John Chilembwe




John Chilembwe was born near Lake Malawi in the Chiradzulu district, in Central Africa, round about the time that the Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone was living in the area. During that period, Central Africa was ravaged by the slave trade conducted by Arabs throughout the continent. The Arabs were able to coerce some of the Bantu tribes into working with them. The more peaceable tribes were attacked and members sold to the slavers. Christian missionaries came into the area and set up schools and churches. It was the era of European Imperialist expansion into Africa. The British came to Central Africa and annexed the land surrounding Lake Nyasa. In 1891, Nyasaland, now known as Malawi, was established as a British Protectorate. Land was appropriated using dubious treaties with tribal chiefs. Africans already had an established system of traditional justice but the British set up a unified system of laws that did not take those traditions into consideration. With their superior armed strength the British were able to put an end to the slave trade. However, their presence was a mixed blessing, since the culture and customs of the Africans were not respected and some of the laws were repressive and disrespectful.
Chilembwe’s father, Kauandama, was a member of the warlike Yao ethnic group and his mother, Nyangu, came from the Mang’anja people. There are no written records of Chilembwe’s birth but it is thought that he may have been born around 1860.
Entire article available only in printed version. Lynch's Ferry is on sale at the following Lynchburg locations: Bookshop on the Avenue, Givens Books, Lynchburg Visitors Center, Old City Cemetery, Point of Honor, Market at Main, and Lynch's Ferry office at The Design Group, 1318 Church Street, Lynchburg.
Chilembwe’s father, Kauandama, was a member of the warlike Yao ethnic group and his mother, Nyangu, came from the Mang’anja people. There are no written records of Chilembwe’s birth but it is thought that he may have been born around 1860.
Entire article available only in printed version. Lynch's Ferry is on sale at the following Lynchburg locations: Bookshop on the Avenue, Givens Books, Lynchburg Visitors Center, Old City Cemetery, Point of Honor, Market at Main, and Lynch's Ferry office at The Design Group, 1318 Church Street, Lynchburg.
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