From the late 1960s onwards, significant deposits of emeralds were developed commercially in Zambia, particularly in the Copperbelt region near Ndola. By the 1970s Zambia had become one of the world's major emerald producers, rivalling Colombia. The boom brought foreign investment and employment to the region but also raised questions about resource ownership and equitable development in post-independence Africa.

The Zambian emerald boom in 1970 highlighted African resource narratives in contemporary world poetry. Poets like Kofi Awoonor began to explore themes of exploitation and cultural identity, reflecting on the complexities of resource wealth and its impact on communities and traditions.