I have been interested in long-distance labour migration and the mining industry for a long time. Over a decade ago, when I began my doctoral work about Zambia's Copperbelt, I met with a South African historian who kindly agreed to offer some advice, having done similar research. They asked me why I was interested in the topic and I responded with what is now a well-worn explanation: I had grown up in Cumberland, a former mining region in northern England. The remains of this industrial past have fascinated me my whole life. 'Well, why not study that?' came the reply.
Duncan Money (Tue,) studied this question.