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Zambian History - Quiz
Contributed by: Best
  • 1. Zambia, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has a rich and diverse history that dates back to ancient times. The region that is now Zambia was inhabited by various indigenous tribes for centuries before the arrival of European explorers and colonizers. In the late 19th century, the area came under British control and was known as Northern Rhodesia. The struggle for independence from colonial rule was led by prominent figures such as Kenneth Kaunda, who later became the first President of Zambia upon gaining independence in 1964. Since then, Zambia has experienced periods of political stability and economic growth, as well as challenges such as poverty, corruption, and health crises like the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The country's history is marked by a vibrant cultural heritage, diverse ethnic groups, and a commitment to democracy and social development.

    Who was the first President of Zambia?
A) Kenneth Kaunda
B) Frederick Chiluba
C) Michael Sata
D) Levy Mwanawasa
  • 2. When did Zambia gain independence from British colonial rule?
A) 1972
B) 1964
C) 1958
D) 1986
  • 3. What is the capital city of Zambia?
A) Lusaka
B) Nairobi
C) Kigali
D) Harare
  • 4. Which major river forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe?
A) Nile
B) Orange
C) Zambezi
D) Congo
  • 5. What is Zambia's currency called?
A) Botswana pula
B) South African rand
C) Zambian kwacha
D) Zimbabwean dollar
  • 6. Which mineral is Zambia known for exporting?
A) Uranium
B) Copper
C) Diamonds
D) Gold
  • 7. Who was Zambia's first female Vice President?
A) Sylvia Masebo
B) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
C) Inonge Wina
D) Joyce Banda
  • 8. What is Zambia's official language?
A) English
B) Bemba
C) Nyanja
D) Tonga
  • 9. Which sport is popular in Zambia?
A) Cricket
B) Soccer
C) Rugby
D) Golf
  • 10. What type of government does Zambia have?
A) Monarchy
B) Communism
C) Dictatorship
D) Republic
  • 11. Which famous political leader from South Africa spent time in prison in Zambia during apartheid?
A) Thabo Mbeki
B) Winnie Mandela
C) Jacob Zuma
D) Nelson Mandela
  • 12. Which European explorer was one of the first to visit the area that is now Zambia?
A) Christopher Columbus
B) Vasco da Gama
C) David Livingstone
D) Marco Polo
  • 13. What is Zambia's largest ethnic group?
A) Bemba
B) Lozi
C) Ngoni
D) Tonga
  • 14. Which famous waterfall is located on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border?
A) Victoria Falls
B) Iguazu Falls
C) Angel Falls
D) Niagara Falls
  • 15. What is the name of the traditional Zambian ceremony where the Paramount Chief is crowned?
A) Likumbi Lya Mize
B) Ukusefya Pa Ng'wena
C) Ku'omboka
D) Kuomboka
  • 16. What was the name of the independence movement in Zambia?
A) Movement for Multiparty Democracy
B) Zambia First Party
C) National Democratic Congress
D) United National Independence Party (UNIP)
  • 17. What is the traditional beer in Zambia made from?
A) Barley
B) Maize
C) Sorghum
D) Wheat
  • 18. What is the name of the traditional Zambian dish made from maize meal?
A) Ubwali
B) Ishima
C) Chibwabwa
D) Nshima
  • 19. When did Northern Rhodesia become a British protectorate?
A) 1964
B) 1963
C) 1888
D) 1924
  • 20. Which event marked the end of colonial rule in Africa according to Harold Macmillan?
A) The formation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964.
B) The independence of Northern Rhodesia from Britain.
C) The declaration in 1960 that the age of colonial rule was ending.
D) The dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1963.
  • 21. What is the significance of Kalambo Falls in Zambian prehistory?
A) It is where the first European missionaries settled.
B) It shows evidence of human cultures dating back more than 36,000 years ago.
C) It marks the site where Broken Hill Man was discovered.
D) It was a major trade route for ancient Bantu peoples.
  • 22. Who were the early inhabitants of modern Zambia before AD 300?
A) The Khoisan and Batwa peoples.
B) The Bantu people.
C) The Kalanga/Shona traders.
D) The Portuguese.
  • 23. What was the primary reason for the decline of Great Zimbabwe?
A) Increasing trade competition from other Kalanga/Shona kingdoms like Khami and Mutapa.
B) Migrations by the Ngoni people.
C) The arrival of European missionaries.
D) The Bantu Expansion.
  • 24. What was the primary export of the Maravi Empire?
A) Gold.
B) Ivory.
C) Copper.
D) Salt.
  • 25. Who founded the Mutapa Empire?
A) Nyatsimba Mutota.
B) Mwene Kongo VIII Mvemba.
C) Shaka Zulu.
D) Changamire Dombo.
  • 26. What event in 1935 highlighted poor safety records and increased taxes for African mineworkers?
A) Discovery of copper deposits
B) African mineworkers' Copperbelt strike
C) White miners' strike
D) Formation of the Central African Federation
  • 27. Who was the American prospector credited with discovering major copper deposits in Central Africa?
A) Frederick Russell Burnham
B) Henry Morton Stanley
C) David Livingstone
D) Cecil Rhodes
  • 28. How many people were arrested after the failed 1997 coup?
A) 100
B) 50
C) 30
D) At least 84
  • 29. How many seats did UNIP win in the pre-independence elections?
A) 55 seats
B) 10 seats
C) 25 seats
D) 75 seats
  • 30. What was the primary export of the Mutapa Empire?
A) Salt and copper.
B) Iron and ceramics.
C) Fabrics and beads.
D) Gold and ivory.
  • 31. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Mutapa Empire?
A) Internal disputes and civil war, followed by conquest by the Portuguese and rival Shona states.
B) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
C) The Bantu Expansion.
D) The arrival of European missionaries.
  • 32. Who became acting President of Zambia after Michael Sata's death?
A) Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
B) Guy Scott
C) Edgar Lungu
D) Rupiah Banda
  • 33. In which year were enormous copper deposits discovered on the Copperbelt, transforming Northern Rhodesia's economy?
A) 1935
B) 1953
C) 1928
D) 1940
  • 34. Which hydroelectric station helped Zambia meet its electricity needs?
A) The Kariba hydroelectric station
B) The Victoria Falls hydroelectric station
C) The Cahora Bassa hydroelectric station
D) The Inga Dam hydroelectric station
  • 35. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Maravi Empire?
A) Succession disputes within the confederacy, attack by the Ngoni, and slave raids from the Yao.
B) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
C) The arrival of European missionaries.
D) The Bantu Expansion.
  • 36. Which country did Zambia have especially close relations with outside the Non-Aligned Movement?
A) United Kingdom
B) Soviet Union
C) Yugoslavia
D) United States
  • 37. What system was formalized in the 1973 constitution of Zambia?
A) One-party participatory democracy
B) Military dictatorship
C) Multi-party democracy
D) Federal republic
  • 38. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Rozvi Empire?
A) Internal conflicts and external pressures after defeating the Portuguese.
B) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
C) The Bantu Expansion.
D) The arrival of European missionaries.
  • 39. Who was the Zambian president from 2008 to 2011?
A) Edgar Lungu
B) Michael Sata
C) Rupiah Banda
D) Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
  • 40. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Luba-Lunda states?
A) Atlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades, wars with breakaway factions, and instability.
B) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
C) The Bantu Expansion.
D) The arrival of European missionaries.
  • 41. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Lunda Empire?
A) The Bantu Expansion.
B) Wars with breakaway factions and instability caused by slave trades.
C) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
D) The arrival of European missionaries.
  • 42. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Barotse Kingdom?
A) The arrival of European missionaries.
B) The Bantu Expansion.
C) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
D) Conquest by the Kololo and subsequent revolt by the Luyana.
  • 43. Which company initially administered Northern and Southern Rhodesia under British control?
A) Anglo American Corporation (AAC)
B) British South Africa Company (BSAC)
C) Northern Territories Exploration Co.
D) South African Rhodesian Selection Trust (RST)
  • 44. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Chokwe state?
A) The Bantu Expansion.
B) Defeat by other ethnic groups and Portuguese intervention.
C) The arrival of European missionaries.
D) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
  • 45. In which year did Cecil Rhodes obtain mineral rights concessions from local chiefs in Central Africa?
A) 1895
B) 1900
C) 1888
D) 1923
  • 46. Who was the Zambian president before Hakainde Hichilema?
A) Rupiah Banda
B) Michael Sata
C) Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
D) Edgar Lungu
  • 47. Who defeated incumbent President Edgar Lungu in the 2021 presidential election?
A) Michael Sata
B) Rupiah Banda
C) Hakainde Hichilema
D) Guy Scott
  • 48. Who was the Zambian president from 2011 to 2014?
A) Edgar Lungu
B) Michael Sata
C) Rupiah Banda
D) Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
  • 49. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Ngoni state?
A) Internal conflicts and external pressures after their migrations.
B) The Bantu Expansion.
C) The arrival of European missionaries.
D) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
  • 50. Which empire defeated the Portuguese in their attempt to control trade routes along the Zambezi river?
A) The Mutapa Empire.
B) The Luba Kingdom.
C) The Maravi Empire.
D) The Rozvi Empire under Changamire Dombo.
  • 51. In what year were all political parties except UNIP banned in Zambia?
A) 1972
B) 1968
C) 1980
D) 1973
  • 52. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Swahili Coast trade?
A) Competition and conflicts with Portuguese traders.
B) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
C) The arrival of European missionaries.
D) The Bantu Expansion.
  • 53. When did the coup d'état attempt take place in 1997?
A) 12 December
B) 5 September
C) 15 June
D) 28 October
  • 54. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Zulu Empire?
A) Internal conflicts and external pressures after Shaka's reign.
B) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
C) The Bantu Expansion.
D) The arrival of European missionaries.
  • 55. What was the goal of Zambia's economic policy after independence?
A) To integrate fully into the global economy
B) To achieve self-sufficiency through import substitution
C) To establish a strong manufacturing sector
D) To become a major exporter of agricultural products
  • 56. Who succeeded Frederick Chiluba as President of Zambia?
A) Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
B) Michael Sata
C) Edgar Lungu
D) Rupiah Banda
  • 57. Who won the Zambian presidential election on 24 January 2015?
A) Michael Sata
B) Hakainde Hichilema
C) Edgar Chagwa Lungu
D) Rupiah Banda
  • 58. How many leaders from each province were part of the Committee of 14?
A) Four leaders
B) One leader
C) Three leaders
D) Two leaders
  • 59. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Kongo Kingdom?
A) The arrival of European missionaries.
B) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
C) Internal conflicts and external pressures, including slave trades.
D) The Bantu Expansion.
  • 60. How many seats did the MMD secure in the National Assembly in 1991?
A) 150
B) 100
C) 125
D) 75
  • 61. In which year did the British government decide not to renew the BSAC's charter, leading to Southern Rhodesia being annexed?
A) 1935
B) 1953
C) 1923
D) 1940
  • 62. What percentage of the presidential vote did Chiluba win in 1991?
A) 85%
B) 50%
C) 60%
D) 76%
  • 63. What was the primary reason for the decline of the Kalanga/Shona kingdoms?
A) The Bantu Expansion.
B) Competition and conflicts with Portuguese traders and other states.
C) Trade competition from Great Zimbabwe.
D) The arrival of European missionaries.
  • 64. In which year did Edgar Lungu win re-election narrowly in the first round?
A) 2021
B) 2017
C) 2015
D) 2016
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