Lusaka

The name Lusaka and the demonym Lusakite honor Chief Lusaaka (also known as Lusakasa), a headman of the Soli people. This Bantu ethnic group is indigenous to central Zambia, and the Chief’s original village was situated at Manda Hill. Today, Manda Hill remains a central landmark in the city, having evolved from a traditional settlement into a premier shopping and business district.

Historically, Chief Lusaaka’s village occupied a vital position along trade routes connecting the Zambezi and Congo river basins. The Soli people were skilled agro-pastoralists, cultivating crops like millet and sorghum while managing cattle and trading in ivory and copper. Because of its strategic location on the plateau, the village became a well-known resting point and gathering place for travelers and regional traders.

The transition from a Soli village to a colonial hub began in 1905 when the British South Africa Company established a railway siding at the site. Part of Cecil Rhodes’ ambitious Cape to Cairo Railway project, the line was designed to link the northern Copperbelt mines with southern territories. Engineers favored the location for its flat terrain and reliable water supply, officially adopting the name Lusaka from the local Chief.

While initially a mere whistle-stop, Lusaka’s position at the crossroads of north-south rail and east-west trade paths fueled rapid growth. By the 1920s and 1930s, the influx of commercial agriculture, specifically maize, tobacco, and cattle ranching, transformed the settlement into a thriving commercial center. This development eventually outpaced other colonial hubs, cementing Lusaka’s status as the region's primary urban heart.