H. K. Banda Archive: Collection and Scope (African Studies)

Abstract:

This collection consists of the papers of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, former Life President of Malawi, and those of his official biographer, Dr. Donald Brody, dating mostly from the 1950s to the 1990s. It includes correspondence, speeches, manuscripts, diaries, and extensive background information about Southern and Central Africa, including Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, both published and unpublished. There are also some mixed media items in the collection, including videos, mini cassettes, photos, and cloth (housed elsewhere).

Extent:

Approximately 4500 items, in 12 boxes and 4 shelves (excluding photos and ephemera).

Repository information:

Creator: Donald Brody

Administrative information:

Access Restrictions: Open for research.

Acquisition information: Gift, 2005

Usage restrictions: non-circulating, materials must be used in library, prior arrangements not necessary although advance notice is appreciated and will expedite retrieval from our secure storage facility.

Preferred citation:

H.K. Banda Archive, African Studies Collection, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Biographical note:

Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the first president of the Republic of Malawi, ruling the African nation from independence in 1964 until 1994. He played a crucial role in the break-up of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi), and was a major political player in Africa from the middle of the 20th century until he retired from politics in the 1990s. Born in Malawi around the turn of the century (no record of his birth has been found) he moved to South Africa in his teens to work as a laborer. From there he went to the U.S. to attend school, graduating high school from Wilberforce Academy in Ohio in 1925. He briefly attended Indiana University, followed by the University of Chicago. He studied medicine and became a doctor, working in Britain and Ghana before becoming active in politics and returning to Malawi. He was imprisoned in Gwelo Prison by the colonial government, where he began work on his autobiography.

Following his release from prison in 1960, he was involved in negotiations that would bring about independence for Nyasaland. During the country’s first elections in 1961, Banda was elected Minister of Land, Natural Resources and Local Government and later, in 1963 became Prime Minister of Nyasaland. In July 1964, the British Secretary of State for African Affairs agreed to end the Federation, and Nyasaland became the independent Commonwealth of Malawi. Following a cabinet crisis, Banda emerged as the first President of Malawi in 1966. During that time, his party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was declared to be the only legal party. Later, in 1970, an MCP congress declared Banda its president for life, which was confirmed by the legislature in 1971. This was to be beginning of an authoritarian government which lasted until 1993 when Banda’s one-party state was dismantled by a referendum, and a special assembly stripped him of his title of President for Life. He was defeated by Bakili Muluzi in a democratic election in 1994. He died in 1997.

For more detailed information on Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s biography and government and a list for further reading, please go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings_Banda or consult Indiana University’s online catalog at IUCAT.

Donald Brody lived and worked in Malawi for several years. He was identified by Dr. Banda as his official biographer and collected the materials in this collection for that purpose. He served as Honorary General Consul of Malawi for several years, and kept in close contact with Dr. Banda, Cecilia T. Kadzamira (Banda’s official hostess), and other important figures in southern African politics. He and his wife, Paula, currently reside in New Albany, Indiana.

Prominent correspondents include Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira (Banda’s official hostess), Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Colin Baker, Kanyama Chiume, Kenneth Kaunda, Gwanda Chakuamba, and Kwame Nkrumah.

Arrangement of the collection:

Organized into the following series: Correspondence, Writings, Miscellaneous, Clippings, Printed/published. With the exception of correspondence, which is organized alphabetically by correspondent, and the published materials, which are organized alphabetically by title or author, the materials are organized chronologically.

Controlled access terms:

Banda, H. Kamuzu (Hastings Kamuzu), d. 1997

Banda, H. Kamuzu (Hastings Kamuzu), 1905-

Malawi—History.

Malawi--Politics and government.

Rhodesia and Nyasaland--Foreign relations--Great Britain.

Table of Contents