Welcome to Min-On’s Music Journey! Today, the Min-On Concert Association and the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Japan welcome you to Zambia in southern Africa.
Zambia is a landlocked country surrounded by eight others. The Zambezi River flowing through the western and southern parts of the country has long sustained the lives of its people. The river provides an abundant source of water and vegetation, is the fourth longest river in Africa, and is also the etymological root of the name Zambia.
| Travel guide for Zambia
• Enjoy shopping at markets in the capital of Lusaka |
Gentle national character and peaceful diplomacy
Zambia is an ethnically diverse country with more than 70 coexisting tribes. It has remained free from conflict and civil war, and is considered one of the most peaceful countries in Africa. This stance is also reflected in Zambia’s foreign policy, which contributes to regional harmony and stability while maintaining neutral, and has been praised as a “beacon of peace.”
This policy was embodied by Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021,) commonly known as KK, who served as the first president of Zambia. Kaunda supported the independence of neighboring countries with a firm stance of non-violence, and was instrumental in the creation of the African National Congress. He left behind great achievements that propelled the entire African continent toward peace.
Lusaka, modern capital with a rich blend of cultures
The capital city of Lusaka, located 1,300 meters above sea level, is a vibrant city home to about 15% of the country’s population. The city is filled with a number of advanced large-scale commercial facilities, including the East Park Mall, a bustling shopping center filled with popular stores and regular shoppers.
Kabwata Cultural Village, run by artists who specialize in traditional crafts, is also a must-see destination. The village features handicrafts made from wood of the local Mukwa tree, and all of the animal figurines, bottle openers and masks are handmade, one-of-a-kind items.
As the cultural center of Zambia, Lusaka is also home to many cultural facilities, including the Lusaka National Museum, which has exhibitions on the history of Zambia, the 37d Gallery, featuring contemporary artwork, and the Music Club, a new live music venue inside the East Park Mall.
Magnificent natural landscapes in the “Real Africa”
Zambia is sometimes described as the “Real Africa” and is home to stunning natural landscapes on an overwhelming scale.
Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls)
Mosi-oa-Tunya translates to “Thundering Smoke” – commonly known around the world as Victoria Falls – a powerful name for one of the world’s three great waterfalls. Approximately 1.7 km wide and featuring a drop of over 110 m, its overwhelming size and sheer force attract visitors from across the globe.
National parks inhabited by rare wildlife
Zambia is home to 20 national parks of all sizes, including Kafue National Park, the second largest national park in the world. All of the parks are home to rare wildlife, including about 60 species of animals like lions, giraffes, elephants and hippos, and 400 species of birds including the sea eagle – depicted on Zambia’s country flag – and the extremely rare shoebill stork.
One of Zambia’s most popular attractions is going on safari against the backdrop of the country’s incredible natural environment.
Zambia’s music culture
Music is an essential part of life for the people of Zambia. Unique rhythmic percussion instruments, songs and dances with masks varying according to region have been passed down across generations, and remain important parts of ceremonies like weddings and festivals today.
See below for video of a traditional dance performance by the Zambia National Dance Troupe from the Min-On performance “A Musical Voyage Across Africa / Dance of the Earth” held in 2001.
Zambia is home to many different traditional musical instruments as described below.
| Scraper
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A friction instrument with serrated front and back surfaces. Sounds are produced by rubbing or scraping it with a stick. |
| Rhythm Sticks
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A wooden ball with a stick inserted into it, used in dances performed by the Ngoni people. |
| Conical Drums
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Conical, single-sided drums hollowed out of a single piece of wood and covered in zebra skin. |
| Sanza / Katandi
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An instrument made of a row of long, thin metal keys fixed on top of a wooden resonance box. |
| Bongo Table
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A four-legged, single-sided drum with a black paste on the drum head that modifies pitch. |
| Mutyangala
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A stringed instrument played by placing one end in the mouth and plucking the strings with your fingers. |
| Kalumbu
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An instrument of the lute family with a resonance box from tree nuts and covered in bark. |
Here, we again present a performance from ” A Musical Voyage Across Africa / Dance of the Earth” featuring the xylophone, a traditional musical instrument of Zambia.
Zambian music is also characterized by flexibility, having evolved over time to incorporate many different aspects. A prime example is Zamrock, a new musical genre that emerged in the 1970s. Fusing traditional African music with rock & roll, blues, funk and other styles, Zamrock became popular in neighboring countries as well. Even today, 50 years later, many Zambian artists who have skillfully incorporated diverse musical influences remain active on the global stage.
| Editor’s recommended artist: Caitlin De Ville
Caitlin De Ville, a female electric violinist from Zambia, is garnering worldwide attention for her creative playing style, broad musical background that incorporates metal and rock, and bold cover arrangements. Here we introduce Caitlin’s song “Ricochet” from her official YouTube channel, which has over 735,000 subscribers. |
Lastly, please enjoy some performances by musicians recommended by the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Japan.
1.「Never Been Easy」Daev Zambia
- 「PIKI-PIKI SKIRT」Afunika
- 「Mungoni」The Sakala Brothers
- 「Takwaba Chisuma Kubantu」The Glorious Band
What did you think of your music journey to the Republic of Zambia? There are still many more places to go! Please look forward to our next destination.
(Produced in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Japan, who also provided photos.)
Min-On Concert Association
－Music Binds Our Hearts－