I was to make a study of the African population of the

Copperbelt and decided to break the assignment into three parts according to the different
types of field work needed. The first was to be a sociographic survey which would provide
some of the quantitative data needed as a basis to the other sociological studies. The second
was to be a study of family economics and nutrition. The third part was to be a study of the
social structure of the African population.

Kalela is the name of a popular 'tribal' dance on the Copperbelt of Northern Rhodesia.

In this essay I try to employ the same general techniques. I start with a description of
the kalela dance and then relate the dominant features of the dance to the system of
relationships among Africans on the Copperbelt. In order to do this I must take into account,
to some extent, the general system of Black-White relationships in Northern Rhodesia.

It is only when this process has been followed to a

conclusion that we can return to the dance and fully appreciate its significance.

In short, they were young men dressed smartly in the European style.