Marita Banda is a Zambian author, educator, editor, and TEDx speaker whose work spans literature, culture, and personal development.

A multidisciplinary artist, she works across literary, performance, culinary, and conceptual arts, using each medium to explore themes of identity, heritage, and transformation.

She is the author of Telling It Like It Is, a reflective collection of 29 poems on life, identity, and society, and Traditional Zambian Etiquette for Modern Living – Youth Edition, a widely respected guide blending indigenous wisdom with contemporary norms. The latter has been officially adopted by the Zambia Institute for Diplomacy and International Studies (ZIDIS) to train future diplomats.

Marita is a professional teacher of English and French, an experienced editor of fiction and nonfiction, and a private tutor dedicated to nurturing young minds and emerging writers. She currently serves as Board Chairperson of the Zambia Reprographic Rights Society (ZARRSO), where she advocates for authors' rights and the protection of intellectual property.

Deeply interested in Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), Marita co-founded the Network for Society Transformation (Sotrane), a civil society organisation that promotes the adaptation of indigenous knowledge systems to address contemporary challenges. Through Sotrane, she leads thematic workshops with communities across the country, particularly engaging women and youth.

Her TEDx talk, which uses poetry and song to reflect on Zambian cultural identity, has resonated with audiences as a powerful celebration of heritage and the role of storytelling in reclaiming authenticity.

Marita’s work continues to inspire dialogue, foster cultural pride, and empower the next generation.