ASSITEJ Zambia in partnership with ZAPOTA hosted Kugani Dance Group from Okinawa, Japan from October 15 to October 20 for a series of performances in Lusaka. The Japanese were in the country and staged five shows of their production titled “Happy Balloons” The shows drew hundreds of children and adults at Circus Zambia and the historic Lusaka Playhouse.
It was an amazing show that combined balloon art and the Japanese culture depicted through some professionally choreographed indigenous dances. The Japanese tour was part of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Zambia. It was a two-nation African tour that also saw them perform in the neighboring Zimbabwe and was facilitated by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs.
ASSITEJ Zambia President Bernard Mutambwa described the tour as historic and that it was to foster more understanding and stronger cultural ties especially among the children and youths from the two countries. “It was a pleasant surprise when the audience started dancing naturally and became an unplanned kacharith” said Megumi Tomita, one of the Production Creative Directors.
