Assistance for 5 Zambian Culture Troupes
Donation protected
UPDATE: We surpassed our fundraising goal, the campaign has been closed, and the money has been sent to (and received in) Zambia! Thank you so much for all of your help!
As social distancing restrictions are beginning to fade away in the US and Canada, Zambia is starting to deal with a COVID on the rise. Drum and dance troupes are among those hardest hit by the preventative measures and economic fallout of this global pandemic. These culture troupes normally rely on large social gatherings to make ends meet. This is coming at a particularly challenging time for these performers as we are now entering the "festival season;" a majority of the 72 Zambian ethno-linguistic groups hold their traditional ceremonies and festivals during the upcoming months. These festivals are both culturally important events as well as vital to musicians' and dancers' economic well-being. The arts, while appreciated, are already precariously positioned in the Zambian economy. Every culture group in the country is hurting right now. The Zambian government has unfortunately not been able to provide assistance (in the form of grants or stimuli) to these artists. While I wish I could help each struggling troupe, I have decided to direct my efforts towards the 5 I work with most. They have taught and shared so much with me and the trajectory of my life would be vastly different without them.
Please consider donating to help keep these groups afloat in this extremely difficult time. The 5 groups will evenly split 100% of the donations. Every little penny counts, especially considering the exchange rate. If you cannot lend any monetary assistance, please promote and pass this campaign along. These groups represent some of the most beautiful things mankind is capable of. In this strange moment of human solidarity, we have the opportunity to support those who contribute so much to this world. Zikomo kwambili, twasakwililako - thank you!
The groups are:
Chota Culture Group
-Luvale/Chokwe culture group
-Losing out on both corporate and tourism-based gigs as well as various Luvale ceremonies
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by William Vunda
Lenga Navo Culture Group
-Luvale culture group
-As the culture group of choice for the royal Luvale village, they will likely be hardest hit by the timing of this
-Run out of Zambezi, Zambia
-Led by Kapalu Lizambo
Likumbi Lya Mize Chibolya Group
-Luvale culture group
-Strongly tied to the Likumbi lya Mize Cultural Association, they normally use this time to fundraise for and promote the largest Luvale ceremony
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by Mama Josephine
Nomakanjani Arts
-Pan-Zambian arts collective
-One of the few full-time contemporary troupes
-Nomakanjani performs drum and dance music as well provides opportunities for at-risk youth in Lusaka compounds; the virus won't just affect them, but also the other generations they support through their humanitarian efforts
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by Philip Ngoma, Peter Tembo, and Kayawe Chinyama
John Leng Kulamba Group
-Chewa culture group
-The majority of their efforts consist of preparation and fundraising for the Kulamba ceremony - now either cancelled or extremely minimized
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by Chifile Phiri
For those curious about this, there is a bit of red tape (different currencies, logistics of international donations, lack of bank accounts, etc.) preventing the troupes (or their respective leaders) from withdrawing the funds themselves. For those reasons, I will withdraw the funds myself and send them using Western Union (a process I have successfully used before when sending money to Zambia). GoFundMe has a few fees attached to campaigns. I will, however, personally match these fees and contribute them back to the pot. Furthermore, I will personally cover Western Union fees. In other words, the troupes will still receive 100% of what we raise.
As social distancing restrictions are beginning to fade away in the US and Canada, Zambia is starting to deal with a COVID on the rise. Drum and dance troupes are among those hardest hit by the preventative measures and economic fallout of this global pandemic. These culture troupes normally rely on large social gatherings to make ends meet. This is coming at a particularly challenging time for these performers as we are now entering the "festival season;" a majority of the 72 Zambian ethno-linguistic groups hold their traditional ceremonies and festivals during the upcoming months. These festivals are both culturally important events as well as vital to musicians' and dancers' economic well-being. The arts, while appreciated, are already precariously positioned in the Zambian economy. Every culture group in the country is hurting right now. The Zambian government has unfortunately not been able to provide assistance (in the form of grants or stimuli) to these artists. While I wish I could help each struggling troupe, I have decided to direct my efforts towards the 5 I work with most. They have taught and shared so much with me and the trajectory of my life would be vastly different without them.
Please consider donating to help keep these groups afloat in this extremely difficult time. The 5 groups will evenly split 100% of the donations. Every little penny counts, especially considering the exchange rate. If you cannot lend any monetary assistance, please promote and pass this campaign along. These groups represent some of the most beautiful things mankind is capable of. In this strange moment of human solidarity, we have the opportunity to support those who contribute so much to this world. Zikomo kwambili, twasakwililako - thank you!
The groups are:
Chota Culture Group
-Luvale/Chokwe culture group
-Losing out on both corporate and tourism-based gigs as well as various Luvale ceremonies
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by William Vunda
Lenga Navo Culture Group
-Luvale culture group
-As the culture group of choice for the royal Luvale village, they will likely be hardest hit by the timing of this
-Run out of Zambezi, Zambia
-Led by Kapalu Lizambo
Likumbi Lya Mize Chibolya Group
-Luvale culture group
-Strongly tied to the Likumbi lya Mize Cultural Association, they normally use this time to fundraise for and promote the largest Luvale ceremony
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by Mama Josephine
Nomakanjani Arts
-Pan-Zambian arts collective
-One of the few full-time contemporary troupes
-Nomakanjani performs drum and dance music as well provides opportunities for at-risk youth in Lusaka compounds; the virus won't just affect them, but also the other generations they support through their humanitarian efforts
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by Philip Ngoma, Peter Tembo, and Kayawe Chinyama
John Leng Kulamba Group
-Chewa culture group
-The majority of their efforts consist of preparation and fundraising for the Kulamba ceremony - now either cancelled or extremely minimized
-Run out of Lusaka, Zambia
-Led by Chifile Phiri
For those curious about this, there is a bit of red tape (different currencies, logistics of international donations, lack of bank accounts, etc.) preventing the troupes (or their respective leaders) from withdrawing the funds themselves. For those reasons, I will withdraw the funds myself and send them using Western Union (a process I have successfully used before when sending money to Zambia). GoFundMe has a few fees attached to campaigns. I will, however, personally match these fees and contribute them back to the pot. Furthermore, I will personally cover Western Union fees. In other words, the troupes will still receive 100% of what we raise.
Organizer
Jason Winikoff
Organizer
W Vancouver, BC