Because Zambia was landlocked, European immigrants didn't arrive until the end of the 1800s. There were just a few visits by Arabs and Portuguese in the 18th century, and none of them led to lasting ties.
In 1888, Cecil Rhodes, who ran the British South Africa Company (BSA Company), gained the rights to mine in the region.
Controlling other parts of the region was possible because of putting down tribal uprisings and finding copper riches. Until 1911, these areas were run as independent divisions. That year, they were combined to become Northern Rhodesia (named after Cecil Rhodes).
Until 1923, when the British Government took charge, Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate run by an administration chosen from London with the help of the BSA Company.
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was formed in 1953 with a number of British-controlled nations in the area. The formation of the federation was very unpopular in Northern Rhodesia, which led to the development of two nationalist parties. After the 1962 elections, the two parties worked together to adopt resolutions asking for Northern Rhodesia to leave the federation and seeking full internal self-government.
Kaunda won the sole election for Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia in January 1964, after the nation was broken up on December 31, 1963.
On October 24, 1964, the British colony of Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia, and Kenneth Kaunda became the first president, serving until 1991.
