Samba Yonga
| Born | Zambia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Zambian |
| Occupation | Journalist, media consultant, cultural curator |
| Years active | |
| Known for | Co-founder of the Museum of Women’s History in Zambia, founder of Ku-Atenga Media |
| Notable work | |
| Awards | Destiny magazine's Power of 40 Most Influential Women in Africa (2017) |
| Children |
Samba Yonga is a leading transnational communications expert, cultural curator, and media innovator with over 15 years’ experience shaping narratives across Africa and the globe. She is the Managing Partner of Ku-Atenga Media and Co-Founder of the Women’s History Museum of Zambia. Samba’s work spans strategic communications, historical archiving, and storytelling across disciplines. Her expertise lies in making complex histories accessible, mobilising creative ecosystems, and championing African voices in global cultural discourse. She is the architect of the Adaptive Territorial Execution approach, a method for designing communication strategies tailored to African contexts, and is widely recognised for her contributions to cultural diplomacy, restitution advocacy, and the decolonial reshaping of knowledge systems.
Early life and education
Samba Yonga studied journalism at Evelyn Hone College in Zambia. She began her career in traditional newspapers before transitioning into development communications and media consultancy.
Career
Yonga has worked as an editor for Big Issue Zambia and contributed to various publications. She founded Ku-Atenga Media, which focuses on strategic communications and media consultancy.
A significant part of her work involves reclaiming and highlighting the contributions of women in Zambia's history. Alongside Mulenga Kapwepwe and other collaborators, she co-founded the Museum of Women’s History in Zambia, aiming to integrate women's stories into mainstream historical narratives.
The Museum utilizes creative approaches including digital media and oral history projects. Some notable initiatives include WikiWomen Zambia and the #HerZambianHistory campaign, which record and share women’s histories through digital platforms.
The Museum of Women’s History has also been hosted within the National Museum in Lusaka and engages the public through podcasts like #LeadingLadiesZM, launched during Women’s History Month in 2019.
Yonga’s approach emphasizes storytelling as an educational tool and a means of practical role-modeling. She actively shares her journey and insights to inspire others, bridging cultural gaps and promoting indigenous African narratives globally.
Recognition
In 2017, Samba Yonga was named one of Destiny magazine's "Power of 40" most influential women in Africa, recognizing her impact within and beyond Zambia.
Other work
Beyond journalism and cultural curation, Yonga has produced educational television programs, written web comics, served in editorial roles, and developed social marketing concepts, showcasing her broad talents and commitment to storytelling and communication.
