Local women at Fort Rosebery (Mansa) in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) winnowing and bagging grain to be supplied to African troops. (First World War). Collection of the Imperial War Museum.
Zambia, a land-locked country that shares borders with Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi, has a rich history and the place of women in that history is celebrated in a virtual museum.
The Women’s History Museum of Zambia brings together artefacts, stories, recordings and research to propose and explore ways in which history can be understood.
So far the Museum has been donated audio files and recordings from pre- and post-colonial times, photographs of working women before independence in 1964, and a significant donation of quilted textiles made in the 1940’s by women in the south of Zambia. These quilts show European entry and expansion into that area of the country. At some point these artefacts may be made accessible but that is a little way in the future.
The beautifully simple website includes a projects page – this link will take you to a page where 50 artefacts are explored and with a fascinating look at traditional textiles – and an informative, diverse blog.
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