Tag Archives: Geography of Africa

01Nov/26

Zambia’s Space Race Hits the Stage

November 1, 2026ArtAfrica, Countries, Edward Mukuka Nkoloso, Ekow Eshun, Geography of Africa, Jesus, Kene, Little, London, Lusaka, Matha Mwamba, Monique Touko, Roy Williams, Ryan Calais Cameron, Soviet Union, Touko, United Kingdom, United States, Zambiaadmin

Beyond the Moon: Ryan Calais Cameron and Monique Touko on Ambition, Satire, and Zambia’s Space Dreams

Sun, Nov 01 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — In 1964, as Zambia emerged from British colonial rule, former schoolteacher and anti-colonial activist Edward Mukuka Nkoloso announced an audacious bid to beat the United States and the Soviet Union to the moon. Establishing the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy on an abandoned farm outside Lusaka, Nkoloso trained a cohort of aspiring astronauts—later known as the “Afronauts”—using unconventional methods such as rolling down hills in oil drums and swinging from ropes to simulate weightlessness. His plans included sending a 17-year-old girl named Matha Mwamba to Mars alongside two cats and a missionary. Although the programme never launched due to a lack of funding and institutional support, leaving Nkoloso vulnerable to public mockery, the venture endured as a contested, compelling fusion of sincere anti-colonial optimism and pointed satire. Continue reading →

25Oct/26

Racial Census Categories and Africa’s Economic Future

October 25, 2026EconomyAsian/Indian, Black African, BRIC, Coloured, Countries, Economic growth, Eritrea, G20 nations, Geography of Africa, India, Informal economy, Least developed countries, Member states of the African Union, Member states of the United Nations, Poland, Poverty, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Worldadmin

Deconstructing Digital Demography: How Viral Visualizations Distort Ethnic and Migration Data

Sat Oct. 24, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The historical development of ethnic diversity in the United Kingdom has shifted from post-war Commonwealth migration to a state of complex super-diversity, where communities are increasingly differentiated by nationality, socio-economic background, legal status, and generational depth. Measurement systems have evolved from early administrative proxies like country of birth to multi-tiered census self-identification containing 19 detailed categories. However, public reporting and government research frequently continue to rely on broad “big 5” macro-categories (White, Black, Asian, Mixed, Other), which systematically mask critical micro-ethnic disparities, regional nuances, and diverging socio-economic outcomes in employment, education, and health. Continue reading →

21Oct/26

A Strategic Guide to Diaspora Investment, Incentives, and Land Acquisition in Zambia

October 21, 2026EconomyA, Addis Ababa, Africa, airlink, Boerewors, Countries, Diaspora, Ethiopian Airlines, Food and drink, Gari, Geography of Africa, JOHANNESBURG, London, Lusaka, Meat, Music of Zambia, Ndola, Outline of Zambia, Proflight Zambia, Sausage, Scotland, Scottish society, south african airways, Tara, un global, United Kingdom, Zambiaadmin

Bridging Homeland and Diaspora: Civic Engagement, Traditional Gastronomy, and Travel Formalities for Zambians in the UK

Wed Oct. 21, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The transnational migration corridor connecting Zambia’s Copperbelt region to suburban centers across Greater London reflects a vital flow of skilled professionals, students, and families who maintain deep socio-economic, civic, and cultural ties. To support local community integration in the United Kingdom while driving social and economic development in Zambia, an extensive organizational ecosystem operates across multiple tiers. Grassroots groups like the London Association of Zambians (LazUK) deliver civic networking and localized peer support, while commercial promotion platforms such as UK Zambian Events Ltd host business expos and cultural festivals to celebrate heritage and facilitate cross-border trade. On a broader national scale, registered charities including the Zambia Society Trust (ZST) and the Scotland Zambia Partnership (SCOZAP) coordinate grassroots development—funding healthcare delivery at St Francis Mission Hospital, nurse sponsorships, community schooling through Kwasha Mukwenu, and poverty alleviation projects. Institutional engagement is anchored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through its dedicated Diaspora Web Portal, which officially recognizes overseas citizens as the nation’s “Eleventh Province” and encourages active involvement in domestic land acquisition, agriculture, and climate resilience. Furthermore, international advocacy organizations like the Organization of Zambians Abroad (OZA) and professional bodies like the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Diaspora Special Interest Group provide constitutional advocacy, trade joint ventures, and structured induction standards for overseas-qualified social workers and professionals. Continue reading →

04Oct/26

Inside London’s 62nd Zambian Independence Celebration

October 4, 2026MusicAfrica, Celebration, Countries, Geography of Africa, Independence Day, London, London Borough of Wandsworth, Mark, UK.A, United Kingdom, Zambiaadmin

Events bring together diaspora members, community associations, and diplomatic partners under the national motto “One Zambia, One Nation”.

Sun 04 Oct 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Zambians living in the UK celebrate Independence Day through vibrant community galas, cultural showcases, live musical performances, and shared traditional meals held across major cities like London.

Continue reading →

12Sep/26

How the Tumbuka People Survived Erasure

September 12, 2026WorldAfrica, Bolero, Congo, Continents, Districts of Malawi, Dwangwa River, Ethnic groups in Zambia, Geography of Africa, Gomani, Gonapamuhanya, Kakalala Chisalanda Mlowoka, Karonga, Kasakula Mbale, Lake Malawi, Malawi, Mbale, Mkandawire, Mudala, Mwaa Yamvo, Songwe River, Tumbuka people, Yamvo, Yao, Zambia, Zwangendabaadmin

The Ethno-Historical Trajectory of the Tumbuka People”, “Iron, Ivory, and Lineage: Kinship and State Formation in Tumbukaland”

Ancestral Migration and Early Territorial Settlement

The Tumbuka people trace their ethno-historical ethnogenesis to early Bantu expansion waves from the Luba Empire in the modern Democratic Republic of the Congo under ruler Mwaa Yamvo. Resisting forced menial labor and state subjugation, the ancestral group migrated eastward during the early fifteenth century under the overall leadership of a patriarch named Mudala. Following Mudala’s death around 1415, a succession dispute led the Tumbuka branch—guided by Mulonga Mbulalubilo—to cross the Songwe River and establish an initial settlement at Kalonga in present-day Karonga District, Malawi. Subsequent population expansion and the search for fertile agricultural land after 1430 triggered widespread dispersals across a geographic corridor bounded by the Luangwa River, Lake Malawi, the Dwangwa River, and the North Rukuru River. During this early period, Tumbuka society was decentralized, consisting of autonomous, low-density homesteads organized around localized agrarian clans. Continue reading →

12Sep/26

How Military Generals Run Zambian Agribusiness

September 12, 2026BusinessAfrica, Alexander B. Chikwanda, Battalion, Brigade, Countries, Data Analytics, Dora Siliya, Emeldah Chola, Felix Nkulukusa, Geography of Africa, Hakainde Hichilema, Kariba, Kariba Dam, Laston Chabinga, Manungo, Military, Mukutulu A. Sinyani, Ndola, Patrick A. Chinamasa, Regiment, Rivers, Ronald Simwinga, the southern african development community, tractebel engineering, VMware, Willard, Zambezi, Zambezi River, Zambezi River Authority, Zambia, Zambian Defence Force, ZESCO, Zimbabweadmin

Thu Sep 10 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Brigadier General Laston Chabinga served as a flag officer in the Zambia Army, holding executive command of the 3 Infantry Brigade headquartered in Ndola, the administrative and industrial hub of the Copperbelt Province. As active Brigade Commander around March 2017, he directed the military’s strategic and operational envelope across critical regional defense and economic corridors. Continue reading →

11Sep/26

How Vinchenzo Mbale hacked the music algorithm

September 11, 2026MusicAfrica, Bobby East, Countries, Emma, Geography of Africa, Jae Cash, Kaira, Kalindula, Kayz Adams, Kitwe, Kwacha, Music of Zambia, Spotify, Vincent Daka, Vinchenzo, Zambia, Zambian musicadmin

Inside Chakolwa Wa Nzeru: How Vinchenzo M’bale Built a Modern Cultural Movement

Thu Sep 10 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Vincent Daka, professionally known as Vinchenzo M’bale, is a prominent Zambian recording artist born on October 11, 1996. Raised across the Eastern Province and the industrial hub of Kitwe on the Copperbelt, he built a dual-regional perspective that deeply connects to his Chewa heritage. Despite being the son of a Reverend in the Reformed Church in Zambia, Daka adapted his early ecclesiastical choral arrangement training into secular music, using traditional call-and-response structures to address contemporary social conditions. Continue reading →

21Jun/23

Ukraine is a failed state like Sudan. Being black or white makes a difference.

June 21, 2023Conflict and WarAfrica, Countries, Failed state, Federal republics, Geography of Africa, Hatred, Least developed countries, Member states of the African Union, Member states of the United Nations, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, Violenceadmin

June 21, 2023 /Conflict and War/ — The statement that Ukraine is a failed state like Sudan is a false and harmful generalization. It is important to remember that not all countries that are experiencing conflict or instability are failed states. In fact, Ukraine is a sovereign state with a democratically elected government. It has a functioning economy and a strong military. While the ongoing Russian invasion has caused significant damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy, it is not accurate to say that Ukraine is a failed state. Continue reading →

20Jun/23

How Salma Sky influenced R&B music in Zambia.

June 20, 2023MusicAfrica, Bemba, Geography of Africa, Given names, Lusaka, Music of Zambia, Salma, Salma Dodia, Salma Sky, Spotify, Zambia, Zambian musicadmin

June 20, 2023 /Entertainment/ — Salma Sky was born in Lusaka, Zambia, to a Zambian father and a Lebanese mother. She began her music career at a young age, singing in church and at school events. In her early twenties, she took a hiatus from music to pursue a modeling career, but she eventually returned to music and began writing and recording her own songs. Continue reading →

14Jun/23

Copper Queens, have a chance to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023

June 14, 2023FootballAfrica, Barbra Banda, Bruce Mwape, Countries, Geography of Africa, Grace Chanda, Hazel Nali, Lushomo, Lushomo Mweemba, Mary Mwakapila, Racheal Nachula, United States, Zambiaadmin

June 14, 2023 /Sports/ — The Zambia ladies’ football team, nicknamed the Copper Queens, have a chance to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. The team has been on a recent rise, winning the COSAFA Women’s Championship in 2019 and 2020, and the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. They are led by star striker Barbra Banda, who is the all-time leading scorer for the Zambian national team.

The USA is the defending World Cup champion and is considered the favorite to win again in 2023. However, the Copper Queens have shown that they can compete with the best teams in the world. They have a strong defense and a potent attack, and they are led by a talented group of players. Continue reading →