Chris Mukkuli
| Born | August 21, 1964 Nabuzoka Village, Pemba, Zambia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Zambian |
| Occupation | Writer, filmmaker |
| Years active | |
| Known for | Nkumbula: Liberating a Nation |
| Notable work | |
| Awards | |
| Children |
Chris Mukkuli (21 August 1964 – 31 March 2025) was a Zambian writer and filmmaker best known for producing the 2016 documentary Nkumbula: Liberating a Nation.
Early life and education
Mukkuli was born on 21 August 1964 in Nabuzoka Village, 11 kilometres west of Pemba in the Southern Province of Zambia. He was the third child of Elizabeth Muleya and Andrew Chaambwa. His parents divorced when he was young, and he lived with his father, who was often away, leaving Mukkuli to care for himself. At age seven, he moved to Chikonga Village (about seven kilometres north of Chikuni Mission) to live with his mother's cousin in a polygamous household.
In 1971, he began his education at Charles Lwanga Primary School, where he was also responsible for herding cattle. His exposure to storytelling during this period developed his love for narratives. He later attended St. Mark's Secondary School in Mapanza, Choma District, from 1979 to 1983.
After two years of seeking further education, Mukkuli enrolled at Evelyn Hone College in 1985, studying marketing. Upon graduation, he worked as a trainee lecturer at the college.
Career
Mukkuli's career spanned multiple disciplines, including education, marketing, and media. After lecturing at Evelyn Hone College, he worked as a marketing executive at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), where he sold airtime. He later became a course director at the Zambia Institute of Management (ZAMIM) and worked at Population Services International (PSI), where he was initially the Condoms Marketing Manager before being promoted to Corporate Marketing Manager.
He later became involved in scriptwriting and filmmaking, contributing to projects such as The Lawyer, a feature film directed by Dominic Chisembele, and Konstable, a television series produced by Muvi TV.
In 2006, Mukkuli resigned from his position at Zambia Communications Programmes (ZCCP) to focus on independent filmmaking. His most notable work was the 2016 documentary Nkumbula: Liberating a Nation, which detailed the role of Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula in Zambia’s independence movement.[1]
Advocacy
Beyond filmmaking, Mukkuli was also a strong advocate for Tonga folk music and supported artists such as Jerry Chilanga and Bana Mpongo.[2]
Personal Life and Death
Mukkuli was the father of actor Bulongo Mukkuli, who stars in the TV series Zuba. His death on 31 March 2024 was confirmed by National Association of Media Arts (NAMA) publicity secretary Abel Silungwe, who described him as a “pillar of the Zambian film industry.”
See also
References
- ↑ Documentary on Nkumbula to premiere, Zambia Daily Mail
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1 at line 4515: attempt to index field 'date_names' (a nil value).
