BRIEFING | Lusaka skies come alive as spectacular drone show celebrates Zambia-China friendship
Lusaka’s night sky became a vast canvas of light on Saturday as hundreds of synchronised drones swept above the Showgrounds, forming colourful images of Zambia’s heritage, Chinese culture and more than six decades of friendship between the two countries.
The display was part of the Zambian edition of the “Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road – Colours of Africa” Transnational Drone Light Show, staged under activities marking the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
For spectators gathered at the Showgrounds and residents watching from surrounding areas, the performance offered an unusual sight over the capital. Drone formations shifted across the darkness, recreating landmarks, cultural symbols and moments associated with the history of Zambia-China cooperation.
Among the themes was the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority, TAZARA, one of the most enduring symbols of relations between Lusaka and Beijing.
Built with Chinese support in the 1970s, the railway has remained central to the historical story of the partnership and is again the subject of major efforts to revitalise the corridor.
Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said the spectacle went beyond entertainment, demonstrating how technology could be deployed to tell Zambia’s story and promote the country internationally.
“When Zambia’s wildlife, heritage and national identity illuminate the night sky and those images are shared across digital platforms, a cultural experience becomes an opportunity to market Zambia to the world,” Kangwa said.
He said Zambia and China had maintained warm relations for more than 60 years, with cooperation expanding from infrastructure into trade, investment, tourism, culture and increasingly direct exchanges between their people.
The spectacle also carried an economic message. Kangwa said Zambia is targeting more than 2.5 million international tourist arrivals and over US$1 billion in tourism revenue by the end of 2026, placing destination marketing at the centre of efforts to expand the sector.
Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga said the event demonstrated how technology and creative expression could strengthen Zambia’s tourism offering and give international audiences new ways of experiencing the country.
“Tonight’s event provides another opportunity to celebrate that friendship while showcasing elements of our respective cultures, heritage and shared history through an innovative fusion of technology and artistic expression,” Muhanga said.
The event was supported by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, the Zambia Chinese Association, Shaanxi Radio and Television Media Convergence Group Company Limited and Shenzhen High Great Technology Company Limited, among other partners.
For one night, diplomacy moved beyond conference rooms and official communiqués. It unfolded across the Lusaka sky, in light, movement and colour, telling the story of two countries whose relationship has travelled from TAZARA to trade, investment, tourism and a new generation of cultural exchange.
Pictures Credit: Kalemba/ZANIS
-The People’s Brief | Ollus R. Ndomu
