Zambia Traditional Dance Association (ZATRADA) has revealed that Traditional dance groups in Zambia are struggling to sustain their activities due to inadequate sponsorship, low performance fees and limited opportunities.
Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, ZATRADA administrator, Matthew Zgambo said many cultural groups struggle to earn a living from their performances, with some clients negotiating their fees down despite the costs of costumes, rehearsals and other preparations.
Zgambo explained that some groups that charge K10,000 for a performance are often asked to accept as little as K5,000, leaving dancers with less income to share among themselves.
“If you say it is K10,000, they will tell you they cannot manage to pay that unless you come down a little bit,” he said.
Zgambo said the situation is particularly difficult for community-based groups that depend on occasional performances for their livelihoods, as they can go for months without securing an engagement.
He added that cultural dancers are also sometimes treated as an afterthought at events, with some organisers providing food only after the function or refusing to provide it on the grounds that it was not included in the budget.
“We as artists are respectful people. We need people also to respect us as we respect them,” said Zgambo.
ZATRADA administrator further indicated that the association is also concerned about the limited opportunities available to cultural groups, alleging that the same groups and individual dancers are repeatedly selected for government functions and international festivals.
He said the practice is leaving many other groups struggling to gain exposure and earn income from their work, despite investing time in rehearsals and preserving traditional dances.
Zgambo also added that securing sponsorship for cultural festivals and competitions remains difficult, making it challenging to offer prizes to outstanding performers and provide incentives for groups to participate.
He said the association has been engaging the Ministry of Tourism on challenges affecting cultural groups, but called for more inclusive opportunities and a fairer distribution of performance engagements.
Zgambo also expressed concern that financial expectations are changing how people approach traditional dance, unlike in the past when many were willing to learn cultural dances primarily to acquire the skills.
He urged sponsors, event organisers and other clients to recognise the contribution of cultural dancers and pay reasonable fees for their performances.
“These are the people who are keeping culture. Without these people, Zambia is going nowhere,” said Zgambo.
He urged cultural artists not to abandon their work despite the challenges, expressing hope that continued engagement with relevant authorities will help improve conditions for the sector.
Article by Karen Ngulube
