Best Village Videos and Movies Recording Set

By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D.

Emeritus Professor of Sociology

There are more than 10 television companies that may always need to record videos and movies about Zambian traditional culture in a village setting. Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) with TV1, TV2, TV3, TV4, Zambezi Magic, Muvi TV, Diamond TV, Power TV, CBC Television: Covenant Broadcasting Company, Kopala TV: Primarily broadcasts on TopStar. Revelation TV: Religious broadcasting. City TV for Local news and entertainment, and Chipata TV: Regional channel.

Among more than 19 million Zambians, there may be other companies, organizations and even individuals that may want to make videos of Zambian traditional culture in a village setting with lovely, beautiful huts with grass thatch roofing. After all, cell phone technology has become so good that individuals can make videos and movies. But in the whole of Zambia, where is the best ideal natural location where physical model village structures already exist and ready that are suitable for such unique video and movie making?

The Mwizenge Sustainable Model Village in rural Lusaka may be the only existing best set and location. The village is located 67 kms along the Great East Road just 20kms after Chongwe. There are 5 beautiful village huts with appropriate toilets, water borehole pump, village farm land with growing maize, sweet potatoes, and other crops.

Arrangements are in place for any TV network, organizations, and individuals who would like to use the village set for one day to record videos or movies. The driver will leave Lusaka City Market Bus Station at 7:00hours for the one-day trip to the model village. The vehicle will arrive at the Model Village Farm at 9:00hours. Two hosts or caretakers will receive you; woman and a man. As soon as you arrive, you should begin to look and scout what you can use to record your video or movies. You will have a light breakfast.

As soon as you finish breakfast, you walk to the village along a bush path that represents the village culture. The bush path or nthowa will lead you through maize, grass and some trees. You will suddenly arrive at the village opening. I would advise you to begin recording immediately those first few moments at the sight of the village. It is fascinating. The village is about 100 meters long and 50 meters wide.

The two hosts or caretakers will be there to answer any questions. The group will then separate as everyone will begin recording videos according to the plans you will have made at home before the trip. Let us know if you need extras or people who will be working, walking, or children playing in the background. These people from the surrounding villages will be asked to participate. They will probably need a small token of appreciation which will not be included in the official charge.

After two hours of recording, there will be a one-hour break for lunch of nshima with a traditional delicious Zambian dende, umunani, or ndiyo. If you will not have completed recording, the video or movie recording will resume after lunch at 14:00hours. The recording will end at 15:00hours at which time the driver will take you back to the Lusaka City Market Bus station.

You will need to pay K300.00 for transport, a light breakfast, lunch, and do all your video or movie recording. In the acknowledgements at the end of your video, please include that the video recording was at the “Mwizenge Sustainable Model Village that promotes Zambian/African Sustainable Culture”. The Model Village is a non-profit organization that Emeritus Professor Mwizenge S. Tembo built in 2019. It is located on 122 Acres or 50 Hectares of savannah wilderness near Chongwe. Call for more information 097-854-9528, 096-210-7334 or 096-394-5351.