Each year I select a few books to read. These range from theology and ministry, to African novels and history. This year I have been reading a bit of history about Malawi and the enigma that is Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda. There is no doubt that he is a fascinating man who has and continues to influence life in Malawi. Whether you love or loath him, Alexander Chula offers a rare insight into Banda and the country he ruled. Chula was a teacher of classics at Kamuzu Academy (KA) in the early 2000s before training as a doctor and works in the NHS in England. Once of his task while at KA was to work with the school principal to catalogue Banda’s library at the Presidential Palace in Kasungu. As this work progressed he discovered a Banda many didn’t know – a man who loved the classics, Latin and philosophy.
Chula delves beyond the biographical and considers influences on Banda and Banda’s influences on the people and growth of the nation. He has done his best to treat Banda as a human, acknowledging the difficulties within Malawi’s first President. He also gives an insight into the culture of Malawi today, paying particular attention to the practices of the Gule Wamkulu.
Published in 2023, this is an up-to-date assessment of a country so many of us love and Chula takes into aspects of it we know much or very little about. If you know Malawi or what to get to know it and the lesson we can learn from it, then this is a great book to get. You can get your copy on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3YNAAuB (affiliate link). Thanks for your support.
