“Breaking Barriers: Advancing Gender Equality in Zambia’s Creative Sector.”

Last week friday the 22nd of May, 2026, we hosted the PANAF Talks Symposium 4.0 during the Bantu Network Provincial Arts Festival 2026, which brought together Artists and leading voices from Zambia’s creative sector for a powerful panel discussion under the theme: “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Gender Equality in Zambia’s Creative Sector.”

The conversation unpacked the real challenges creatives face across music, film, literature, and beyond , from:
limited access to opportunities
Leadership spaces
Issues of safety
Recognition, and
Representation

Together with our distinguished panelists, we explored how social norms, institutional practices, and policy gaps continue to shape inequality, and more importantly, what can be done to change this.

Through honest dialogue and shared experiences, the session sparked:
Practical solutions
Inspired collective responsibility, and
Generated actionable recommendations to promote equity, inclusion, and protection for all creatives.

We highlighted the vital role of artists, institutions, civil society, and policymakers in building a more inclusive and gender-responsive creative ecosystem in Zambia.