely to go extinct with time going by the respondents’ lack of divining in the recent past and the lack of believing in the accuracy and relevance of divination results. Provision of adequate social services such as education, adequate health care and education to all communities can help white wash some traditional trends such as divination.