On Thursday, February 19, 2015, doctoral candidate Hikabwa Chipande will speak in the African Studies Center’s “Eye on Africa” series. The title of the talk is “Football (soccer) and Post-colonial Politics in Zambia, 1964-1984.”
It explores the politics of football (soccer) in Zambia after independence by looking at how the widespread popularity of the game triggered a decisive move by President Kenneth Kaunda and the ruling United National Independence Party (UNIP) to control and use football as a tool for political propaganda. Drawing on a rich set of primary sources excavated in Zambian archives and many oral interviews, the paper argues that because of the dissatisfied responses of ordinary Zambians, the UNIP government never gained total control over the game, on or off the pitch.
The talk is scheduled for 12 Noon-1:30pm in room 201 International Center.