This book is the culmination of my road through Mwinilunga. It is the result of numerous conversations with people in and on Mwinilunga and I hope it does them justice. This remote corner of the world became vital to my understanding of capitalism, colonialism, and globalisation. By studying its history, I have learnt to challenge historiographical dichotomies between tradition and modernity, subsistence and market production, global and local. This book wishes to show how and why Mwinilunga and its people matter to broader historical processes. My road through Mwinilunga started in 2007 and since then I have incurred countless debts. Let me express long overdue gratitude to the people who helped me along the way.
My first and most important thanks go to the people I met during my stays in Mwinilunga District. In 2008 and 2010, I received warm welcomes in all the places I visited and all the homes I entered. I wish to thank the people I interviewed in Ikelenge, Nyakaseya, Chibwika, Kanongesha, Kanyama, and Ntambu chiefdoms. Your words have profoundly shaped my historical understanding and I hope – despite the language barrier – that you find recognition in the pages that follow. Special thanks go to those families who opened their homes to me and with whom I stayed for weeks at a time: the Chiyezhi family, the Musanda family, the Chinshe family, the Kamuhuza family, the Jinguluka family, the Kalota family, and the Kambidimba family. Sharing nshima ya makamba together and talking about proverbs has taught me more than you will ever realise. Indispensable was the research assistance provided by Julian Chiyezhi, Ambrose Musanda, Gibby Kamuhuza, Evans Jinguluka, Kenneth Kalota, and Dennis Ngomi. You introduced me to the people ‘who know history’, you translated my questions from English to chiLunda, and you taught me about ‘deep Lunda culture’ along the way. Singular mention should be made of Senior Chief Kanongesha Mulumbi Datuuma II, who went out of his way to facilitate my stay in the district. Every day I spent in Mwinilunga, I learnt something new: from the language, to obscure historical facts, and deeply personal testimonies of historical change. Words cannot express my gratitude for this.
Much of this book is based on archival research and most of this was done in Zambia. Doing research at the National Archives and the United National Independence Party archives in Lusaka and the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Archives in Ndola was a delightful experience. Despite my tireless requests for more documents, the staff always answered with a smile, making time for a quick chat about my day. Marja Hinfelaar and the staff at the National Archives of Zambia dispel the myth that African archives are disorganised or
Academically, this book owes its greatest debt to Robert Ross and Jan-Bart Gewald. As my supervisors, they not only kindled my interest in African history and Mwinilunga in particular, they also gave me the confidence to pursue research independently. Only after submitting my thesis did I realise that their lack of detailed comments on my writings was the biggest compliment they could give. In Leiden, I benefitted immensely from discussions with Mary Davies, Sophie Feyder, Shehu Tijjani Yusuf, Pierre Kalenga, Paul Swanepoel, Mariana Perry, and the many other scholars at the Institute for History and the African Studies Centre. Mary, I could not have wished for a better companion on the writing journey, you taught me about Timothy Chawinga, marmalade, and cheese all at once. Institutionally, this book has benefitted from the NWO funded project ‘From Muskets to Nokias’ and the informal CART network. I greatly valued the opportunity of presenting my work in Europe and Zambia and receiving comments from Marja Hinfelaar, Giacomo Macola, Miles Larmer, Hugh Macmillan, Walima Kalusa, Bizeck Jube Phiri, and Webby Kalikiti. Marja Hinfelaar always facilitated my trips to Zambia, answered my administrative requests, and made me feel part of SAIPAR. Walima Kalusa encouraged me to work on Mwinilunga, took me dancing, and proved a great source of knowledge.
This book could not have been written without the ceaseless support and encouragement of my parents, Ivo, Bruno, and Mica. Even when the research and writing separated us, you made it worth it. I hope you know how much I appreciate your presence.
Nasakilili nankashi mwani