🇬🇧 The Beginning of Colonial Rule in Zambia (1880s–Early 1900s) 

Colonial rule in Zambia began not with war, but with treaties and promises—many of them deceptive. 

British agents, including those from the African Lakes Company and the British South Africa Company (BSA), signed agreements with local chiefs and kings, claiming land, power, and trade rights. But these treaties were often misunderstood or manipulated, and they did not reflect how Europeans actually treated African leaders and their people. ✍🏾📜

In 1885, for example, the African Lakes Company claimed the Chief of the Mambwe had surrendered all his land and rights "forever." Around the same time, Karl Wiese, a German adventurer, claimed land concessions from King Mpezeni of the Ngoni. In the west, King Lewanika of the Lozi signed a treaty that promised British protection, but in practice, it gave away mining and trading control. 🤝🪙

The British South Africa Company, run by businessmen, used these deals to push British rule. In 1889, they convinced the British government to grant them a Charter—allowing them to rule parts of Africa in the name of Britain. The Company believed Africans were "hostile" and would resist their rule. So, they brought in military and police forces to control the population. 👮🏾‍♂️🪖

For many years, the Company ruled Zambia through force, building a colonial state backed by soldiers and guns. This mix of military power and business interests became the foundation of colonial rule. The Company labeled certain tribes as "strong and warlike"—like the Bemba, Ngoni, and Lozi—and recruited them for military, police, and mining work. Others, like the Lunda, Luvale, and Lamba, were unfairly seen as weak and given low-level domestic jobs. 

These injustices led to resistance—both peaceful and violent—as Zambians began to fight back against foreign rule and reclaim their dignity. 🗣️✊🏾🔥

By 1911, the two territories merged to form Northern Rhodesia—a British colony built on a foundation of military control, colonial administration, and economic interests.