ZAMBIA’S KALELA DANCE MAKES IT TO THE WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST
ZAMBIA’S KALELA DANCE MAKES IT TO THE WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST
Paris-Sunday, 4th December,2022
Zambia’s Kalela Dance has been given a place on the World Cultural Heritage list.
Kalela dance makes it
The Kalela Dance is among the 39 elements inscribed on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at this year’s 17th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
Kalela is a dance which uses leg movement to the rhythm as people riggle their waist in style.
The dance is mostly practiced by the Ushi, Ngumbo, Bisa and Bemba speaking people in three provinces of Zambia which includes Northern, Luapula and Copperbelt.
During the session, the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation Intergovernmental Committee for ICH also inscribed 4 elements on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Ministry of Tourism Chief Cultural Affairs officer Thomas Mubita and University of Zambia lecturer and cultural expert Moffat Moyo represented Zambia at the Intergovernmental Committee.
Mr. Mubita said the inscription of the Kalela dance on a list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage means a lot to Zambia as this will ensure increased visibility and viability of the dance locally, nationally and internationally.
He said the inscription of the dance will further increase awareness of its cultural significance and the need to conserve it.
Mr. Mubita added that the decision will result in greater attention for documentation and research in order to preserve the dance.
The move will also strengthen and increase cultural tourism in Zambia which will result in increased revenue and job creation.
And Zambia’s Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Dr. Christine Kaseba Sata has expressed happiness at the inscription of the Kalela dance on the Representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Dr. Kaseba has since commended the Culture Directorate, Ministry of tourism in Zambia for the excellent nomination file and also expressed gratitude to her fellow Ambassadors and Permanent delegates for their support to the inscription.
“This move is commendable and will ensure that the dance is preserved for the generations to come. There is need to embrace culture and take pride in the country’s heritage as they are sources of inspiration and help in identifying who we are,” said Dr. Kaseba in a Media Statement circulated by Issued by First Secretary Press at the
Zambian Embassy in
Paris, France,
Ms. Naomi Ng’andu Mweemba.
.
This year’s Intergovernmental Committee was held from Sunday, 27th November to Saturday, 3rd December 2022 in Rabat, kingdom of Morocco.
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