protectorate · Central and Southern Africa

Northern Rhodesia

1911 CE – 1964 CE · capital Livingstone; later Lusaka

The British protectorate on the Zambezi built around the Copperbelt, which became independent Zambia.

Origins

In 1911 the British South Africa Company merged North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia into Northern Rhodesia, with its capital at Livingstone. In 1924 the Colonial Office took over administration, though the company kept the mineral rights until 1964.

Rule and society

From the late 1920s the Copperbelt grew into one of the world's leading copper producers, drawing African workers whose strikes in 1935 and 1940 were early signs of organised protest. The capital moved to Lusaka in 1935. Barotseland kept a protected status under its Lozi king. Settlers were few but sought amalgamation with Southern Rhodesia.

Decline and legacy

The territory was joined to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1953. Opposition led by Harry Nkumbula and Kenneth Kaunda's United National Independence Party ended the federation, and Northern Rhodesia became independent as Zambia on 24 October 1964 with Kaunda as president.

Lineage

North-Western Rhodesia 1899 CE – 1911 CE North-Eastern Rhodesia 1900 CE – 1911 CENorthern Rhodesia

Connections (4)

Barotseland was part of Northern Rhodesia1911 CE – 1964 CE
Northern Rhodesia was part of Company rule in Rhodesia1911 CE – 1924 CE
Northern Rhodesia was a protectorate of British Empire1924 CE – 1964 CE
Northern Rhodesia was part of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland1953 CE – 1963 CE

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Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Northern Rhodesia. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-rhodesia
MLA: “Northern Rhodesia.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-rhodesia. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Northern Rhodesia.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-rhodesia.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Northern Rhodesia’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-rhodesia (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻