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Zambia
Click here to see pictures from the rural Zambia area.
Zambia is usually linked with central Africa. Historically Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia and was part of the British South Africa. In the nineteenth century missionary, explorer David Livingstone traveled through Zambia. He received a great deal of help from Sekeletu the ruler of the Lozi kingdom. Sekeletu provided Livingstone with guides, porters and supplies. Livingstone loved Central Africa and the people who lived there. After he died his heart was buried under a tree in Zambia.
Copper mining is an important industry in Zambia. (See copper belt area on map) In the 1920's and 1930's the boom of the copper industry helped establish a Copperbelt in the northern part of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). This area is rich in copper, and copper mining is its main industry. However it was not very beneficial to the average person. The industry employed local nationals who left their farms to work in the copper mines. Through the last several decades the rural areas have been depleted of farmers and laborers which has led to increases in poverty and food shortages.
In the 1950's the building of Kariba dam and the creation of Lake Kariba was another costly endeavor for Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) as thousands of rural people had to leave their villages to make way for the dam. However the dam is still producing hydroelectricity for both Zambia and Zimbabwe and is a rich resource for both fishing and tourism.
Northern Rhodesia obtained her independence from Britain on October 24, 1964. Kenneth Kaunda, a former leader in the fight against colonial rule, became the first president of the newly independent Zambia.
Most of Zambia would be categorized geographically as savannah lands having both a dry season and a rainy season. The climate is quite similar to the countries of Malawi and Zimbabwe which border Zambia to the east.
Not only does Zambia share the same climate, but also the eastern part of Zambia and central Malawi share the same, or very similar language. Chinyanja and Chichewa are quite similar in vocabulary as well as having the same Bantu grammar structure.