Remembering Our People

Remembering Our People In memory of the people who made an impact in Malawi.

Chakufwa Chihana (1939–2006) was a prominent Malawian trade unionist, pro-democracy activist, and politician, widely reg...
30/01/2026

Chakufwa Chihana (1939–2006) was a prominent Malawian trade unionist, pro-democracy activist, and politician, widely regarded as a key figure in Malawi’s transition from decades of authoritarian one-party rule under President Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda to multi-party democracy.

Chihana was born on 22 March 1939, in Mhuju, Northern Nyasa District (now Rumphi), Malawi (then Nyasaland). He was educated at mission schools before receiving a scholarship to study at the Kampala School of Social Work in Uganda. He furthered his education in Sweden and the United Kingdom, focusing on labor and social studies.

The late Chakufwa Chihana, who served as the vice president of Malawi, is often called the "father of democracy in Malawi" and the "father of multipartism."

In his heydays, he was a fiery human rights activist, pro-democracy advocate, and trade unionist. His activism placed him at odds with the government of Kamuzu Banda, which considered him a threat and began persecuting him.

In the mid-60s, after he was detained and brutally assaulted by state agents, some Roman Catholic priests in Malawi hatched a plan to save his life by smuggling him out of the country into Kenya.

Chihana who by then was in his late 20s arrived in Nairobi where his fellow trade unionist Tom Mboya assisted him to get a job as Director Public of Public Relations in the Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU-K). This connection was a significant part of Chihana's development as a pan-African trade unionist before he turned his focus directly to the democratic struggle in Malawi in the 1970s and 1980s.

Even in exile in Nairobi, he still continued to write articles criticising President Kamuzu Banda's policies. Consequently, President Banda listed him among the people he wanted "dead or alive."

But as Mboya became a marked man and his position in the government became precarious, Chihana also became vulnerable since he could only rely on Mboya for protection.

On July 5, 1969, on the same day Mboya was assassinated, Chihana was declared persona non grata by the Kenyan government and abducted by security agents. He was escorted to Nairobi Airport, where he was bundled on an Ethiopian Airline plane.

He landed in Malawi, where President Banda straightaway locked him up for almost eight years. He was tortured and spent five years in solitary confinement. As a result of pressure from Amnesty International, he was released in 1977, but he never stopped agitating for multipartism.

He later fled to England, where he studied at Oxford and later taught in Botswana. In 1992, he returned to Malawi and called for multipartism, describing President Banda's party as "a party of death and darkness." For this reason, he was sentenced to two years in prison for sedition.

US vice president Al Gore, concerned about Chihana's detention, summoned Malawi's ambassador to the White House and demanded for his release. Four days after his release, Malawians voted overwhelmingly for multipartism in a referendum on 17 June 1993.

The following year, Chihana became the Second Vice President of Malawi under President Bakili Muluzi from 1994 to 1996. His tenure as Second Vice-President was marked by tensions within the coalition, and he was dismissed in 1996. He remained active in politics, though AFORD’s influence gradually waned.

Chakufwa Chihana passed away on June 12, 2006, from a brain tumor. He is remembered as a fearless champion of democracy and human rights who risked his life to challenge one of Africa’s longest-running dictatorships.

We remember John Dustan Msonthi (1928 to 1980s), Principal translator and interpreter for President Hastings Kamuzu Band...
02/01/2026

We remember John Dustan Msonthi (1928 to 1980s), Principal translator and interpreter for President Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Msonthi was active from 1958 until the 1970s. He infused Banda's political messages with Chichewa proverbs and metaphors, making them resonate deeply with the public. He was known for "deciphering English into Chichewa using expressions, proverbs and metaphors that mesmerized Malawians". His oratory skill made complex political ideas relatable and was vital in rallying popular support for independence. He is even credited by some with coining the Chichewa word "ndale" for "politics". Msonthi likely had knowledge of Indian language as a result of his training in India.

He was elected to the Legislative Council in 1961 and served as Minister of Trade and Industry before becoming the Minister of Transport and Communication in Banda's cabinet.

His son, Ulemu Msonthi, was reportedly Malawi's youngest political prisoner under Banda's regime

Msonthi died 1980s, in a South African hospital

We remember John Nyanga, (13 May 1963 to 23 May 2016), widely known by his stage name Izeki. John Nyanga was a celebrate...
29/11/2025

We remember John Nyanga, (13 May 1963 to 23 May 2016), widely known by his stage name Izeki. John Nyanga was a celebrated Malawian comedian and actor who made significant contributions to the arts in Malawi.

He was from Nyangayathyoka Village, T.A. Mabuka, Mulanje.

Nyanga began acting at a young age in church before co-founding the Kwathu Drama Group in 1980. His career truly flourished through his legendary partnership with Eric Mabedi (Jakobo). The duo "Izeki ndi Jacobo" became a household name in comedy, winning hearts not only in Malawi but also in neighboring countries like Zambia.

He was a pioneer in the Malawian theater and comedy scene. Along with Jakobo, he was among the first comedians to release their work on cassette, making their sketches widely accessible. Their popular work, "Njinga," is a testament to their creative success. Beyond Kwathu, he also formed his own group, Alufeyo Performing Arts, and later in life, he became a pastor and founded the Synagogue of Hope Church in Blantyre.

We remember Kennedy Ndoya, known professionally as Madolo, was a skilled musician, comedian, and flute player, admired f...
25/11/2025

We remember Kennedy Ndoya, known professionally as Madolo, was a skilled musician, comedian, and flute player, admired for his engaging street performances.

Madolo was an exceptional flute player who spearheaded a comedic style in music, blending comedy and drama. His distinctive musical style incorporated local traditional dances, such as manganje and mbwiza.

Madolo's influence inspired other artists, including Che Malamba and comedian Njati Njedede. He was active during the 1980s and early 1990s.

We remember Jack Chamangwana (30 April 1957 – 6 May 2018), a Malawian international footballer and coach, renowned as on...
25/11/2025

We remember Jack Chamangwana (30 April 1957 – 6 May 2018), a Malawian international footballer and coach, renowned as one of Malawi's finest defenders. He earned the nickname 'Africa' in Malawi and 'Black Stone' during his time in South Africa, a testament to his formidable presence on the field.

Chamangwana made his debut for the Malawi national team (the Flames) in 1975 and became the nation's second most-capped player with 133 appearances, starting in every single one of those matches and never being substituted. He captained the team during their maiden 1984 Africa Cup of Nations finals appearance. After a long stint with Mighty Wanderers in Malawi, he moved to South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, where he first played and then served as head coach, winning the League Championship with them in 1989. Beyond his playing career, he served the game as a coach and technical director. He was the head coach of the Malawi national team, an assistant coach, and also had a stint with Tanzanian club Young Africans. At the time of his death, he was the Technical Director for Be Forward Wanderers.

Chamangwana passed away on 6 May 2018 at the age of 61. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from across the football world, confirming his status as a true legend of Malawian and Southern African football.

We remember Dunduzu Chisiza Jr., ( 26 March 1963 – 24 February 1999), a playwright, director, actor, and founder of the ...
24/11/2025

We remember Dunduzu Chisiza Jr., ( 26 March 1963 – 24 February 1999), a playwright, director, actor, and founder of the Wakhumbata Ensemble Theatre.

Du Chisiza, Jr. discovered his passion for drama at the Henry Henderson Institute (HHI) in Blantyre, where his school play, The Deceased's Attack, won first prize at the National Schools Drama Festival in 1982. After furthering his studies in the United States, he returned to Malawi in 1987 and established the Wakhumbata Ensemble Theatre, the nation's first professional theatre company . The name "Wakhumbata" carries multiple meanings in Malawian languages, including "one who hugs," "one who hatches eggs," and "those who grieve".

His plays often contained sharp political and human rights messages, challenging the one-party state under Dr. Hastings Banda. Some of his early works, such as Me Nobody Knows and Tears of Blood, were banned by the government. He was known for using satire and fables to critique authority; for example, Papa's Empire (1990) was a thinly disguised critique of the malpractices of Banda's government.

Chisiza came from a prominent political family. His father, Dunduzu Chisiza Sr., was a veteran nationalist who died before Malawi's independence, and his uncle, Yatuta Chisiza, was also deeply involved in the Malawi's politics.

In the lead-up to Malawi's first multi-party elections in 1994, Du Chisiza surprised many by joining the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was appointed Minister for Sports, Youth, and Culture in one of Banda's last cabinets in 1993. After the MCP's defeat, he initially withdrew from active politics but later joined Aford party and had agreed to stand as a parliamentary candidate before his death in 1999.

Chisiza was married to Ngongite Mwafulirwa in 1993 and had three children with her.

Dunduzu Chisiza Jr. passed away on 24 February 1999. We remember him as a theatrical genius who profoundly impacted Malawian arts and culture.

Dr. Daniel Sharpe Malekebu (March 1, 1889 – October 8, 1978), the first Malawiam medical doctor.Dr. Daniel Malekebu was ...
23/11/2025

Dr. Daniel Sharpe Malekebu (March 1, 1889 – October 8, 1978), the first Malawiam medical doctor.

Dr. Daniel Malekebu was born in Chiradzulu District, Nyasaland (modern Malawi) to Lisoka Chambo and Malika Malekebu, a powerful Yao chief.

He was a pioneering physician, Baptist missionary, and anti-colonial activist who made significant contributions to education and healthcare in Malawi.

Malekebu graduated from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, USA in 1917 becoming the first Malawian person to receive a medical degree.

Dr. Malekebu was one of the first students of the Providence Industrial Mission, founded by John Chilembwe. He was founder of political forums like the Chiradzulu District Native Association. Dr. Malekebu was married to Flora Ethelwyn Zeto, an immigrant from the Congo Free State (modern Democratic Republic of the Congo).

While Dr. Malekebu was a qualified physician, his energy was primarily channeled into revitalizing the Providence Industrial Mission (PIM), which had been shut down after the 1915 Chilembwe uprising. Under his leadership, the PIM established critical social services, including the James E. East Memorial Hospital, a 16-bed facility at the mission's main station. The mission also supervised the construction of clinics and organized agricultural projects to improve community health and wellbeing.

Dr. Daniel Malekebu died in 1978.

Mahoma Mwakipunda Mwaungulu (3 January 1932 – 2004) was a significant Malawian Marxist thinker, Pan-African politician, ...
23/11/2025

Mahoma Mwakipunda Mwaungulu (3 January 1932 – 2004) was a significant Malawian Marxist thinker, Pan-African politician, and freedom fighter who spent much of his life in exile, primarily in East and West Germany.

Mahoma Mwaungulu was born in what was then Tanganyika to Ngonde parents from Nyasaland (now Malawi). His political consciousness emerged early. As a student in Africa, he was jailed for a year for participating in a resistance movement in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and was an active member of the Youth League of the Nyasaland African Congress. In 1958, he was a delegate at the historic All-African Peoples Conference in Accra, where he was in the company of figures like Dr. Kamuzu Banda. He had moved to Ghana years earlier, studying at the Accra Academy and joining Kwame Nkrumah's National Association of Socialist Students' Organisation. He later worked at George Padmore's Bureau for African Affairs, a key hub for Pan-African activism.

On George Padmore's recommendation, Mwaungulu received a scholarship to study Economics at Karl Marx University in Leipzig, East Germany, from 1960 to 1964. He was active in African student politics during this time. After completing his studies, he returned to the newly independent Malawi in 1964 to work as an economist in Hastings Banda's government. However, his return coincided with the Malawi cabinet crisis, which forced him into exile by the end of 1964 to avoid persecution from the emerging Banda dictatorship. He returned to East Germany in 1967 as a representative for the Socialist League of Malawi (LESOMA), an opposition party in exile. He organized support for the movement from Eastern Europe. Despite his Marxist beliefs, the East German government expelled him in 1982, after which he became the first Malawian to apply for asylum in West Germany. He settled in the multicultural Kreuzberg district of West Berlin, where he continued his community work.

In his later years in Berlin, Mwaungulu focused on community organizing and advocacy for African migrants. In 1997, he co-founded the Pan-African Forum e.V. along with other activists like Dr. Wilfred Imoudu. He was remembered by his peers as a "humanist, pacifist revolutionary" and a kind-hearted yet committed intellectual.

Mahoma Mwaungulu died in 2004.

Daniel Kachamba (1947 – 1987) was a Malawian musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who is widely regarded as one...
23/11/2025

Daniel Kachamba (1947 – 1987) was a Malawian musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative artists in Central and Southern African music.

Daniel James Kachamba was born in Limbe, Blantyre District, Malawi, in 1947. He was born in a musical family. His father, James Kachamba, was a guitarist of the earliest period of popular township music in what was then Nyasaland, during the late 1940s, after he had returned as a World War II veteran from Burma. Daniel’s mother, Etinala B. Gwede, was also musically inclined, having played the nkangala (mouth bow).

Kachamba is celebrated as a master of "Kwela" music and a pioneer who successfully blended it with traditional Malawian rhythms and Mozambican styles, creating a unique and enduring sound.

Kachamba was the foremost proponent of Kwela—a joyful, penny-whistle-led street music that originated in the townships of South Africa. He didn't just replicate the sound; he made it distinctly his own and brought it to international prominence.
The "Kachamba Brothers" Sound, initially performing with his brother Donald, Daniel's classic ensemble featured Daniel Kachamba on Lead vocals and primary penny whistle, Guitarist playing a rhythmic, finger-picking style that provided a bass line and harmony, a second Guitarist often playing a syncopated, melodic counterpoint.

In Malawi, Daniel Kachamba is a cultural hero. His music remains popular and is seen as a foundational part of the country's modern musical identity. On the international scene, he toured Europe extensively, bringing the sounds of Kwela and Malawian music to a global audience. His work directly influenced the development of Soukous and other modern African guitar styles. His complex guitar patterns can be heard echoed in the music of countless artists across the continent.

Daniel Kachamba was not merely a performer but a musical architect. He took a popular street style and, with immense skill and creativity, transformed it into a sophisticated, pan-African art form that continues to resonate decades after his untimely death.

Dr. Daniel Kachamba died in 1987.

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