Dear Mum

During the 1960s, Central and Southern Africa were in turmoil, marked by civil wars, racial tensions, Rhodesia's UDI, apartheid in South Africa, and tribal conflicts. Despite the instability, my husband and I moved to Zambia, where we lived for three years. On our arrival in 1967, Zambia had been independent from British Colonial rule for nearly three years and was reasonably stable compared to some of its neighbours. With no mobile phones or emails, our only means of communication with family back home was through handwritten letters. Many of these letters, carefully kept by my mother, form the heart of this book. They capture the details of our daily lives, working environments, and vibrant social circles, as well as the incredible places we visited across Zambia and its neighbouring countries. While living there, we witnessed a nation facing immense challenges yet striving to forge its own identity. Still carrying many hallmarks of British colonial influence, Zambia was undergoing a slow but determined transformation into an independent country. Through these letters, this book offers a personal and historical glimpse into a pivotal time in Zambia's journey.