Kalela Dance Included On List Of World Cultural Heritage

The Northern Zambian dance known as the Kalela has been added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO.

This occurred in the midst of Rabat, Morocco’s ongoing 17th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on the 2003 Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.

THOMAS MUBITA, Chief Cultural Officer for the Ministry of Tourism, claims that the certification will increase the Kalela Dance’s visibility and viability as well as aid in its preservation.

From Morocco, Mr. MUBITA claimed that the recognition will also spur more documentation and research as well as more cultural tourism centered on the dance element.

UNESCO’s decision to recognize the Kalela Dance, according to Bangweulu Member of Parliament Anthony Kasandwe, would aid in the preservation of the traditional dance that has been passed down through the generations.

According to Mr. Kasandwe, who oversees the annual Kalela-Kalindula Festival in Samfya District, the decision has enthused many Luapula Province culture enthusiasts.

The list now contains five components from Zambia, including the songs and dances of Gule Wamkulu, Makishi, Mooba, and Budima.

During colonial times, the Bangweulu Swamps in Luapula Province was where the Kalela dance first appeared.

The dance is now performed at Chief’s palaces, traditional rites, funerals, harvest festivals, and other important events in Luapula and the Northern Provinces.