Afronauts Seeks Corporate Lift-Off
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — (9-7-2026) -- Circus Zambia has appealed for corporate support as it prepares to take its Afronauts production to international , saying the tour presents an opportunity to tell Zambia’s story through creativity, culture and the talents of young artists.
The production, inspired by Edward Mukuka Nkoloso’s 1964 dream of sending Zambians to space, will travel to stages in England, Ireland and the Netherlands, including the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it will make history as the first Zambian theatre company to perform at the world-renowned arts festival.
Ms Munalisa said Afronauts was a story of courage, imagination, innovation and resilience, reflecting the ability of young people to pursue bold ideas despite challenges.
She commended Circus Zambia for creating opportunities for young people through circus arts, theatre, music and creative education, saying the organisation had helped many young Zambians develop skills, confidence and pathways towards employment.
“Through its programmes, Circus Zambia has provided countless young Zambians with opportunities to develop life skills, leadership qualities, self-confidence, and pathways to meaningful employment,” she said.
Ms Munalisa said Government recognised the growing role of the creative and cultural sector in creating jobs, promoting national identity and contributing to economic development.
“As Government, we recognise the growing importance of the creative and cultural industries as drivers of economic growth, job creation, social inclusion and national identity,” she said.
She said the Afronauts project aligned with efforts to support youth participation in the creative industry, promote cultural diplomacy and create opportunities for Zambian artists to compete internationally.
Ms Munalisa added that the project complemented the Zambia Moves You campaign by showcasing the country as a place of creativity, innovation and cultural excellence.
She, however, noted that more support was needed to ensure the participation of the 10 Zambian performers expected to represent the country during the tour.
“When we support initiatives such as Afronauts, we are not merely funding a theatre production. We are investing in young people, promoting Zambia’s image abroad, strengthening cultural diplomacy and creating opportunities for talent development,” she said.
British High Commissioner to Zambia Rebecca Terzeon said Afronauts was a powerful example of how cultural collaboration could strengthen ties between Zambia and the United Kingdom.
She said the production offered a different way of looking at Zambia’s space story by focusing on the creativity, confidence and ambition behind Nkoloso’s dream.
“What I particularly love about this production is that it takes a story which is sometimes misunderstood, but instead celebrates the imagination, confidence, optimism and innovation that lies behind the Afronauts story,” Terzeon said.
She said the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was a fitting platform for the production because it was built around the idea of artists taking risks and creating opportunities for themselves.
Terzeon said the tour would give audiences in the UK and beyond an opportunity to experience Zambia’s talent and storytelling.
“When you invest in Afronauts, you are not just funding a show. You are investing in young talent, cultural exchange in Zambia’s creative industries and the power of storytelling to connect people across borders,” she said.
He said the team was initially scheduled to perform at the festival in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their plans.
“It’s been a long time coming. We were almost ready to go to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2020 and then COVID happened. It has taken us six years to get ourselves match-ready to be at the Edinburgh Festival,” McGuigan said.
He said the project had received support from different partners along the way, describing the international tour as a major milestone not only for Circus Zambia but for the country’s arts sector.
McGuigan said the company hoped to open doors for other Zambian creative groups seeking opportunities beyond the country.
“We want to be trailblazers for other Zambian companies as well. We want to be first, but we want to make sure we are not the last,” he said.
The tour will include performances at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Liverpool Playhouse, Derry in Northern Ireland and the Dublin Fringe Festival.
McGuigan said the journey had not been without challenges, including the emergence of another international production based on the Afronauts story.
He said Circus Zambia had been engaging with the other production while ensuring that the Zambian perspective remained central.
Circus Zambia Executive Director for Performance Charlotte Groen said the organisation had reached a stage where additional support was needed to complete preparations for the European tour and related activities.
Groen thanked individuals and partners who had supported Circus Zambia over the years, saying their contributions had helped the organisation reach this point.
However, she said the company was now seeking corporate partners to help close the remaining funding gap.
“We have reached a point where we need additional support. We are appealing to corporates to partner with us and connect their brands with this important initiative,” Groen said.
She said Circus Zambia was looking for £35,000 to fully support the tour activities, adding that the organisation had already made significant progress towards meeting its overall budget.
Groen said part of the funding requirement included £20,000 towards producing a documentary that would capture the journey of Afronauts, preserve the story and showcase Zambia’s creative talent to audiences at home and abroad.
“We are not just talking about an idea — this is happening. The European tour and festival appearances are confirmed, and we are already receiving significant attention,” she said.
She said the production had attracted interest from international media, giving partners an opportunity to associate their brands with a Zambian story gaining recognition beyond the country’s borders.
Groen said corporate partners could support the project through sponsorship, brand partnerships, merchandise, fundraising activities and other collaborations.
She added that opportunities included branded costumes, corporate performances, special Afronauts showcases and private screenings of the documentary once completed.
Documentary filmmaker Ngosa Chungu, who is documenting Circus Zambia’s journey, said Afronauts was more than a theatre production as it represented a story of Zambian ambition and determination.
Chungu said the documentary would capture both the history of Nkoloso’s space dream and how that legacy continues through young Zambian creatives today.
She said she was inspired after watching the production for the first time and realising the importance of preserving the story.
“As a child, I was in school in England and one of the big things we talked about was whether one of us could make it to Edinburgh Fringe because it was such a big festival,” she said.
Chungu appealed to Zambians, companies and institutions to support the project through sponsorship, ticket purchases, crowdfunding and sharing the story.
“This is not just a story about Afronauts. It is a story about Zambian potential, Zambian excellence and people coming together,” she said.
She warned that it was important for Zambia to tell its own story and ensure that the legacy of the Afronauts was represented from a Zambian perspective.
Chungu said the documentary would help preserve the journey for future generations and show that Zambia’s creative talent could compete on the world stage.
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