The Name Msyamboza in Malawian history
Reverend Dr Winston Kawale’s commentary on the great achiever called Msyamboza, which appeared in The Nation earlier this year, deserves further attention and elaboration. Also deserving further commentary is Joshua Chienda’s regret about the manner history is taught in Malawi.
I first heard the name Msyamboza during a Chinyanja (Chichewa) class at the Blantyre Secondary School way back in 1949. Our teacher was Dr J.K. Louw of the Dutch Reformed Church Mission who had been seconded to teach at the BSS.
I read S.J. Nthara’s biography of Msyamboza in English in Dar es Salaam’s Arnautoglu Hall Public Library. I remember in fact to have seen the photograph of Msyamboza on the front cover of the book. When I met Nthara about the year 1976 and made reference to the English translation he expressed ignorance of it. Up to now, I am not sure if he misunderstood what I had said.
The teaching of history ought to include heroes in a variety of fields not just in politics or war. Pupils and students all over the country ought to be better acquainted with people like Msyamboza. Incidentally, Nthara checked my pronunciation of the name Msyamboza and said it was Mshamboza.
Two factors deserve attention in the writing of Msyamboza’s biography. Nthara was requested by a South African missionary of Dutch descent to write the book in Chichewa. Thomas Cullen Young a Livingstonia missionary on his own initiative translated the book from Chichewa to English as Headman’s Enterprise. At the same time, Young also with Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda translated three Chichewa essays by Malawians and published them into a book called Our African Way of Life.
As a missionary under the Free Church of Scotland (Livingstonia Synod), Young had learned both Chitumbuka and Chichewa. The latter made it possible for him to supervise Livingstonia schools in Kasungu. He also acquired a smattering of the Ngoni language which was still widely spoken in Mzimba when he arrived in 1908. Young wrote a book called The History of the Tumbuka Kamanga People and cultural history in Chitumbuka called Makuliro Gha Mahara na Maluso, meaning progress of knowledge and skills.
No doubt there are other outstanding personalities out there in Malawi who deserve biographies. But writing biographies is time consuming and expensive. Nthara wrote the biographies of Msyamboza and Namon Katengesa with the encouragement and patronage of missionaries. Now synods are under the management of Malawians; how much patronage in literature and other arts are they giving to their members.
When we read of the Renaissance in 16th Century Italy, we notice how the genius of men like Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci benefitted from the patronage of wealthy people.
The British colonial office was very keen to assist Africans in their colonies to becomes writers in their own languages and in English. Under the influence of Miss Margaret Wrong, editor of the magazine called Listen the Colonial Office established the Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia Publications Bureau as part of the Department of Education. It was the Bureau which nurtured authors like J.W Gwengwe, P.P. Litete, E.W. Chafulumira and D.D. Phiri. Since we attained independence are there Malawian authors who owe their beginnings to a government’s institution.
About four or five years ago, I attended a lecture at the French Cultural Centre which was given by a Senegalese lady in fluent English about the relationship between the writers union in Senegal and their government. We learned the relationship was quite close. Perhaps this can be explained historically. The first President of Senegal, Leopold Sedar Senghor was one of the greatest poets and philosophers during 20th century Africa. He must have created a legacy.
I wish members of the Malawi writers union and government officials concerned with the development of literature travelled to Senegal to see how they promote cultural matters there and from there stopover in Ghana at the office of the Pan African Writers Association (Pawa).
The way to progress lies in building on what others have founded or erected. During colonial days, Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, was noted as a country of clever people who stood high among other colonial people. No more. In most international encounters such as soccer or literature, we are less than impressive. One reason is that we are not modest enough to try and learn from others.
As for the teaching of history, it should include biographies of famous people, beginning with Malawians proceeding to members of other nationalities. Biographies are very crucial in the shaping of lives of young people. Africans of my generation were influenced with the life and achievements of Dr Aggrey. It is possible Msyamboza’s life, if read by many, can influence some of them.
History is a very broad subject. In teaching, we must identify those portions which are necessary for the building of patriotism and culture of achievement.
