In contrast to the rich tradition of academic analysis and understanding of the pre-colonial and colonial history of Zambia, the country ?s post-colonial trajectory has been all but ignored by historians. The assumptions of developmentalism, the cultural hegemony of the United National Independence Party ?s orthodoxy and its conflation with national interests, and a narrow focus on Zambia ?s diplomatic role in Southern African affairs, have all contributed to a dearth of studies centring on the diverse lived experiences of Zambians. Inspired by an international conference held in Lusaka in August 2005, and presenting a broad range of essays on different aspects of Zambia ?s post-colonial experience, this collection seeks to lay the foundations for a future process of sustained scholarly enquiry into the country ?s most recent past.