Walker Swindell, Lead and Legacy: an Environmental History of Kabwe, Zambia c.1890-2020

The ‘Boom to Dust’ project, led by Professor Jan-Bart Gewald is a five-year study examining the environmental histories of three industrial mining centres in southern Africa: Kimberley (South Africa), Kabwe (Zambia), and Tsumeb (Namibia) between 1870 and 2020. Within this project, Walker focuses on Kabwe (formerly Broken Hill) which was the site of a lead and zinc mine between 1902 and 1994.

These sites, once symbols of modernity and economic progress, now face challenges such as economic decline, social upheaval, and environmental degradation. The project aims to analyse the long-term environmental impacts of industrial mining from a multi-species perspective, considering the effects on plants, animals, and humans. By adopting a post-humanist approach, the research seeks to decentre the human narrative and highlight the interconnectedness of all life forms in these landscapes. Methodologically, it combines historical analysis with insights from anthropology, geology, and biology, utilising both archival research and fieldwork to ‘read’ the landscape as a historical source. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how industrial mining has transformed the living spaces of various species over time. Including non-human beings in historical narratives of mining in southern Africa is essential for broadening our understanding of the past, bringing attention to hidden stories, and informing present-day discussions about the lasting effects of extractive industries and large-scale environmental destruction.