Boom2Dust: Zambia at Sixty, and the Death of Andrew Roberts

Prof. Jan-Bart Gewald has written a new blog post for the Boom2Dust project, which investigates the environmental history of three industrial mining centres in southern Africa.

The article begins by commemorating Zambia's 60th independence anniversary and commemorating the death of historian Andrew Dunlop Roberts, whose work significantly influenced Zambian historiography. It discusses Roberts' contributions, including his PhD on the Bemba and his description of Zambia's formation. The article then delves into the historical context of mining towns established as part of Cecil John Rhodes' imperial ambitions and how these efforts impacted regional history. Lastly, it recounts the author’s experience at a conference on Zambia's independence, emphasizing the importance of both individuals and specific sites in the independence struggle.

Read the full blog.