LET'S DANCE KALELA

Picture by Lyn Schumaker

Kalela is a spectacular type of group dance which is only practised by the people of Luapula province of Zambia. However, the Unga tribe of Bangweulu swamps treasure this type of entertainment whenever it takes place. The competition is usually between two teams from different tribes or habitats.

 A competing team will typically comprise 15 to 20 members, male and female, aged between 20 and 60. The composition will include drummers and dancers. All members must participate and must be good at singing and dancing. A golden voice would earn one a crucial role in the team.

Each team is led by a "King", pronounced as "Chinji" in the local language. The Chinji is basically the group's lead singer who also assumes the role of composer and director. He is the leading man to watch because he determines the failure or success of his team.

He is assisted by one or two teammates who will be in charge of training others in matters of choreography and other dramatic stunts. A good Chinji must be able to compose meaningful songs during the competition as he reads and interprets obtaining situations.

There is another person assigned to oversee the team's dress code. He is in charge of choosing different fabrics to suit the meaning of critical songs that would be performed. Other roles may include overseers of feeding and the general welfare of the team.

The overall appearance of each competing team is expected to be flashy, usually in identical modern suits and neckties for men and colourful dresses for women. However, a shabby appearance may attract mockery-packed songs from competitors.

The Dance takes place in an open area with drummers in the centre. Three to four different-sized ng'oma drums hang on well-grounded forked poles and are beaten using short straight sticks known as mishimpo. Dancers would surround the drummers, usually in a circular single or double-file formation, either going in the right or left direction.

 Entry into the main arena is stylish, showy and a prominent part of the event. It is characterized by different styles by competitors and is judged just as much as the leading Dance. The team arrives from a secluded make-shift change room, singing and dancing as they approach the arena. They would be moving a few steps forward and backwards, turning and acting in unison with the resonance of drums.

They often sang two or three songs before another team was introduced. Sometimes they would dress differently each time they make an appearance. Each one may, majestically, carry a team's icon. This could be a white handkerchief, a wooden rod or anything that symbolizes pride and superiority over competitors.

This Dance is famous for Chinji's followers acting in complete contradiction to his directions sometimes. Not because that is what is intended but because sometimes members misinterpret the exact meaning of words, especially in a foreign language!

For example, when Chinji signals and says, "forward mama forward," the team would be going backwards and vice versa! Spectators are, sometimes, particularly amused by the adulteration of the English language in which some songs are composed to exhibit superior literacy levels to outsmart competitors.

Songs are usually satirical. They could sing about the treatment they have received from a host team, their perception of their competitors' incompetence, their own team's ability to win the competition, pride and general life's challenges.

You can predict the winners by the ululations and monetary gifts a team receives, which symbolizes public satisfaction and ovation. Judges are generally influenced by public opinion.

You can join us in witnessing new aerobatics from the respective "Kings" of Kalela dance and their enthusiastic teammates. You would not want to miss this once-in-a-while enjoyable entertainment that also plays a unifying role for the Luapula tribes. It's a remarkable and captivating display of tribal performance worth watching, especially in Ungland!