tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531043365195904025.post8015040124097612986..comments2023-10-25T07:10:46.809-04:00Comments on Boni Dulani: How much do we know about the personal histories of our leaders?Boni Dulanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271569044925686487noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531043365195904025.post-6068364415869036012010-01-19T06:12:44.368-05:002010-01-19T06:12:44.368-05:00Interesting comments. I recall when "Dr."...Interesting comments. I recall when "Dr." Bakili Muluzi was about to be innaugurated as president in his first term of office, he was asked by a journalist to tell the nation about himself. The journalist further specified some of the things Muluzi may want to talk about - "When were you born? Where did you go to school? Are you married? How many wives and how many children? What positions have you held? etc.<br /><br />"Dr." Muluzi was clearly annoyed and he said "All you need to know is that I am a hapily married man with children. Next question please..."<br /><br />I disagree somehow that of the three leaders, we know most about Muluzi. I think we know most about Kamuzu. I can write an essay about Kamuzu Banda's history - I learnt it in primary school. I can hardly write two paragraphs about "Dr." bakili Muluzi and all I will write about will be heresy.<br /><br />Needless to say, I support the idea that there is an opportunity here to record our history. And the costs may not be out of this world.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636745003425628902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531043365195904025.post-47944817247664528832009-12-10T17:18:24.612-05:002009-12-10T17:18:24.612-05:00Jimmy and Parmaount Sharra,
well, shouldn't we...Jimmy and Parmaount Sharra,<br />well, shouldn't we stop talking about DD Phiri etc and start thinking what we ourselves can do? It's not such a huge project - and doesn't require much resources (at least to get appointments and the interviews?)Boni Dulanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16271569044925686487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531043365195904025.post-72363435840004101202009-12-10T05:36:03.854-05:002009-12-10T05:36:03.854-05:00There is a saying Africa that when an old person d...There is a saying Africa that when an old person dies it is equivalent to burning a whole library of books. In other words, when an old person dies; knowledge die as well because nothing is recorded. This is exactly the case in Malawi.<br /><br />I remember reading Mzati Nkolokosa's comments (could be on his blog, I am not sure now), he mentioned that once people like Aleke Banda, Cecilia Kadzamira and John Tembo are died, there will be no one well placed to tell kamuzu's "real" or inside story. <br /><br />Indeed one would think Cecilia Kadzamira has abundant of valuable information on Banda, information worth countless number of books.<br /><br />I am sure people like D.D. Phiri would relish such projects but HOW do you persuade these people to talk? Aleke Banda has people around him (through his ownership of the Nation newspaper) that can do a brilliant autobiography of his, yet nothing happens? <br /><br />Too much secrecy is denying the country valuable information, which unfortunately is vital to the nation's history. One can only hope things will improve one day.Jimmy Kainjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221438059338274440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531043365195904025.post-90453738654088514022009-12-08T18:45:57.537-05:002009-12-08T18:45:57.537-05:00Wawa a Paramount; count me in for the project. The...Wawa a Paramount; count me in for the project. There's a similar thread on Nyasanet right now, with Makhumbo Mwasinga wondering what Mama Tamanda Kadzamira knows about Kamuzu that she hasn't shared with the nation. One wishes Mama authored her own autobiography.<br />If not, have a Malawian biographer/journalist spend a few years with her, and write a biography of her. I haven't heard if either scenario is in the offing.<br /><br />I strongly believe in, and am ready and willing to contribute ideas and plans to starting a national biography project to produce book-length studies on important aspects of our history. The likes of Dr. D.D. Phiri have done a lot, and the nation has benefitted. But we still have huge knowledge gaps in the story of our country, and your post demonstrates that. As Paul Zeleza says, we also have huge gaps in what our scholars have produced, and what our teachers and students teach and learn.<br /><br />We have enough universities and institutions of higher learning to<br />develop and sustain a project like this one. The Malawi Institute of<br />Journalism, with its expertise in training journalists, would be an<br />ideal place to pursue such an idea, alongside the other universities<br />and colleges. I'm serious about pursuing this idea further, the starting of a national biography project. Where do we start?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00921650558150554337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-531043365195904025.post-42009256813512445752009-12-04T05:36:11.437-05:002009-12-04T05:36:11.437-05:00I feel this a very important issue that MUST be at...I feel this a very important issue that MUST be at the centre of political debating in Malawi. Unfortunately, the politically controlled media in Malawi cannot be allowed to embark on such tasks. Thanks for bringing this up.Jimmy Kainjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221438059338274440noreply@blogger.com