History of Zambia

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Part of a series on the

History of Zambia

 Early history pre-1888

 Northern Rhodesia
1888–1964
 (Colonial era)
 Federation 1953–1963
 Independence 1964–present

See also

Years in Zambia

 Zambia portal

 v
 t
 e

The history of Zambia experienced many stages from colonization to independence

from Britain on October 24, 1964. Northern Rhodesia became a British sphere of
influence in the present-day region of Zambia in 1888, and was officially proclaimed
a British protectorate in 1924. After many years of suggested mergers, Southern
Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland were merged into the
British Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
By 1960, British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, declared that the age of colonial
rule in Africa was ending. Finally, in December 1963, the federation was dissolved,
and the Republic of Zambia was formed out of Northern Rhodesia on October 24,
1964.[1]

Contents

 1History
o 1.1Prehistoric era
o 1.2Khoisan and Batwa
 o 1.3The Bantu (Abantu)
 1.3.1Bantu origins
 1.3.2First Bantu settlement
 1.3.3Second Bantu Settlement
 2Colonial Period
 3Independence
o 3.1Towards one party rule
o 3.2The economy and the copper crisis
o 3.3Foreign policy
 4Multi-party democracy
o 4.1The end of one party rule
o 4.2Frederick Chiluba and the MMD
 4.2.1Coups and emergencies
o 4.32001 elections
o 4.4After 2008
 5See also
 6References
 7Further reading
 8External links

History[edit]

Skull of Broken Hill Man discovered in present-day Kabwe.

Prehistoric era[edit]
Archaeological excavation work on the Zambezi Valley and Kalambo Falls show a
succession of human cultures. In particular, ancient camping site tools near
the Kalambo Falls have been radiocarbon dated to more than 36,000 years ago.
The fossil skull remains of Broken Hill Man, dated between 300,000 and 125,000
years BC, further shows that the area was inhabited by early humans. [2]
Khoisan and Batwa[edit]

Ancient (but graffitied) Rock Art in Nsalu Cave, Kasanka National Park in North-Central Zambia.
The area of modern Zambia is known to have been inhabited by
the Khoisan and Batwa peoples until around AD 300 when migrating Bantu began to
settle around these areas.[3] It is believed that the Khoisan people groups 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 while the
other, The Lukanga Twa lived around the Lukanga Swamp.[4] Many of the ancient
rock arts in Zambia like the Mwela Rock Paintings, Mumbwa Caves, and Nachikufu
Cave are attributed to these early hunter-gatherer groups. The Khoisan, and more
especially the Twa, formed a patron-client relationship with farming Bantu peoples
across central and southern Africa but were eventually either displaced by or
absorbed into the Bantu groups.