Julia Chikamoneka

Julia Chikamoneka - -

Born	c. 1910 Kasama, Northern Province, Northern Rhodesia
Nationality	Zambian
Occupation	Freedom fighter, political activist
Years active
Known for	Anti-colonial activism, women's mobilisation
Notable work
Awards
Children

Julia Mulenga Chikamoneka (c. 1910 – 1986), born Mary Nsofwa Lombe, was a fierce anti-colonial activist and one of Zambia’s most prominent women freedom fighters. She played a key role in mobilising women for Zambia’s liberation struggle and is remembered as a symbol of courage, resistance, and patriotic dedication.

Early life

Julia was born between 1904 and 1910 in Kasama, in what is now Northern Province, Zambia. Her father, Mulenga Lombe, was the son of Chitimukulu-Ponde, a paramount chief of the Bemba people. Mulenga Lombe served as an African sergeant during the First World War, which gave the family early exposure to political dynamics and colonial structures.

Political awakening

Julia’s political consciousness was shaped through her involvement with local welfare associations during the colonial era. She eventually resigned from her formal employment and opened a food stall near Kabwata in Lusaka, which she used as a base to engage fellow women traders and discuss issues affecting Africans under British rule.

Mobilisation and activism

Julia Chikamoneka emerged as a formidable organiser within the **Northern Rhodesia African Congress (NRAC)**, which later became the **African National Congress (ANC)**. From her market stall, she mobilised women across Lusaka and beyond, urging them to participate in rallies, boycotts, and protests against racial discrimination.

She famously went around neighbourhoods at night, ringing a tin filled with stones to alert women of upcoming political meetings and protest marches. Julia’s leadership helped unify women from all walks of life, and she became instrumental in executing shop boycotts, public demonstrations, and defiance campaigns against colonial laws and segregated institutions.

Role in Zambia’s independence

Julia Chikamoneka’s activism became legendary for its intensity and visibility. She was among the early women to lead naked protests against colonial police brutality—a bold act of resistance that shocked authorities and inspired wider participation in the nationalist movement.

Her courageous efforts contributed to the momentum that eventually led to Zambia's independence in 1964. Though often overlooked in mainstream political narratives, her work laid the foundation for women's political participation and empowerment in the post-independence era.

Legacy

Julia Chikamoneka is remembered as one of Zambia’s great women patriots. Her legacy is honoured through songs, oral history, and commemorations within women's movements. In Lusaka, the Julia Chikamoneka Road stands as a lasting tribute to her contribution to the liberation of the country.

See also

• Women in Zambia
• Zambian independence movement
• African National Congress (Zambia)
• Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe
• Chitimukulu