Copper – an early currency

In the first few centuries AD, Iron-Age farmers spread into southern Africa and settled in Zambia, pushing nomadic hunters (San/Bushmen) into areas of the country which were more difficult to cultivate.

By 1000 AD, copper ingots and crosses were being made at Kansanshi, which probably means copper was used as an early currency.

By the middle of the second millennium, groups were organising into chieftaincies and kingdoms – such as the Chewa in the East, the Lozi in the West and the Bemba and Lunda in the North.  The formation of tribes may have been prompted by the need for ownership of resources, as Muslim traders ventured into the heart of Africa around AD 1400.

In the second half of the 17th century, there are records of the first Lozi king (or Litunga, as he is known) in the west of Zambia and the rich cultural heritage of this monarch-led people has survived almost intact.

Trading in slaves

In the 17th century, Muslim traders were supplanted by Portuguese merchants, who dealt in gold, ivory and copper.  These merchants also traded in slaves, drawing in local leaders to raid weaker tribes as a source of slave labourers.

The explorer, David Livingstone, journeyed through Zambia three times and called on missionaries to come and end the slave trade.

‘Scramble for Africa'

The British took control of the country (known then as Northern Rhodesia) in 1924, during the ‘scramble for Africa’ in the second half of the 19th century.  The mining magnate Cecil Rhodes staked claims to the area for his British South Africa Company (BSAC).

The unique butterfly shape of Zambia resulted from the agreements and treaties Rhodes struck with other European powers and African chiefs to create a BSAC-administered territory.

Independence to democracy

With the rise of African nationalism and the formation of parties such as the United National Independence Party (in 1958), elections were held 40 years later.  In 1964, Zambia became independent with Kenneth Kaunda (‘KK’) as president.

Struggling with severe economic problems throughout the 27 years of his rule, KK nevertheless encouraged local industry and introduced mass education.

Zambia now has a multi-party democracy. The most recent elections took place in September 2011, when Michael Sata was voted in as president.