Zambia - Wikipedia

Zambia - Wikipedia
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Coordinates
15°S
30°E
 / 
15°S 30°E
 /
-15; 30
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Country in Southern Africa
This article is about the African nation. For the 18th-century BC king of Isin, see
Zambiya
. For other uses, see
Zambia (disambiguation)
Republic of Zambia
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto:
"One Zambia, One Nation"
Anthem:
Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free
Public Seal
Show globe
Show map of Africa
Capital
and largest city
Lusaka
15°25′S
28°17′E
 / 
15.417°S 28.283°E
 /
-15.417; 28.283
Official languages
Recognised regional languages
List
34.0%
Bemba
12.8%
Tonga
11.4%
Nyanja
6.7%
Chewa
5.4%
Lozi
2.6%
Nsenga
2.5%
Tumbuka
2.3%
Kaonde
2.1%
Lunda
1.9%
1.6%
Luvale
1.5%
Lamba
1.4%
Lala
1.2%
Mambwe
1.2%
Namwanga
1.1%
Lenje
10.2%
Others
Ethnic groups
(2022
List
25.4%
Bemba
14.9%
Tonga
8.9%
Chewa
6.5%
Lozi
4.2%
Tumbuka
4.0%
Nsenga
3.2%
Ngoni
3.1% Kaonde
2.8%
Lunda
2.7% Namwanga
2.5%
Lala
2.3%
Luvale
2.3%
Mambwe
1.9%
Lamba
1.5%
Bisa
1.1% Bisa people
1.1%
Mbunda
1.0%
Senga
9.4% other ethnicities
Religion
(2023)
95.5%
Christianity
official
2.7%
Islam
1.8%
other
none
Demonym
Zambian
Government
Unitary
presidential republic
President
Hakainde Hichilema
Vice-President
Mutale Nalumango
Speaker
Nelly Mutti
Chief Justice
Mumba Malila
Legislature
National Assembly of Zambia
Independence
from the
United Kingdom
• Declared
24 October 1964
Area
• Total
752,617 km
(290,587 sq mi)
38th
• Water (%)
Population
• 2023 estimate
20,216,029
64th
• Density
17.2/km
(44.5/sq mi) (
191st
GDP
PPP
2023 estimate
• Total
$83.687 billion
100th
• Per capita
$4,068
155th
GDP
(nominal)
2023 estimate
• Total
$29.536 billion
113th
• Per capita
$1,435
159th
Gini
(2022)
51.5
high inequality
HDI
(2023)
0.595
medium
154th
Currency
Zambian kwacha
ZMW
Time zone
UTC
+2
CAT
Date format
dd/mm/yyyy
Calling code
+260
ISO 3166 code
ZM
Internet TLD
.zm
Zambia
ɑː
-/
), officially the
Republic of Zambia
, is a
landlocked country
in
Southern Africa
It is bordered to the north by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tanzania
to the northeast,
Malawi
to the east,
Mozambique
to the southeast,
Zimbabwe
and
Botswana
to the south,
Namibia
to the southwest, and
Angola
to the west. The capital city of Zambia is
Lusaka
, located in the south-central part of Zambia. The population is concentrated mainly around Lusaka in the south and the
Copperbelt Province
to the north, the core economic hubs of Zambia.
Originally inhabited by
Khoisan
peoples, the region was affected by the
Bantu expansion
of the thirteenth century. Following European expeditions in the eighteenth century, the British Empire began to consolidate control of the area following the
1890 British Ultimatum
against the Portuguese, who had claimed the area between
Angola
and
Mozambique
in the 1885
Pink Map
10
Britain formed the
British protectorates
of
Barotziland–North-Western Rhodesia
and
North-Eastern Rhodesia
towards the end of the nineteenth century. These were merged in 1911 to form
Northern Rhodesia
. For most of the colonial period, Zambia was governed by an administration appointed from London with the advice of the
British South Africa Company
11
On 24 October 1964, Zambia became independent of the United Kingdom as a republic in
the Commonwealth
12
and prime minister
Kenneth Kaunda
became the inaugural
president
. Kaunda's
socialist
United National Independence Party
(UNIP) maintained power from 1964 until 1991 with him playing a role in regional diplomacy, cooperating with the United States in search of solutions to conflicts in
Southern Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe), Angola, and Namibia.
13
From 1972 to 1991, Zambia was a
one-party state
with UNIP as the sole legal political party under the motto "One Zambia, One Nation" coined by Kaunda. Following the introduction of a multiparty system in the early 1990s, Kaunda was defeated in the
1991 Zambian general election
. Zambia has since continued to experience peaceful transitions of power.
Natural resources in Zambia include minerals, wildlife, forestry, freshwater, and
arable land
14
As of an estimate in 2018, 47.9% of the population is affected by
multidimensional poverty
15
The
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) is headquartered in Lusaka.
Etymology
edit
Further information:
Rhodesia (name)
The territory of Zambia was known as "
Northern Rhodesia
" from 1911 to 1964. It was renamed "Zambia" in October 1964 on its independence from British rule. The name "Zambia" derives from the
Zambezi
river (Zambezi may mean "the grand river").
16
Geography
edit
Main articles:
Geography of Zambia
and
Geology of Zambia
Zambia map of Köppen climate classification
Zambia is a
landlocked country
in southern Africa, with a tropical climate, and consists mostly of high plateaus with some hills and mountains, dissected by river valleys. At 752,614 square kilometres (290,586 sq mi), it is the 39th-largest country in the world. The country lies mostly between latitudes 8° and 18°S, and longitudes 22° and 34°E.
Zambia is drained by two major river basins: the
Zambezi
/Kafue basin in the centre, west, and south covering about three-quarters of the country; and the
Congo
basin in the north covering about one-quarter of the country. An area in the northeast forms part of the internal
drainage basin
of
Lake Rukwa
in Tanzania.
In the Zambezi basin, there are rivers flowing wholly or partially through Zambia: the
Kabompo
Lungwebungu
Kafue
Luangwa
, and the Zambezi, which flows through the country in the west and then forms its southern border with Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Its source is in Zambia and it diverts into Angola, and a number of its tributaries rise in Angola's central highlands. The edge of the
Cuando River
floodplain (not its main channel) forms Zambia's southwestern border, and via the
Chobe River
17
Two of the Zambezi's longest and largest tributaries, the Kafue and the Luangwa, flow mainly in Zambia. Their confluences with the Zambezi are on the border with Zimbabwe at Chirundu and
Luangwa town
respectively. Before its confluence, the Luangwa River forms part of Zambia's border with Mozambique. From Luangwa town, the Zambezi leaves Zambia and flows into Mozambique, and eventually into the
Mozambique Channel
Victoria Falls
In Eastern Zambia the plateau which extends between the Zambezi and
Lake Tanganyika
valleys is tilted upwards to the north, and so rises imperceptibly from about 900 metres (3,000 ft) in the south to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) in the centre, reaching 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) in the north near Mbala. These plateau areas of northern Zambia have been categorised by the
World Wildlife Fund
as a large section of the
Central Zambezian miombo woodlands
ecoregion
18
The Luangwa Valley splits the plateau in a curve north-east to south-west, extended west into the heart of the plateau by the deep valley of the
Lunsemfwa River
. Hills and mountains are found by the side of some sections of the valley, including in its north-east the Nyika Plateau (2,200 metres or 7,200 feet) on the Malawi border, which extend into Zambia as the
Mafinga Hills
, containing the country's highest point,
Mafinga Central
(2,339 metres or 7,674 feet).
19
Climate
edit
Main article:
Climate of Zambia
Zambia is located on the plateau of Central Africa, between 1,000 and 1,600 metres (3,300 and 5,200 ft) above sea level. The average elevation of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) gives the land a generally moderate climate. The climate of Zambia is tropical, modified by elevation. In the
Köppen climate classification
, most of the country is classified as
humid subtropical
Cfa
) or
tropical wet and dry
Aw
), with stretches of semi-arid
steppe climate
BSh
) in the south-west and along the
Zambezi valley
The two main seasons are the rainy season (November to April) corresponding to summer, and the dry season (May/June to October/November), corresponding to winter. The dry season is subdivided into the cool dry season (May/June to August), and the hot dry season (September to October/November). The modifying influence of altitude gives the country
subtropical
weather rather than tropical conditions during the cool season of May to August.
20
Biodiversity
edit
Main article:
Wildlife of Zambia
The official national animal of Zambia is the
African fish eagle
In 2015, Zambia was reported to have approximately 12,505 identified species: 63% animal species, 33% plant species and 4% bacterial species and other microorganisms.
21
There are an estimated 3,543 species of wild flowering plants, consisting of sedges, herbaceous plants and woody plants.
22
The
Northern
and
North-Western
provinces of the country have the highest diversity of flowering plants. Approximately 53% of flowering plants are rare and occur throughout the country.
23
A total of
242 mammal species
are found in the country, with most occupying the woodland and grassland ecosystems. The
Rhodesian giraffe
and
Kafue lechwe
are some subspecies that are endemic to Zambia.
24
Roughly 490 known fish species, belonging to 24 fish families, have been reported in Zambia, with
Lake Tanganyika
having the highest number of endemic species.
25
History
edit
Main article:
History of Zambia
Prehistory
edit
The fossil skull remains of the
Broken Hill Man
(also known as Kabwe Man), dated between 300,000 and 125,000 years BC, further shows that the area was inhabited by early humans.
26
Broken Hill Man was discovered in Zambia in
Kabwe District
Khoisan and Batwa
edit
Graffitied rock art in Nsalu Cave, Kasanka National Park in North-Central Zambia
Zambia once was inhabited by the Khoisan and
Batwa
peoples until around AD 300, when migrating
Bantu
began to settle the areas.
27
It is believed the Khoisan people originated in East Africa and spread southwards around 150,000 years ago. The Twa people were split into two groups: the
Kafwe Twa
lived around the
Kafue Flats
and the
Lukanga Twa
who lived around the
Lukanga Swamp
28
Many examples of ancient rock art in Zambia, like the
Mwela Rock Paintings
Mumbwa Caves
, and Nachikufu Cave, are attributed to these early hunter-gatherers.
29
The Bantu (Abantu)
edit
The early history of the peoples of Zambia is deduced from oral records, archaeology, and written records, mostly from non-Africans.
30
Bantu origins
edit
Batonga
fisherwomen in Southern Zambia. Women have played and continue to play pivotal roles in many African societies.
The Bantu people originally lived in West and Central Africa around what is today Cameroon and Nigeria.
31
Approximately 5000 years ago, they began a millennia-long expansion into much of the continent. This event has been called the
Bantu expansion
32
it was one of the largest human migrations in history. The Bantu are believed to have been the first to have brought iron working technology into large parts of Africa. The Bantu Expansion happened primarily through two routes: a western one via the
Congo Basin
and an eastern one via the African Great Lakes.
33
First Bantu settlement
edit
The first Bantu people lived in villages. They lacked an organised unit under a chief or headman and worked as a community and helped each other in times of field preparation for their crops. Villages moved around as the soil became exhausted as a result of the slash-and-burn technique of planting crops. The people kept herds of cattle.
34
Ruins of
Great Zimbabwe
Kalanga
Shona
rulers of this kingdom dominated trade at
Ingombe Ilede
The first Bantu communities in Zambia were highly self-sufficient. Early
European missionaries
who settled in Southern Zambia noted the independence of these Bantu societies. One of these missionaries noted:
"[If] weapons for war, hunting, and domestic purposes are needed, the [Tonga] man goes to the hills and digs until he finds the iron ore. He smelts it and with the iron thus obtained makes axes, hoes, and other useful implements. He burns wood and makes charcoal for his forge. His bellows are made from the skins of animals and the pipes are clay tile, and the anvil and hammers are also pieces of the iron he has obtained. He moulds, welds, shapes, and performs all the work of the ordinary blacksmith".
35
Goods traded at the major trading hub of
Ingombe Ilede
included fabrics, beads, gold, and bangles. The site itself is located at the confluence of the
Zambezi
and
Lusitu
rivers, making it ideal for long-distance trade. Denizens imported items from what is today southern
Democratic Republic of Congo
and
Kilwa Kisiwani
while others came from as far away as
India
China
and the
Arab world
36
The African traders were later joined by the Portuguese in the 16th century.
37
Second Bantu settlement
edit
The second mass settlement of Bantu people into Zambia was of people groups that are believed to have taken the western route of the Bantu migration through the Congo Basin. These Bantu people spent the majority of their existence in what is later the Democratic Republic of Congo.
38
Luba-Lunda states
edit
Drawing of the ruler of
Lunda
Mwata Kazembe
, receiving Portuguese in the royal courtyard in the 1800s
The Bemba, along with other related groups such as the
Lamba
Bisa
Senga
Kaonde
, Swaka, Nkoya and
Soli
, formed integral parts of the
Luba Kingdom
in Upemba part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and have a strong relation to the
Luba people
. The area which the Luba Kingdom occupied has been inhabited by early farmers and iron workers since the 300s C.E.
Over time, these communities learned to use nets and harpoons, make dugout canoes, clear canals through swamps and make dams as high as 2.5 meters (8 ft 2 in). As a result, they grew a diverse economy trading fish, copper and iron items and salt for goods from other parts of Africa, like the Swahili coast and, later on, the Portuguese. From these communities arose the Luba Kingdom in the 14th century.
39
The Luba Kingdom was a large kingdom with a centralised government and smaller independent
chiefdoms
. It had large trading networks that linked the forests in the
Congo Basin
and the mineral-rich plateaus of what is today
Copperbelt Province
and stretched from the
Atlantic coast
to the Indian Ocean coast. The arts were also held in high esteem in the kingdom, and artisans were held in high regard.
39
Literature was well developed in the Luba Kingdom. One renowned
Luba
genesis story that articulated the distinction between two types of Luba emperors goes as follows:
Nkongolo Mwamba
, the red king, and
Ilunga Mbidi Kiluwe
, a prince of legendary black complexion. Nkongolo Mwamba is the drunken and cruel despot, Ilunga Mbidi Kiluwe the refined and gentle prince. Nkongolo the Red is a man without manners, a man who eats in public, gets drunk, and cannot control himself, whereas [Ilunga] Mbidi Kiluwe is a man of reservation, obsessed with good manners; he does not eat in public, controls his language and his behaviour, and keeps a distance from the vices and modus vivendi of ordinary people. Nkongolo Mwamba symbolises the embodiment of tyranny, whereas Mbidi Kiluwe remains the admired caring and compassionate kin.
40
A drawing of
Lunda
houses by a Portuguese visitor. The size of the doorways relative to the building emphasizes the scale of the buildings.
In the same region of Southern Congo, the
Lunda people
were made into a satellite of the Luba empire and adopted forms of Luba culture and governance, thus becoming the Lunda Empire to the south. According to Lunda genesis myths, a Luba hunter named
Chibinda Ilunga
, son of
Ilunga Mbidi Kiluwe
, introduced the Luba model of statecraft to the Lunda sometime around 1600 when he married a local Lunda princess named Lueji and was granted control of her kingdom. Most rulers who claimed descent from Luba ancestors were integrated into the Luba empire. The Lunda kings, however, remained separate and actively expanded their political and economic dominance over the region.
39
The Lunda, like its parent state Luba, also traded with both coasts, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. While ruler
Mwaant Yaav Naweej
had established trade routes to the Atlantic coast and initiated direct contact with European traders eager for slaves and forest products and controlling the regional Copper trade, and settlements around
Lake Mweru
regulated commerce with the East African coast.
39
The Luba-Lunda states eventually declined as a result of both
Atlantic slave trade
in the west and
Indian Ocean slave trade
in the east and wars with breakaway factions of the kingdoms. The
Chokwe
, a group that is closely related to the
Luvale
and formed a Lunda satellite state, initially suffered from the European demand for slaves, but once they broke away from the Lunda state, they themselves became notorious slave traders, exporting slaves to both coasts.
The Chokwe eventually were defeated by the other ethnic groups and the Portuguese.
41
This instability caused the collapse of the Luba-Lunda states and a dispersal of people into various parts of Zambia from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The majority of Zambians trace their ancestry to the Luba-Lunda and surrounding Central African states.
42
The Maravi Confederacy
edit
In the 1200s, before the founding of the Luba-Lunda states, a group of Bantu people started migrating from the
Congo Basin
to
Lake Mweru
then finally settled around
Lake Malawi
. These migrants are believed to have been one of the inhabitants around the
Upemba
area in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
. By the 1400s these groups of migrants collectively called the Maravi, and most prominently among them was the
Chewa people
who started imitating other Bantu groups like the
Tumbuka
43
The kalonga (ruler) of the
Chewa
today descends from the kalonga of the Maravi Empire.
In 1480 the
Maravi
Empire was founded by the kalonga (paramount chief of the Maravi) from the Phiri clan, one of the main clans, with the others being Banda, Mwale and Nkhoma. The Maravi Empire stretched from the Indian Ocean through what today is
Mozambique
to Zambia and central parts of
Malawi
. The political organisation of the Maravi resembled that of the Luba and is believed to have originated from there. The primary export of the Maravi was ivory, which was transported to Swahili brokers.
43
Iron was also manufactured and exported. In the 1590s the Portuguese endeavoured to take monopoly over Maravi export trade. This attempt was met with outrage by the Maravi of Lundu, who unleashed their WaZimba armed force. The WaZimba sacked the Portuguese trade towns of Tete, Sena and various other towns.
44
The Maravi are also believed to have brought the traditions that would become
Nyau
secret society from
Upemba
. The Nyau form the cosmology or indigenous religion of the people of Maravi. The
Nyau
society consists of ritual dance performances and masks used for the dances; this belief system spread around the region.
45
The Maravi declined as a result of succession disputes within the confederacy, attack by the
Ngoni
and slave raids from the
Yao
44
Mutapa Empire and Mfecane
edit
Three young
Ngoni
chiefs. The Ngoni made their way into
Eastern Zambia
from
KwaZulu
in South Africa. They eventually assimilated into the local ethnic groups.
As
Great Zimbabwe
was in decline, one of its princes,
Nyatsimba Mutota
, broke away from the state forming a new empire called
Mutapa
. The title of Mwene Mutapa, meaning "Ravager of the Lands", was bestowed on him and subsequent rulers.
46
The Mutapa Empire ruled territory between the
Zambezi
and
Limpopo
rivers, in what is now Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, from the 14th to the 17th century. By its peak, Mutapa had conquered the Dande area of the
Tonga
and Tavara. The Mutapa Empire predominately engaged in the Indian Ocean transcontinental trade with and via the
WaSwahili
. The primary exports were gold and ivory for silk and ceramics from Asia.
47
Like their contemporaries in Maravi, Mutapa had problems with the arriving Portuguese traders. The peak of this uneasy relationship was reached when the Portuguese attempted to influence the kingdoms internal affairs by establishing markets in the kingdom and converting the population to Christianity. This action caused outrage by the Muslim WaSwahili living in the capital, this chaos gave the Portuguese the excuse they were searching for to warrant an attack on the kingdom and try to control its gold mines and ivory routes. This attack failed when the Portuguese succumbed to disease along the Zambezi river.
48
In the 1600s internal disputes and civil war began the decline of Mutapa. The weakened kingdom was finally conquered by the Portuguese and was eventually taken over by rival
Shona
states.
48
The Portuguese also had vast estates, known as Prazos, and they used slaves and ex-slaves as security guards and hunters. They trained the men in military tactics and gave them guns. These men became expert elephant hunters and were known as the
Chikunda
. After the decline of the Portuguese the Chikunda made their way to Zambia.
49
Inside the palace of the
Litunga
, ruler of the Lozi. Due to the flooding on the Zambezi, the Litunga has two palaces one of which is on higher ground. The movement of Litunga to higher land is celebrated at the
Kuomboka
Ceremony.
The Portuguese presence in the region was a reason for the founding of the
Rozvi Empire
, a breakaway state of Mutapa. The ruler of the Rozvi, Changamire Dombo, became one of the most powerful leaders in South-Central Africa's history. Under his leadership, the Rozvi defeated the Portuguese and expelled them from their trading posts along the Zambezi river.
50
But perhaps the most notable instance of this increased militarisation was the rise of the
Zulu
under the leadership of
Shaka
. Pressures from the English colonialists in the
Cape
and increased militarisation of the Zulu resulted in the
Mfecane
(the crushing). The Zulu expanded by assimilating the women and children of tribes they defeated, if the men of these
Nguni tribes
escaped slaughter, they used the military tactics of the Zulu to attack other groups.
51
This caused mass displacements, wars and raids throughout Southern, Central and Eastern Africa as Nguni or
Ngoni
tribes made their way throughout the region and is referred to as the Mfecane. The arriving Nguni under the leadership of
Zwagendaba
crossed the Zambezi river moving northwards. The Ngoni were the final blow to the already weakened
Maravi
Empire. Many Nguni eventually settled around what is today Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania and assimilated into neighbouring tribes.
51
In the
western part
of Zambia, another Southern African group of
Sotho-Tswana
heritage called the
Kololo
manage to conquer the local inhabitants who were migrants from the fallen Luba and Lunda states called the
Luyana
or Aluyi. The Luyana established the
Barotse Kingdom
on the
floodplains of the Zambezi
upon their arrival from Katanga. Under the Kololo, the Kololo language was imposed upon the Luyana until the Luyana revolted and overthrew the Kololo by this time the Luyana language was largely forgotten and a new hybrid language emerged,
SiLozi
and the Luyana began to refer to themselves as
Lozi
52
At the end of the 18th century, some of the
Mbunda
migrated to
Barotseland
Mongu
upon the migration of among others, the
Ciyengele
53
54
Colonial period
edit
Europeans
edit
An 1864 photograph of the Scottish explorer and missionary
David Livingstone
One of the earliest recorded Europeans to visit the area was the Portuguese explorer
Francisco de Lacerda
in the late 18th century. Lacerda led an expedition from Mozambique to the Kazembe region in Zambia (with the goal of exploring and to crossing Southern Africa from coast to coast for the first time),
55
and died during the expedition in 1798. The expedition was from then on led by his friend Francisco Pinto.
56
This territory, located between
Portuguese Mozambique
and
Portuguese Angola
, was claimed and explored by Portugal in that period.
Other European visitors followed in the 19th century. The most prominent of these was
David Livingstone
, who had a vision of ending the slave trade through the "3 Cs": Christianity, Commerce, and Civilisation. He was the first European to see the magnificent waterfalls on the
Zambezi River
in 1855, naming them the
Victoria Falls
after
Queen Victoria
of the United Kingdom. He described them thus: "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight".
57
Locally the falls are known as
"Mosi-o-Tunya"
or "thundering smoke" in the Lozi or Kololo dialect. The town of
Livingstone
, near the Falls, is named after him. Highly publicised accounts of his journeys motivated a wave of European visitors, missionaries and traders after his death in 1873.
58
British South Africa Company
In 1888, the
British South Africa Company
(BSA Company), led by
Cecil Rhodes
, obtained mineral rights from the
Litunga
of the Lozi people, the Paramount Chief of the
Lozi (Ba-rotse)
for the area which later became
Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia
59
To the east, in December 1897 a group of the
Angoni or Ngoni
(originally from Zululand) rebelled under Tsinco, son of King
Mpezeni
, but the rebellion was put down,
60
and Mpezeni accepted the
Pax Britannica
. That part of the country then came to be known as
North-Eastern Rhodesia
. In 1895, Rhodes asked his American scout
Frederick Russell Burnham
to look for minerals and ways to improve river navigation in the region, and it was during this trek that Burnham discovered major copper deposits along the
Kafue River
61
British colonisation
edit
In 1953, the creation of the
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
grouped together Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and
Nyasaland
(now Malawi) as a single semi-autonomous region. This was undertaken despite opposition from a sizeable minority of the population, who demonstrated against it in 1960–61.
62
Independence
edit
Kenneth Kaunda
, first president, on a state visit to
Romania
in 1970
The federation was dissolved on 31 December 1963, and in January 1964, Kaunda won the only election for Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia. The
Colonial Governor
, Sir
Evelyn Hone
, was very close to Kaunda and urged him to stand for the post. Soon after, there was an uprising in the north of the country known as the
Lumpa Uprising
led by
Alice Lenshina
– Kaunda's first internal conflict as leader of the nation.
63
Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia on 24 October 1964, with
Kenneth Kaunda
as the first president. At independence, despite its considerable mineral wealth, Zambia faced major challenges. Domestically, there were few trained and educated Zambians capable of running the government, and the economy was largely dependent on foreign expertise. This expertise was provided in part by British diplomat
John Willson
64
There were over 70,000 Europeans resident in Zambia in 1964, and they remained of disproportionate economic significance.
65
Kaunda's endorsement of
Patriotic Front
guerrillas conducting raids into neighbouring
(Southern) Rhodesia
resulted in political tension and a militarisation of the border, leading to its closure in 1973.
66
The
Kariba hydroelectric
station on the Zambezi River provided sufficient capacity to satisfy the country's requirements for electricity, despite Rhodesian management.
The geopolitical situation during the
Rhodesian Bush War
in 1965 – countries friendly to the nationalists are coloured orange
On 3 September 1978, civilian airliner,
Air Rhodesia Flight 825
, was shot down near Kariba by the
Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army
(ZIPRA). 18 people, including children, survived the crash only for most of them to be shot by militants of the
Zimbabwe African People's Union
(ZAPU) led by
Joshua Nkomo
. Rhodesia responded with
Operation Gatling
, an attack on Nkomo's guerilla bases in Zambia, in particular, his military headquarters just outside Lusaka; this raid became known as the Green Leader Raid. On the same day, two more bases in Zambia were attacked using air power and elite paratroops and helicopter-borne troops.
67
By the 1970s, Mozambique and Angola had attained independence from Portugal. Rhodesia's predominantly white government, which issued a
Unilateral Declaration of Independence
in 1965, accepted majority rule under the
Lancaster House Agreement
in 1979.
68
Civil strife in both Portuguese colonies and a mounting
Namibian War of Independence
resulted in an influx of refugees
69
and compounded transportation issues. The
Benguela railway
, which extended west through Angola, was essentially closed to Zambian traffic by the late 1970s. Zambia's support for
anti-apartheid
movements such as the
African National Congress
(ANC) also created security problems as the
South African Defence Force
struck at dissident targets during external raids.
70
Economic troubles
edit
In the mid-1970s, the price of copper, Zambia's principal export, suffered a severe decline worldwide. In Zambia's situation, the cost of transporting the copper great distances to the market was an additional strain. Zambia turned to foreign and international lenders for relief, but, as copper prices remained depressed, it became increasingly difficult to service its growing debt. By the mid-1990s, despite limited debt relief, Zambia's per capita foreign debt remained among the highest in the world.
71
Democratisation
edit
In June 1990,
riots against Kaunda
accelerated and many protesters were killed by the regime.
72
73
In 1990, Kaunda survived an
attempted coup
, and in 1991, he agreed to reinstate multiparty democracy, having instituted one-party rule under the Choma Commission of 1972. Following multiparty elections, Kaunda was removed from office after losing multi-party elections to
Frederick Chiluba
In the 2000s, the economy stabilised, attaining single-digit inflation in 2006–2007, real GDP growth, decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade. Much of its growth is due to foreign investment in mining and to higher world copper prices. All this led to Zambia being courted enthusiastically by aid donors and saw a surge in investor confidence in the country.
Politics
edit
Main article:
Politics of Zambia
Zambia National Assembly building in
Lusaka
Politics in Zambia takes place in a framework of a
presidential
representative democratic
republic, whereby the
president of Zambia
is head of state and head of government in a pluriform
multi-party system
. The government exercises executive power, while legislative power is vested in the government and parliament.
Zambia became a republic upon attaining independence in October 1964. From 2011 to 2014, Zambia's president had been Michael Sata, until Sata died on 28 October 2014.
74
After Sata's death, Vice President
Guy Scott
, a Zambian of Scottish descent, became acting president. Presidential elections were held on 22 January 2015. A total number of 11 presidential candidates contested in the election and On 24 January 2015, it was announced that
Edgar Chagwa Lungu
had won the election to become the 6th President. He won 48.33% of the vote, a lead of 1.66% over his closest rival,
Hakainde Hichilema
, with 46.67%.
75
Nine other candidates got less than 1% each. In August
2016 Zambian general election
president Edgar Lungu won re-election in the first round of the election. The opposition had allegations of fraud and the governing
Patriotic Front
(PF) rejected the allegations made by opposition UPND party.
76
In the
2021 general elections
, characterised by a 70% voter turnout,
Hakainde Hichilema
won 59% of the vote, with his closest rival, incumbent president Edgar Chagwa Lungu, receiving 39% of the vote.
77
On 16 August Edgar Lungu conceded in a TV statement, sending a letter and congratulating president-elect Hakainde Hichilema.
78
79
On 24 August 2021, Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in as the new president of Zambia.
80
Military
edit
Main article:
Zambian Defence Force
In 2019, Zambia signed the UN
treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
81
Law and human rights
edit
See also:
Human rights in Zambia
LGBT rights in Zambia
, and
Zambian nationality law
The government has prosecuted critics using the legal pretext that they had incited
public disorder
Libel laws
are used to suppress free speech and the press.
82
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal for males and females in Zambia.
83
84
A 2010 survey revealed that 2% of Zambians find homosexuality to be morally acceptable.
85
In December 2019, it was reported that United States Ambassador to Zambia
Daniel Lewis Foote
was "horrified" by Zambia's jailing of same-sex couple Japhet Chataba and Steven Samba. After an appeal failed and the couple was sentenced to 15 years in prison, Foote asked the Zambian government to review both the case and the country's anti-homosexuality laws. Foote faced a backlash and cancelled public appearances after he was threatened on social media, and was subsequently recalled after Lungu declared him
persona non grata
86
Demographics
edit
Main article:
Demographics of Zambia
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1911
821,536
1921
983,835
+19.8%
1931
1,344,447
+36.7%
1946
1,683,828
+25.2%
1951
1,930,842
+14.7%
1956
2,172,304
+12.5%
1963
3,490,540
+60.7%
Year
Pop.
±%
1969
4,056,995
+16.2%
1980
5,661,801
+39.6%
1990
7,383,097
+30.4%
2000
9,885,591
+33.9%
2010
13,092,666
+32.4%
2022
19,610,769
+49.8%
Note: In censuses carried out during the British colonial administration prior to 1963, the black African population was estimated rather than counted.
Source:
Central Statistical Office, Zambia
As of the
2022 Zambian census
, Zambia's population was 19,610,769.
87
The
Mwata Kazembe
opens the Mutomboko ceremony.
The main ethnic groups in Zambia are Bemba 3.3 million (33.6%), Nyanja 1.8 million (18.2%), Tonga 1.7 million (16.8%), North-Western peoples 1 million (10.3%), Lozi (Barotse) 770,000 (7.8%), Mambwe 580,000 (5.9%), Tumbuka 500,000 (5.1%), Lamba 165,000 (2%), Asians 11,900 and Europeans 6,200.
88
View
source data
Zambia is one of the most highly urbanised countries in
sub-Saharan Africa
, with 44% of the population concentrated along the major transport corridors, while rural areas are sparsely populated. The fertility rate was 6.2 as of 2007
[update]
(6.1 in 1996, 5.9 in 2001–02).
89
Largest towns
edit
Further information:
List of cities and towns in Zambia
The onset of industrial copper mining on the Copperbelt in the late 1920s triggered rapid urbanisation. Although urbanisation was overestimated during the colonial period, it was substantial.
90
Mining townships on the Copperbelt soon dwarfed existing centres of population and continued to grow rapidly following Zambian independence. Economic decline in the Copperbelt from the 1970s to the 1990s has altered patterns of urban development, but the country's population remains concentrated around the railway and roads running south from the Copperbelt through Kapiri Mposhi, Lusaka, Choma and Livingstone.
Largest cities or towns in Zambia
According to the 2010 Census
[1]
Rank
Name
Province
Pop.
Rank
Name
Province
Pop.
Lusaka
Lusaka
1,747,152
11
Solwezi
North-Western
90,856
Kitwe
Copperbelt
501,360
12
Mansa
Luapula
78,153
Ndola
Copperbelt
451,246
13
Chililabombwe
Copperbelt
77,818
Kabwe
Central
202,360
14
Mazabuka
Southern
71,700
Chingola
Copperbelt
185,246
15
Kafue
Lusaka
71,573
Mufulira
Copperbelt
151,309
16
Kalulushi
Copperbelt
51,863
Livingstone
Southern
134,349
17
Choma
Southern
51,842
Luanshya
Copperbelt
130,076
18
Mongu
Western
49,818
Chipata
Eastern
116,627
19
Kapiri Mposhi
Central
44,783
10
Kasama
Northern
101,845
20
Nakonde
Muchinga
41,836
Ethnic groups
edit
Tribal and linguistic map of Zambia
Zambia nominally includes approximately 73 ethnic groups,
91
92
although in practice there are fewer distinct groups.
92
Most Zambians are
Bantu
-speaking.
91
The three largest
ethnolinguistic
groups are the
Bemba
Nyanja
(also called the Chewa), and
Tonga
; four smaller groups are the
Kaonde
Lozi
Luanda
, and
Luvale
92
In 2010, the population was estimated to be 21% Bemba, 13.6% Tonga, 7.4% Chewa, 5.7% Lozi, 5.3%
Nsenga
, 4.4%
Tumbuka
, 4.0%
Ngoni
, and 38.6% other.
91
The Bemba group is predominant in the Northern, Luapula, and Copperbelt provinces; the Nyanja in the Eastern and Central provinces; the Tonga in the Southern and Western provinces; and the Lozi in the Western Province.
91
The Tumbuka minority lives in the Luangwa River valley in the east.
93
No single ethnolinguistic group is predominant in the
North-Western Province
91
which is sparsely populated.
92
In addition to the linguistic dimension, tribal identities are relevant in Zambia.
92
These tribal identities are often linked to family allegiance or to traditional authorities. The tribal identities are nested within the main language groups.
94
Immigrants, mostly British or South African, as well as some white Zambian citizens of British descent, live mainly in Lusaka and in the Copperbelt in northern Zambia, where they are either employed in mines, financial and related activities or retired. There were 70,000 Europeans in Zambia in 1964, but many since left the country.
65
Zambia has a small but economically important Asian population, most of whom are Indians and Chinese. This minority group has a massive impact on the economy controlling the manufacturing sector. An estimated 80,000 Chinese were reported to reside in Zambia in 2006.
95
In recent years, several hundred dispossessed white farmers have left Zimbabwe at the invitation of the Zambian government, to take up farming in the Southern province.
96
97
According to the
World Refugee Survey 2009
published by the
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
, Zambia had a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 88,900. The majority of refugees in the country came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (47,300 refugees from the DRC living in Zambia in 2007), Angola (27,100; see
Angolans in Zambia
), Zimbabwe (5,400) and Rwanda (4,900).
98
Zambians are generally welcoming towards foreigners.
Beginning in May 2008, the number of
Zimbabweans in Zambia
began to increase significantly; the influx consisted largely of
Zimbabweans formerly living in South Africa
who were fleeing
xenophobic violence there
99
Nearly 60,000 refugees live in camps in Zambia, while 50,000 are mixed in with the local populations. Refugees who wish to work in Zambia must apply for permits, which can cost up to $500 per year.
98
Religion
edit
Further information:
Religion in Zambia
Zambia is officially a "Christian nation" under the 1996 constitution, but recognizes and protects freedom of religion.
100
Zambia is the only African nation to designate Christianity as a
state religion
101
The Zambia Statistics Agency in 2022 estimates that 98.0% of Zambians are Christian, with 74.5%
Protestant
, 17.9%
Catholic
and 5.6%
Jehovah's Witnesses
102
The
Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops
is the Catholic
episcopal conference
103
Many Zambian Christians are
syncretic
, combining
indigenous religious traditions
with Christianity.
103
The largest Protestant denominations are the
Anglicans
evangelicals
, and
Pentecostals
103
Christianity arrived to Zambia through European colonialism, and its wide variety of sects and movements reflect changing patterns of missionary activity; for example, Catholicism came from Portuguese Mozambique in the east, while Anglicanism reflects British influences from the south. Following its independence in 1964, Zambia saw a greater influx of other church missions from across the world, particularly North America and Germany. In subsequent decades, Western missionary roles have been assumed by native believers (except for some technical positions, such as physicians). After
Frederick Chiluba
, a Pentecostal Christian, became president in 1991, Pentecostal congregations expanded considerably around the country.
104
Religious affiliation in Zambia (2022 census)
105
Religion
Percent
Protestant
74.5%
Catholic
17.9%
Jehovah's Witnesses
5.6%
Muslim
0.5%
Other religion
0.5%
Some Christian denominations with a relatively small global presence are popular in Zambia. The country has one of the world's largest communities of
Seventh-day Adventists
on a per-capita basis, accounting for about 1 in 18 Zambians.
106
The
Lutheran Church of Central Africa
has over 11,000 members in the country.
107
About 12 per cent of Zambians are members of the
New Apostolic Church
108
with more than 1.2 million believers, the country has the third-largest community in Africa, out of a total worldwide membership of over 9 million.
109
Approximately 2.7% of Zambians are
Muslim
, primarily
Sunni
with smaller numbers of
Ismaili
and
Twelver Shia
103
The Muslim community, which numbers 100,000 according to one estimate, includes both refugees from
the Congo
and
Somalia
, as well as immigrants from South Asia and the Middle East who have become Zambian citizens.
103
Hindus
, primarily of South Asian ancestry, numbered approximately 10,000 as of 2019.
103
At its peak in the 1960s, a small
Jewish community in Zambia
numbered about 1,000, mostly with origins in
Lithuania
Latvia
, and
Germany
; by 2012 there were fewer than 50 Zambian Jews,
110
most of whom live in Lusaka and Northern Province.
103
There are small numbers of
Baháʼís
Buddhists
, and
Sikhs
103
Languages
edit
Main article:
Languages of Zambia
Density map of dominant regional languages:
111
Bemba
Chewa
Lozi
Lunda
Nyanja
Tonga
The exact number of Zambian languages is unknown, although many texts claim that Zambia has 73 languages and/or dialects; this figure is probably due to a non-distinction between language and dialect, based on the criterion of mutual intelligibility. On this basis, the number of Zambian languages would probably be only about 20 or 30.
112
The official language of Zambia is English, which is used for official business, education, and law.
91
The main local language, especially in Lusaka, is
Nyanja
(Chewa), followed by
Bemba
. In the Copperbelt, Bemba is the main language and Nyanja second. Bemba and Nyanja are spoken in the urban areas, in addition to other indigenous languages that are commonly spoken in Zambia. These include
Lozi
Tumbuka
Kaonde
Tonga
Lunda
and
Luvale
, which featured on the
Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation
(ZNBC) local-languages section.
91
112
113
Most will speak Bemba and Nyanja in the Copperbelt; Nyanja is predominantly spoken in Lusaka and Eastern Zambia. English is used in official communications and is the language of choice at home among – now common – interethnic families. This evolution of languages has led to Zambian slang heard throughout Lusaka and other major cities. The majority of Zambians usually speak more than one language: the official language, English, and the most spoken language in the town or area they live in. Portuguese has been introduced as a second language into the school curriculum due to the presence of a large Portuguese-speaking Angolan community.
114
Education
edit
Main article:
Education in Zambia
Pupils at the St Monica's Girls Secondary School in
Chipata
Eastern Province
The right to equal and adequate education for all is enshrined within the Zambian constitution.
115
The Education Act of 2011 regulates equal and quality education.
116
The English-language literacy rate as of 2018 is 86.7%.
The government's annual expenditure on education has varied significantly. As a percentage of the government budget, it was 19.6% in 2006, 15.3% in 2011, and 20.2% in 2015.
117
As of 2020, education expenditures constituted 3.7% of GDP.
Health
edit
Main articles:
Health in Zambia
and
Healthcare in Zambia
Zambia is experiencing a generalised
HIV/AIDS
epidemic, with a national
HIV prevalence rate
of 12.10 per cent among adults.
118
However, the country has made progress over the past decade: The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS for adults aged 15–49 decreased to 13 per cent in 2013/14, compared to 16 per cent roughly a decade earlier.
119
Other health outcomes have also improved significantly, despite remaining poor by global standards. The maternal mortality rate in 2020 was 135 per 100,000 live births, compared to 169 in 2014 and 296 in 2007;
120
over the same period, the mortality rate of children under five dropped to 59.3 per 1,000 live births in 2020 from 69.2 and 93.3 in 2014 and 2007 respectively.
121
Economy
edit
Further information:
Economy of Zambia
In 2022, Zambia averages between $7.5 billion and $8 billion of exports annually.
122
It totaled $9.1 billion worth of exports in 2018.
123
In 2015, about 54.4% of Zambians lived below the recognised national poverty line, improved from 60.5% in 2010.
124
Rural poverty rates were about 76.6% and urban rates at about 23.4%.
124
The national poverty line was ZMK 214 (US$12.85) per month.
125
As of the latest estimate in 2018 by the
United Nations Development Programme
, 47.9 percent of the population continued to be affected by
multidimensional poverty
. Unemployment and underemployment in urban areas are serious problems. Most rural Zambians are subsistence farmers.
126
Zambia was ranked 112th in the
Global Innovation Index
in 2025.
127
128
Social indicators continue to decline, particularly in measurements of life expectancy at birth (about 40.9 years) and maternal mortality (830 per 100,000 pregnancies) in 2007.
129
By 2023, the life expectancy at birth had risen again to around 62 years.
130
Zambia fell into poverty after international copper prices declined in the 1970s. The socialist regime made up for falling revenue with several abortive attempts at
International Monetary Fund
structural adjustment
programmes (SAPs). The policy of not trading through the main supply route and line of rail to the sea – the territory was known as Rhodesia (from 1965 to 1979), and now known as Zimbabwe – cost the economy greatly. After the Kaunda regime, (from 1991) successive governments began limited reforms. The economy stagnated until the late 1990s. In 2007 Zambia recorded its ninth consecutive year of economic growth. Inflation was 8.9%, down from 30% in 2000.
131
Zambia is still dealing with economic reform issues such as the size of the public sector, and improving Zambia's social sector delivery systems.
131
Economic regulations and red tape are extensive, and corruption is widespread. The bureaucratic procedures surrounding the process of obtaining licences encourages the widespread use of facilitation payments.
132
Zambia's total foreign debt exceeded $6 billion when the country qualified for
Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative
(HIPC) debt relief in 2000, contingent upon meeting certain performance criteria. Initially, Zambia hoped to reach the HIPC completion point, and benefit from substantial debt forgiveness, in late 2003.
GDP per capita (current), compared to neighbouring countries (world average = 100)
In January 2003, the Zambian government informed the International Monetary Fund and
World Bank
that it wished to renegotiate some of the agreed performance criteria calling for privatisation of the Zambia National Commercial Bank and the national telephone and electricity utilities. Although agreements were reached on these issues, subsequent overspending on civil service wages delayed Zambia's final HIPC debt forgiveness from late 2003 to early 2005, at the earliest. In an effort to reach HIPC completion in 2004, the government drafted an austerity budget for 2004, freezing civil service salaries and increasing the number of taxes. The tax hike and public sector wage freeze prohibited salary increases and new hires. This sparked a nationwide strike in February 2004.
133
The Zambian government is pursuing an economic diversification programme to reduce the economy's reliance on the copper industry. This initiative seeks to exploit other components of Zambia's rich resource base by promoting agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining, and hydro-power. In July 2018, Turkish president
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
and Zambia's president Edgar Lungu signed 12 agreements in capital Lusaka on areas ranging from trade and investment to tourism and diplomacy.
134
135
Mining
edit
Main articles:
Mining in Zambia
and
List of mines in Zambia
The major Nkana open copper mine,
Kitwe
Mining and
quarrying
accounted for approximately 13.2% of the Zambian GDP in 2019.
136
The Zambian economy has historically been based on the
copper mining
industry.
137
The industry was nationalized in 1973; under government control, production declined substantially.
138
After privatisation during the period 1996–2000, investment, production, and jobs in the copper sector increased.
138
As of 2019, copper exports constituted about 69% of the value of all Zambian goods exported.
136
In 2023, Zambia produced 698,000
metric tons
of copper.
139
It is the second-largest copper producer in Africa
139
and the seventh-largest copper producer in the world, accounting for 4% of global production.
136
The
Copperbelt Province
of Zambia accounts for almost one-quarter of the country's GDP and one-third of the country's copper production.
140
The state-owned
ZCCM Investments Holdings
owns several mining operations; it holds a 49% stake in
Mopani Copper Mines
, with the remaining 51% held by the
United Arab Emirates
through the
International Holding Company
139
ZCCM has interests in mining operations owned by
Vedanta Resources
and
First Quantum Minerals
139
As Zambia's economy is heavily dependent on the copper industry, the national exchange rate changes in accordance with the copper price.
141
The Chinese government, via state-owned firms and as part of its
Belt and Road Initiative
, has made substantial
foreign direct investments
in Zambian copper to secure this strategic resource for the Chinese market.
142
The Chinese firm JCHX Mining owns 80% of Zambia's Lubambe Copper Mines, with ZCCM holding the remaining 20%.
143
Hazardous working conditions, low wages, and labor abuses at the Chinese-operated
Collum Coal Mine
have been a source of political controversy in Zambia.
144
145
146
In addition to copper, major minerals mined in Zambia include
gold
Kansanshi mine
),
manganese
(Serenje mine), and
nickel
(Munali mine), as well as
gemstones
(specifically
amethyst
beryl
emerald
, and
tourmaline
).
136
Agriculture
edit
Agriculture plays a very important part in Zambia's economy providing many more jobs than the mining industry.
A small number of
white Zimbabwean farmers
were welcomed into Zambia after their expulsion by Robert Mugabe, whose numbers had reached roughly 150 to 300 people as of 2004
[update]
147
148
They farm a variety of crops including tobacco, wheat, and chili peppers on an estimated 150 farms. The skills they brought, combined with general economic liberalisation under the late Zambian president
Levy Mwanawasa
, has been credited with stimulating an agricultural boom in Zambia. In 2004, for the first time in 26 years, Zambia exported more corn than it imported.
97
In December 2019, the Zambian government unanimously decided to legalise cannabis for medicinal and export purposes only.
149
Tourism
edit
Further information:
Tourism in Zambia
and
Monuments and Historic Sites of Zambia
Victoria Falls
(Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls), a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tourism comprised 5.8% of the Zambian GDP in 2021; the record high, of 9.8%, occurred in 2019.
150
Most tourism focused on wildlife protected areas, specifically Zambia's
20 national parks
and 34 game management areas.
150
The most significant tourist site, the
Victoria Falls
, is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
150
The Zambian side of the falls is within
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
; the rest of the falls are part of neighboring
Zimbabwe
151
Livingstone
, which lies close to Victoria Falls, has become an important tourist centre.
152
Other popular national parks include
North Luangwa
South Luangwa
Kafue
, and
Liuwa Plain
153
The Zambian government has promoted tourism as a tool for
economic development
, particularly in rural areas, as well as for wildlife conservation.
154
Energy
edit
See also:
List of power stations in Zambia
In 2009, Zambia generated 10.3 TWh of electricity and has been rated high in use of both solar power and hydroelectricity.
155
However, early 2015
[update]
, Zambia began experiencing a serious energy shortage due to the poor 2014/2015 rain season, which resulted in low water levels at the Kariba dam and other major dams.
156
In September 2019, African Green Resources (AGR) announced that it would invest $150 million in 50 megawatt (MW) solar farm, along with irrigation dam and expanding the existing grain silo capacity by 80,000 tonnes.
157
Culture
edit
Nsima
(top right corner) with three types of
relish
Prior to the establishment of modern Zambia, the inhabitants lived in independent tribes, each with its own way of life. One of the results of the colonial era was the growth of urbanisation. Different ethnic groups started living together in towns and cities, influencing each other's way of life. They also started adopting aspects of global or universal culture, especially in terms of dressing and mannerisms.
158
Much of the original cultures of Zambia have largely survived in rural areas, with some outside influences such as Christianity. Cultures that are specific to certain ethnic groups within Zambia are known as 'Zambian cultures' while those lifestyles that are common across ethnic groups are labelled "Zambian culture" because they are practiced by almost every Zambian.
158
In the urban setting, there is a continuous integration and evolution of these cultures to produce what is called "Zambian culture".
Yombe
sculpture, 19th century
Zambia practices several ceremonies and rituals ranging from nationally recognised traditional ceremonies to unrecognised yet important ceremonies. Many of the ceremonies and rituals are performed on special occasions celebrating or marking achievements, anniversaries, the passage of time, coronations and presidential occasions, atonement and purification, graduation, dedication, oaths of allegiance, initiation, marriage, funeral, birth ceremonies and others.
158
Like most African countries, Zambia practices both disclosed and undisclosed ceremonies and rituals. Among the disclosed ceremonies and rituals include calendrical or seasonal, contingent, affliction, divination, initiation and regular or daily ceremonies.
158
Undisclosed ceremonies include those practiced in secret such by spiritual groups like Nyau and Nakisha dancers and traditional marriage counsellors such as alangizi women.
158
As of December 2016, Zambia had 77 calendrical or seasonal traditional ceremonies recognized by government, and this number will increase in the near future.
158
The ceremonies once a year include Nc'wala, Kulonga, Kuomboka, Malaila, Nsengele, Chibwela kumushi, Dantho, Ntongo, Makundu, Lwiindi, Chuungu, and Lyenya. These are known as
Zambian traditional ceremonies
. Some of the more prominent are:
Kuomboka
and
Kathanga
(Western Province),
Mutomboko
(Luapula Province),
Kulamba
and
Ncwala
(Eastern Province),
Lwiindi
and
Shimunenga
(Southern Province),
Lunda Lubanza
(North Western),
Likumbi Lyamize
(North Western),
159
Mbunda Lukwakwa
(North Western Province),
Chibwela Kumushi
(Central Province),
Vinkhakanimba
(Muchinga Province),
Ukusefya Pa Ng'wena
(Northern Province).
Popular traditional arts include pottery, basketry (such as
Tonga baskets
), stools, fabrics, mats, wooden carvings, ivory carvings, wire craft, and copper crafts. Most
Zambian traditional music
is based on drums (and other percussion instruments) with a lot of singing and dancing. In urban areas, foreign genres of music are popular, particularly Congolese
rumba
, African-American music and Jamaican reggae.
Media
edit
Main articles:
Media in Zambia
and
Telecommunications in Zambia
While freedom of expression and of the press are
constitutionally
guaranteed in Zambia, the government frequently restricts these rights in practice.
160
161
Although the ruling Patriotic Front has pledged to free state-owned media—consisting of the
Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation
(ZNBC) and the widely circulated
Zambia Daily Mail
and
Times of Zambia
—from government editorial control, these outlets have generally continued to report along pro-government lines. Many journalists reportedly practice
self-censorship
since most government newspapers do have prepublication review.
160
The ZNBC dominates the broadcast media, though several private stations have the capacity to reach large portions of the population.
Sports and games
edit
Sports and games are common social aspects of Zambian culture(s) that bring people together for learning, development of skills, fun and joyous moments.
158
Sports and games in Zambia include but are not limited to football, athletics, netball, volleyball and indigenous games such as nsolo, chiyenga, waida, hide and seek, walyako, and sojo.
158
These are some of the indigenous games that support socialisation. All these sports and games are part of the Zambian culture(s). The fact that the games are played by more than one person makes them social and edutainment events.
158
The history of some of these games is as old as Zambians themselves. However, Zambia started taking part in popular global sports and games mainly in 1964 Summer olympics.
158
National Heroes Stadium
in
Lusaka
Zambia declared its independence on the day of the closing ceremony of the
1964 Summer Olympics
, thereby becoming the first country ever to have entered an Olympic Games as one country and left it as another. In 2016, Zambia participated for the thirteenth time in the Olympic games. Two medals were won. The medals were won successively in boxing and on the track. In 1984 Keith Mwila won a bronze medal in the light flyweight. In 1996 Samuel Matete won a silver medal in the 400-metre hurdles. Zambia has never participated in the Winter Olympics.
Football
is the most popular sport in Zambia, and the
Zambia national football team
has had its triumphant moments in football history. At the
1988 Summer Olympics
in
Seoul
, the national team defeated the
Italian national team
by a score of 4–0.
Kalusha Bwalya
, Zambia's most celebrated football player, scored a hat trick in that match. However, to this day, many pundits say the greatest team Zambia has ever assembled was the one that perished on 28 April 1993 in a
plane crash
at
Libreville
Gabon
. Despite this, in 1996, Zambia was ranked 15th on the official FIFA World Football Team rankings, the highest attained by any southern African team. In 2012, Zambia won the
African Cup of Nations
for the first time after losing in the final twice. They beat Côte d'Ivoire 8–7 in a penalty shoot-out in the final, which was played in Libreville, just a few kilometers away from the plane crash 19 years previously.
162
The
Zambia women's national football team
made its
FIFA Women's World Cup
debut at
the 2023 tournament
in Australia and New Zealand, the Zambia team being one of four representing the
Confederation of African Football
(CAF). They won their first
Women's World Cup
game in their first year, with
Lushomo Mweemba
scoring the fastest goal at the
tournament
, and
Barbara Banda
adding the 1,000th goal in WWC tournament history.
163
Rugby Union
boxing
and
cricket
are also popular sports in Zambia. Recently, Zambia's membership has been formally restored by ICC ( International Cricket Council) on 2025. Notably, at one point in the early 2000s, the Australia and South Africa national rugby teams were captained by players born in the same
Lusaka
hospital,
George Gregan
and
Corné Krige
. Until 2014, the Roan Antelope Rugby Club in Luanshya held the Guinness World Record for the tallest rugby union goal posts in the world at 110 ft, 6 inches high.
164
This world record is now held by the
Wednesbury Rugby Club
165
Rugby union in Zambia
is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 73rd by the
IRB
and have 3,650 registered players and three
formally organised
clubs.
166
Zambia used to play cricket as part of Rhodesia. Zambia has also provided a
shinty
international, Zambian-born
Eddie Tembo
representing Scotland in the
compromise rules Shinty/Hurling
game against Ireland in 2008.
167
In 2011, Zambia was due to host the
tenth All-Africa Games
, for which three stadiums were to be built in
Lusaka
Ndola
, and
Livingstone
168
The Lusaka stadium would have a capacity of 70,000 spectators while the other two stadiums would hold 50,000 people each. The government was encouraging the private sector to get involved in the construction of the sports facilities because of a shortage of public funds for the project. Zambia later withdrew its bid to host the 2011 All-Africa Games, citing a lack of funds. Hence, Mozambique took Zambia's place as host.
Zambia also produced the first black African (
Madalitso Muthiya
) to play in the
United States Golf Open
169
one of the four major golf tournaments.
In 1989, the country's
basketball team
had its best performance when it qualified for the
FIBA Africa Championship
and thus finished as one of Africa's top ten teams.
170
In 2017, Zambia hosted and won the Pan-African football tournament
U-20 African Cup of Nation
for players age 20 and under.
171
Music and dance
edit
Zambia's culture has been an integral part of their development post-independence such as the uprising of cultural villages and private museums. The music which introduced dance is part of their cultural expression and it embodies the beauty and spectacle of life in Zambia, from the intricacies of the talking drums to the
Kamangu
drum used to announce the beginning of
Malaila
traditional ceremony. Dance as a practice serves as a unifying factor bringing the people together as one.
172
Zamrock
edit
Zamrock
is a musical genre that emerged in the 1970s, and has developed a cult following in the West. Zamrock has been described as mixing traditional Zambian music with heavy repetitive riffs similar to groups such as
Jimi Hendrix
James Brown
Black Sabbath
Rolling Stones
Deep Purple
, and
Cream
173
174
Notable groups in the genre include Rikki Ililonga and his band Musi-O-Tunya,
WITCH
, Chrissy "Zebby" Tembo, and
Paul Ngozi
and his Ngozi Family.
175
176
See also
edit
Zambia portal
Outline of Zambia
Bibliography of the history of Zambia
A history of Zambia
Notes
edit
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Further reading
edit
DeRoche, Andy,
Kenneth Kaunda, the United States and Southern Africa
(London: Bloomsbury, 2016)
Ferguson, James
(1999).
Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life in the Zambian Copperbelt
. Berkeley: University of California Press.
ISBN
978-0-520-21701-0
Gewald, J. B., et al.
One Zambia, Many Histories: Towards a History of Post-colonial Zambia
(Brill, 2008)
Ihonvbere, Julius,
Economic Crisis, Civil Society and Democratisation: The Case of Zambia
(Africa Research & Publications, 1996)
LaMonica, Christopher,
Local Government Matters: The Case of Zambia
(Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010)
Mcintyre, Charles,
Zambia
, (Bradt Travel Guides, 2008)
Murphy, Alan and Luckham, Nana,
Zambia and Malawi
, Lonely Planet Multi Country Guide (Lonely Planet Publications, 2010)
Phiri, Bizeck Jube,
A Political History of Zambia: From the Colonial Period to the 3rd Republic
(Africa Research & Publications, 2005)
Roberts, Andrew,
A History of Zambia
(Heinemann, 1976)
Sardanis, Andrew,
Africa: Another Side of the Coin: Northern Rhodesia's Final Years and Zambia's Nationhood
(I. B. Tauris, 2003)
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