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Bibliography of the history of Zambia

This is a select bibliography of English-language books (including translations) and journal articles about the history of Zambia. Book entries have references to journal reviews about them when helpful and available. Additional bibliographies can be found in many of the book-length works listed below. See the historiography section for several additional historiographic information from academic publishers and online bibliographies from historical associations and academic institutions.

Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa. 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 means "the grand river").

About

Zambia's history includes precolonial kingdoms such as the Bemba, Lozi, and Chewa, and links to the Luba-Lunda empires. In the late 1800s, British control began through the British South Africa Company, and in 1911, the area became the colony of Northern Rhodesia. The economy focused on copper mining, which relied on migrant labor and created deep inequalities. After growing nationalist movements, led by Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia gained independence in 1964. Kaunda led a one-party state until 1991, when the country shifted to multi-party democracy. Since then, Zambia has faced economic and political challenges but has remained relatively peaceful.

Inclusion criteria

Works included below are referenced in the notes or bibliographies of scholarly secondary sources or journals. Included works should: be published by an independent academic or notable non-governmental publisher; be authored by an independent and notable subject matter expert; or have significant independent scholarly journal reviews. Works published by non-academic government entities are excluded.

This bibliography is restricted to history, and specifically excludes items such modern travelogues, guide books, or popular culture.

Citation style

This bibliography uses APA style citations. Entries do not use templates. References to reviews and notes for entries do use citation and endnote templates. Where books which are only partially related to Zambian history are listed, the titles for chapters or sections should be indicated if possible, meaningful, and not excessive.

If a work has been translated into English, the translator should be included and a footnote with appropriate bibliographic information for the original language version should be included.

General works about Zambian history

  • Phiri, B. J. (2006). A political history of Zambia: From the colonial period to the 3rd republic. Africa World Press.
  • Roberts, A. D. (1976). A history of Zambia. Heinemann.

Archeology and prehistory

Pre-colonial era

Colonial Rhodesia era

Independent Zambia

Foreign relations

Ethnic groups and tribes

Topical works

Agriculture

Business and economics

Colonialism and decolonisation

Comservation and the environment

Education and children

Entertainment and leisure

  • Under construction

Food security

Gender and sexuality

Health

Human rights

Journalism and media

Labor

Legal and judicial

Linguistics and language

Literature

Military

Mining and industry

Nationalism

Religion, beliefs, and traditions

Slavery and forced labor

Rural life

Urban life

Miscellaneous

Biographies

Books with significant material about Zambian history

  • Barham, L. S., & Mitchell, P. J. (2008). The First Africans: African archaeology from the earliest toolmakers to most recent foragers. Cambridge University Press.
  • Denbow, J. (2014). The archaeology and ethnography of Central Africa. Cambridge University Press.
  • Gordon, D. M. (2012). Invisible agents: Spirits in a Central African history. Ohio University Press.
  • Ranger, T., & Kimambo, I. N. (Eds.). (1972). The historical study of African religion. University of California Press.
  • Resnick, D. (2014). Urban Poverty and Party Populism in African Democracies. Cambridge University Press.
  • Roberts, A. (1986). The colonial moment in Africa: Essays on the movement of minds and materials. Cambridge University Press.
  • Schumaker, L. (2001). Africanizing Anthropology: Fieldwork, Networks, and the Making of Cultural Knowledge in Central Africa. Duke University Press.
  • Tindall, P. E. N. (1968). A history of Central Africa. Longman.
  • Whitaker, B. (2023). Built on the Ruins of Empire: British Military Assistance and African Independence. University Press of Kansas.

Historiography and bibliographies

Primary sources

Reference works

Libraries

Academic journals

See also

References

Notes

Citations

External links