Intangible Cultural Heritage in Zambia - Wikivoyage, the free collaborative travel and tourism guide - Patrimoine culturel immatériel en Zambie — Wikivoyage, le guide de voyage et de tourisme collaboratif gratuit

This article lists the practices listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in Zambia.

Understand

The country has four practices listed on the "representative list of intangible cultural heritage From UNESCO.

No additional practice is included in the "register of best practices for safeguarding culture "Or on the"emergency backup list ».

Lists

Representative list

Convenient	Year	Domain	Description	Drawing
The Gule Wamkulu Note Zambia shares this practice with the Mozambique and the Malawi.	2008	* Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events	The Gule Wamkulu was a secret cult including a ritual dance performed among the Chewa in Malawi, in Zambia and at Mozambique. He was executed by members of the Nyau Brotherhood, a secret society of initiated men. In the traditional matrilineal society of the Chewa, where married men played a relatively marginal role, the Nyau offered them a means of exerting a balance and establishing solidarity among men from several villages. Even today, members of the Nyau Brotherhood provide initiation for young boys into adulthood and perform the Gule Wamkulu which, succeeding the initiation, celebrates their integration into adult society. Gule Wamkulu takes place after the July harvest, but also at weddings, funerals, and when a chief takes office or dies. For these occasions the Nyau dancers wear costumes and masks made of wood and straw, representing all kinds of creatures: wild animals, spirits of the dead, slave traders or more recent figures such as the honda or the helicopter. Each of these characters has a unique role, often harmful, which illustrates reprehensible behavior and helps teach moral and social values. They perform dances with extraordinary energy, entertaining and frightening at the same time the public by their incarnation of the world of spirits and the dead. The Gule Wamkulu dates back to the great Chewa Empire of the seventeenth century. Despite the efforts of Christian missionaries to ban the practice, he managed to survive under British colonial rule by incorporating some aspects of Christianity. So Chewa men are often members of a Christian church and a Nyau society at the same time. However, the Gule Wamkulu is gradually losing its original functions and significance as it tends to be reduced to entertainment for tourists or put into the service of political parties.	UNESCO sheet
The Makishi masquerade	2008	* Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events	The Makishi masquerade marks the end of mukanda, an annual initiation ritual for boys ages eight to twelve. This ritual is celebrated by the Vaka Chiyama Cha Mukwamayi communities to which the Luvale, Chokwe, Luchazi and Mbunda belong, peoples established in the provinces. north west and west Zambia. It is usually at the start of the dry season that young people leave their families to spend one to three months in an isolated camp in the bush. This separation from the outside world marks their symbolic death as children. Mukanda includes the circumcision of initiates, trials of courage, and lessons on their future roles as men and husbands. Each is assigned a masked character who accompanies him throughout his initiation. The Chisaluke represents a powerful and rich man, strong of great spiritual influence; the Mupala, "lord" of the mukanda, is a protective spirit endowed with supernatural powers; Pwevo, a female character symbolizing the ideal woman, is responsible for the musical accompaniment of rituals and dances. Finally, the Makishi represents the spirit of a deceased ancestor who returned to the living world to help the boys. The end of the mukanda is celebrated with a ceremony of recognition. The whole village attends the Makishi dancing and mime demonstrations until the new initiates emerge from the camp to reintegrate into their community as adults. The mukanda has an educational function insofar as it ensures the transmission of survival skills and knowledge about nature, sexuality, religious beliefs and social values ​​of the community. It used to last several months and was the raison d'être of the Makishi masquerade. Today it is reduced to one month to fit the school calendar. This adjustment, linked to the increasingly numerous requests from Makishi dancers for social and political gatherings, risks altering the original character of the ritual.	UNESCO sheet
Mooba dance of the Lenje ethnic group in the Central Province of Zambia	2018	* Performing Arts * knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * social practices, rituals and festive events * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * oral traditions and expressions	The mooba is the main dance of the Lenje ethnic group of the central province of Zambia, which has existed since pre-colonial times. It is also practiced in parts of Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces by men and women. It sometimes happens that when the dance reaches its climax, some of the main dancers are possessed by ancestral spirits called BaChooba. It is said that at this point the spirits lead the dance, the rhythm of the drums and the songs. Both male and female dancers can be possessed by BaChooba spirits. The costume consists of colorful beads, a traditional skirt called Buyombo, and bells worn around the calves. In addition, the main dancers hold a spiritual staff called Chimika and a fly swatter made from the tail of an animal. Mooba is intended to distract and heal, and it contributes to the spiritual identity of the community. With the element performed at social events open to all, children can observe and learn freely, the performances attracting large audiences due to their entertaining nature. Almost all adults know the mooba because it is the main dance of the Lenje. The Lenje community has also set up groups that perform dance wherever they are invited, which promotes the practice and opens up new horizons.	UNESCO sheet
Budima dance	2020	* Performing Arts * Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * Social practices, rituals and festive events * Know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * Oral traditions and expressions	The budima dance is a dance of warriors performed throughout the year by the We people during solemn and spiritual events, in particular on the occasion of traditional ceremonies, funeral processions, weddings, initiation ceremonies, chief investiture ceremonies, thanksgiving ceremonies, harvest celebrations and ritual activities. Dancers equip themselves with various accessories: spears, whistles, canes, knobkerries, flutes, ceremonial axes, shields, horns / trumpets, drums and rattles. Men, women and children participate in this dance. Men embody warriors or soldiers who skillfully wield long spears while performing jumps. They move back and forth in the circle of dancers, brandishing their spears in gestures that evoke war. Others play the trumpet or flute, single-note instruments made from antelope horn, and sing. Still others beat drums, large and small. Women wear pearl necklaces and bracelets, as well as rattles on their feet. They sing in chorus and dance vigorously. Young people acquire knowledge and skills related to the element through observation and practice. During initiation ceremonies, they also learn about the importance of this dance, how to perform it and how to make certain instruments. The budima dance is a unifying factor for the members of the communities concerned, who are very proud of it and who are free to join the dancers at any time.	UNESCO sheet

Register of Best Safeguarding Practices

Zambia does not have a practice listed in the Best Safeguarding Practices Register.

Emergency backup list

Zambia does not have a practice on the Emergency Safeguarding List.