'If music be the food of love, play on'.

Nowhere else is this Shakespearean adage more appropriate than in Zambia. Without the many material goods such as stereos, cds, televisions and cinemas, the importance of music and singing is paramount to Zambian society.

As the famous Zimbabwean musician, Oliver Mtukudzi said recently: "In my culture, which is an African culture, you don't get to sing a song if you have nothing to say. Which means there is a reason for every song."

Oral traditions are especially strong here. Creation myths, fables and proverbs are passed from one generation to the next through songs. The stories from the day are often recited by each person round the fire, to the beating of drums - the heartbeat of Zambian social life.

The drums include the huge maoma drums of the Lozi, the imangu friction drums of the Bemba and the kachacha drum chimes of the Luvale. Other traditional instruments are the mbira (thumb piano) and the kalimba (a kind of xylophone). Building musical instruments is one of Zambia's great arts, and creating new melodic contraptions is a specialty.

Take the vingwengwe - a local instrument played by four women. Four overturned metal pots are placed in a row. Each woman places a stool on top of the pot and turns it to make the pots resonate. As they turn the stools in rhythm, they create a quartet of "voices."

From birth to death, music and song follow you throughout your life in Zambia. Relatives will gather at the birth of a new baby, singing for hours at the miracle. Trucks and buses packed full of those mourning the death of a loved one can be heard far down the road, not by the noisy, spluttering engines but by a united chorus of Zambians singing their hearts out.

Zambians enjoy modern as well as traditional music. In 1976, the government decided that 90% of the music broadcast on local radio stations should be Zambian. This decision boosted the popularity of many artists, including the late Emmanuel Mulemena, a well-loved singer.

In the 1980s, a Zambian style of pop music called Kalindula spread across the country. Its driving bass line and strong guitars have made it a favourite. More recently, stars such as Danny have caused controversy by singing about divisive topics such as homosexuality.

As I write this month's diary, I am reminded of the recent death of one of South Africa's leading female singers. Brenda Facey, often referred to as the African Madonna, had been in a coma for over a week before she died last week. Her songs live on however, as the thousands of fans who gathered at a memorial testified, singing her songs late into the night.

Whether famous or not, it is the beats and rhythms of Africa that take you along life's journey here.