Kabwe Ka Mukuba (Land of Smelting)

Two generations ago, Zambia as we know it did not exist; it was called Northern Rhodesia and was a British colony. Since Zambia is such a young state, it is still recovering (and is continually impacted) from the effects of British colonialism and ongoing neo-colonialism. In Kabwe, lead pollution is clearly and directly linked to colonization. The Broken Hill Mine was (for the majority of its operations) owned by Anglo-American, a British company. The mishandling of the mine resulted in widespread lead contamination in surrounding communities, including in Makululu, one of the largest informal settlements in Southern Africa. We made this film to address the lack of current information and awareness about the catastrophic health and environmental emergency in Kabwe. The city’s lead pollution crisis has been an open secret for too long.

In order to raise awareness about Kabwe’s lead crisis, we wanted our film to elevate the voices of activists inside their communities who are desperately trying to make their communities safe for their generation and the next. Young activists are rarely given the opportunity to create palpable change or given a seat at the table. Our film gives a platform to young activists like Caleb and Sylvester (two of our protagonists) to tell their stories and create the change they desire for their hometown.