Linguistic syncopations of the Kalela dance – Riding the waves of Lake Bangweulu of Zambia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research on the Kalela dance of Zambia has tended to focus on the dance as performed in urban Zambia, especially the Copperbelt. While it is true that this dance is popular in urban areas, this article argues that casting this dance as an urban dance has robbed the public a chance to sample the richness of its roots. As a point of departure therefore, the article transports the reader on to Chishi Island in the heart of Lake Bangweulu where Kalulu, the inventor of the Kalela dance came from. If indeed African artefacts assume exotic attributes once they are seen by European eyes, then it should not be wondered why the explorer, David Livingstone, sacrificed his life here in the mosquito-infested marshes of Lake Bangweulu. This area is alive with mysteries and puzzles waiting to be explained. In an attempt to strike a balance between the influence of modernity and originality of the Zambian society on the Kalela dance, the article showcases, in places, the intricate nature of ethnicity in Zambia with a suggestion that previous research bypassed a gem by not paying attention to the roots of the Kalela dance.