Mulenga Kapwepwe

• Name — Mulenga Kapwepwe • Born — 7 October 1958 • Birthplace — Lusaka, Zambia • Occupation — Author playwright • Education — University of Zambia • Notable Works — Zambian Women's History Museum • Relatives — Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe (father) Salome Kapwepwe (mother) Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe (sister)

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.

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 served as the chairperson of the National Arts Council of Zambia, from 2004 until 2017. 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.

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.

Awards for Mulenga Kapwepwe's Books and Plays • Year — Book/Play — Association — 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