Mulenga Kapwepwe

Mulenga Mpundu Kapwepwe (born 7 October 1958) is a Zambian author, social activist and co-founder of the Zambian Women's History Museum.

In addition to her work in preserving and promoting women's history, Kapwepwe is known for her philanthropic efforts, particularly in education.

Kapwepwe has dedicated herself to building libraries in Lusaka, Zambia's capital city, with the aim of providing young children access to education and empowering them to shape their own futures.

Early life Kapwepwe is the daughter of Simon Kapwepwe, a prominent figure in Zambia's political history who served as the country's vice-president from 1967 to 1970. She pursued Psychology and Sociology at University of Zambia.

Career Kapwepwe began writing her own plays early on in her career with the lack of a formal theater education. As an author, Kapwepwe has written a number of award-winning plays and books. In addition to writing and producing educational materials, short stories and plays, Mulenga has produced videos, television and radio programmes on a number of subjects. She also served as the Patron of a number of associations, including the Women in Visual Arts Association, the Zambian Folk Music and Dance Association, and the Youth For Culture Association. She has been Vice Chairman of the Ukusefya pa Ngwena Cultural Association, Zambia National Visual Arts Council and The Zambia Women Writers Association . Kapwepwe also sits on the Zambia Commission for UNESCO and the Arts Institute of Africa and is the chairperson of the Arterial Network.

Women's History Museum

In 2016, Mulenga Mpundu Kapwepwe collaborated with Samba Yonga to establish the Zambian Museum of Women's History. Initially an online-only project, the museum aimed to collect and display artifacts showcasing the contributions of Zambian women to the country's traditional and contemporary history. The project was launched in partnership with Kvinnohistoriskt Museum, a women's history museum in Sweden.

The initiative is a significant step towards promoting gender equality and increasing the representation of women in historical narratives. Through the Zambian Museum of Women's History, Kapwepwe and Yonga seek to expand the number of narratives on Wikipedia related to Zambian women who have made noteworthy contributions to the country's history.

Their efforts have gained significant recognition, with the project receiving widespread praise for its contributions towards creating a more gender-equal society. With plans to establish a physical location for the museum, Kapwepwe and Yonga are expected to continue making meaningful contributions towards empowering and celebrating the accomplishments of Zambian women.

Artistic achievement + Awards for Mulenga Kapwepwe's Books and Plays Year Book/PlayAssociation Category Result 1998 Heart of the Cyclone Ngoma Awards Best Creative Writing Award 1999 Chiti My Luba Ngoma Awards Best Creative Writing Award four Awards NAATAZ Festival 2000 Kafuti-the Brazen NAATAZ Festival