THE PRODUCTION OF HISTORY IN MALAWI IN THE 1960s: THE LEGACY OF SIR HARRY JOHNSTON, THE INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIETY OF MALAWI AND THE ROLE OF DR KAMUZU BANDA AND HIS MALAWI CONGRESS PARTY

Abstract

This article joins the debate on culture, history and politics in postcolonial Malawi. Concentrating on the production of history in the 1960s, the paper shows how the decade marked the beginnings of serious research, teaching and public discourse of Malawi's history. It proceeds to examine factors, such as the existing literature, which helped to fhshion the direction which the players, mainly teachers and researchers, took in accomplishing their tasks. In this connection the paper considers the manner in which Harry Johnston, the first person to write widely on the peoples of the Lake Malawi region, influenced the historiography of the country. It also evaluates the role of the Society of Malawi and its publication, the Society of Malawi ffournal, in the production of history. Finally, the article pays attention to the ways in which the work of historians was affected by President Kamuzu Banda and the policies and actions of his ruling Malawi Congress Party. AMONG NOTABLE developments which have accompanied the democratization process in Malawi during the past five years has been a review of the factors which led to these transformations in a country which for thirty years had been absolutely dominated by Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda and his Malawi Congress Parcy. Some students of Malawian affairs have examined the process itself by tracing the emergence of the various wings of opposition groups, their agendas and programmes and their efforts at establishing and maintaining a coalition against the ruling party. These scholars have also discussed the pressures which forced the government to negotiate with the advocates for change.1 Two of the more challenging studies evaluate the central role of culture in the survival of Kamuzu Banda The author is a professor in history at North Carolina State University. This article has benefitted from the comments of Leroy Vail, from the usual critical mind of my wife, Margaret, and the ideas of the anonymous readers. 1. See, for example, Jonathan Newell, 'A moment of truth? the church and political change in Malawi, 1992', 3rournal of Modern African Studies, 33 (1995), pp. 243-62; Deborah Kaspin, 'The politics of ethnicity in Malawi's democratic transition', 3rournal of Modern African Studies, 33 (1995), pp. 595-620.