Malawi and Scotland Together in the Talking Place Since 1859

R. Ross

Description

This pioneering and fascinating book is the first to tell the story of the remarkably enduring bonds between Malawi and Scotland from the time of David Livingstone to the flourishing cultural, economic and religious relationships of the present day. Why should there be any significant relationship between one small nation on Europe�s north-western seaboard and another in the interior of Africa? How did it reach the stage where in 2012 Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in the Scottish Government, could describe Malawi as Scotland�s �sister nation�? This book attempts an answer.

Sujets

• History

Informations

• Publié par: Mzuni Press
• Date de parution: 26 juillet 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789990800425
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 9 Mo

Extrait

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Copyright 2013 Kenneth Ross

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers.

Published by

Mzuni Press P/Bag 201 Luwinga, Mzuzu 2 Malawi

ISBN 978-99960-27-07-9 (Mzuni Press)

Mzuni Press is represented outside Africa by: African Books Collective Oxford (also for e-books) ([e-mail])

www.mzunipress.luviri.net www.africanbookscollective.com

Cover: Shadreck Malekano Printed in Malawi by Baptist Publications, P.O. Box 444, Lilongwe

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“This pioneering and fascinating book is the first to tell the story of the remarkably enduring bonds between Malawi and Scotland from the time of David Livingstone to the flourishing cultural, economic and religious relationships of the present day. Ke nneth Ross is a Scot who has also worked for several years in Malawi. That experience and his own careful research has enabled him to produce a volume which manages to combine authority with readability. It will have very wide appeal in both countries.”

Professor Tom Devine Personal Senior Research Chair of History University of Edinburgh

“I am absolutely convinced that this book demonstrates that the relationship between Scotland and Malawi is both very special and very important because of the deep and extensive shared history of 150 years. It should be required reading for all Malawians so thatwe know and understand our history and identity as a people, as well as appreciate the depth and extent of our connection with the history and identity of Scotland.”

Prof Brighton Uledi-Kamanga Professor of English, Chancellor College, University of Malawi

“Since the signing of the Co-operation Agreement between Scotland and Malawi in 2005, more and more Sc ots have discovered the remarkable history of the friendship between our two nations. Here, for the first time, Kenneth Ross tells that story - fr om the early encounters of David Livingstone to the partnership that exists today between our communities and the Warm Heart of Africa. This is a story of an enduring friendship established in the nineteenth cent ury, developed through the ups and downs of the twentieth century, and now rekindled for the twenty-first.

Kenneth Ross is uniquely placed to wr ite this history. His understanding of both Scotland and Malawi, and his commitment to our partnership, shines through the pages of this book. I hope it inspires even more of our people to share in the friendship, in the knowledge of all that has come before.”

Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale First Minister of Scotland 2001-2007

“Enlightening and a BIG ‘eye-opener’ for everyone interested to understand the history and context be hind the momentum generated by the special relationship between Scotland and Malawi. Particularly so for those of us involved on the Malawi side - this book helps in understanding what makes the relationship between Scotland and Malawi very different from any other conceivable relationship between any two nations.”

Dr Matthews Mtumbuka Chair, Malawi Scotland Partnership

“An excellent account of the development of the relationship between Scotland and Malawi from one of Scotland`s leading advocates for Malawi. This book is essential reading for those who seek to understand the strengthening bond between our countries.”

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Scottish Government

Acknowledgements

The knowledge on which this book is based has been formed primarily through conversations with friends over the many years since I first arrived in Malawi in 1988. First and foremost, I acknowledge my debt to my colleagues at the University of Malawi and in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian who have immeasurably expanded my understanding by generously sharing their experiences and perspectives with me. Likewise at the Scottish end I have been fortunate indeed to benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of many colleagues within the Scotland Malawi Partnership and the Church of Scotland. In particular, discerning readers of the following pages will not fail to notice the extent of my debt to three distinguished historians of Malawi: Andrew Ross, John McCracken and Jack Thompson. Not only their written works but also their willingness to converse at length about matters pertaining to Malawi and Scotland has exercised a strong formative influence on this book. Its deficiencies are, of course, entirely my own responsibility. I am honoured to be able to include photographs taken from the private collection of Dr Jack Thompson and express my sincere gratitude to him for making these available for the purpose. I also acknowledge with sincere thanks the Scotland Mala wi Partnership which provided me with the cover photograph and the two photographs which feature in Chapter 11. Grateful acknowledgement is due to the Drummond Trust, 3 Pitt Terrace, Stirling, for a generous grant towards the cost of publishing this book in Malawi. From beginning to end it has been a pleasure to work with Mzuni Press, not least because it provided the opportunity to work once again with Klaus Fiedler with whom I have been privileged to collaborate on many publishing projects over the past 20 years.

Kenneth R. Ross Netherlorn, Argyll November 2012

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Two Nations in Conversation

2. First Encounters: Livingstone and Friends in Malawi A Momentous Arrival David Livingstone: Myth and Reality Livingstone's Vision for Africa Scots in Malawi: Livingstone and Friends Livingstone's Lasting Legacy

3. Scots in Malawi: the Early Days Launch of the Livingstonia Mission Beginnings of the Blantyre Mission The African Lakes Company The Stevenson Road Livingstonia: Forging Friendship with Tonga and Ngoni Friendship Deepening and Widening: Blantyre Mission in the 1880s Nkhoma: Scottish Roots and Chewa Connections Conclusion 47

4. Encounter and Transformation Scotland and the British Protectorate Critical Friends: Scottish Missionaries and British Administration Encounter Extended and Deepened Two Revealing Episodes Mutually Shaping Identity

5. War and Peace Comrades in Arms The Chilembwe Rising Together in the Talking Place Unresolved Ambivalence

6. Colonialism and Resistance Facing the Colour Bar Paternalism and Racism Malawian Voices of Protest Crucibles of Nationalism Conclusion 110

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6 12 15 19 23 25

31 33 35 39 41 42 46

52 56 60 65 69

74 77 86 89

95 97 99 105

7. Deepening Friendship Language of the Heart Institutions and Values Malawians in Scotland Personal Friendships

8. Together against Federation The Origins of Federation Malawi Facing the Reality of Federation Scottish Opposition to Federation Federation: Dilemma for a Scot in Malawi Mission and Church: A Quiet Revolution

9. Achieving Independence The State of Emergency in Malawi The State of Emergency: Reaction in Scotland The 1959 Church of Scotland General Assembly The Scottish Missions: Standing in Contrast Independence Attained: the Role of the Scots

10. OneParty Rule and the Struggle for Democracy Shattered Hopes: the Cabinet Crisis Banda's Dictatorship: the Scottish Dimension Breaking the Silence: Banda Disowned Together for Democracy

11. Malawian Democracy, Scottish Devolution and Partnership Renewed st Relations Rekindled in the 21 Century Mobilisation of Civil Society The Rise of Twinning Churches and Schools In Pursuit of Genuine Recprocity "A Very Definite Radicalism" Conclusion 215

12. Conclusion:The Conversation Continues

Bibliography

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115 117 120 126

137 141 143 148 149

156 161 162 166 168

178 182 188 191

197 201 203 207 211

218 223

1. Introduction: Two Nations in Conversation

st Amidst the conflicts, wars, tensions and tumults of the early 21 century, one inter-national relationship which could easily be overlooked is the one between Malawi and Scotland. Why should there be any significant relationship between one small nation on Europe’s north-western seaboard and another in the interior of Africa? How did it reach the stage where in 2012 Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in the Scottish Government, c ould describe Malawi as Scotland’s 1 “sister nation”? This book attempts an answer. It traces the way in which this relationship began and evolved across a century and a half. It recognises that the conn ections of the two nations have found a special place in the hearts of individuals and communities on both sides. It observes that today these underpin both an inter-Governmental Cooperation Agreement and a remarkable plethora of interaction at the level of civil society. It detects particular qualities which bring a distinctive character to the relationship and explains why these continue to have a compelling quality for the people of both nations today. Its starting point is the very simple observation that Malawians and Scots have been in conversation sin ce 1859. Apart from a short interlude at the beginning, the conversation has been continuous. From the time of the establishment of Scottish Missions in the mid-1870s it is safe to say that there has not been a single da y when Malawians a nd Scots have not been talking to one another. Over the years they have found that they have much to discuss and this remain s the case today. What have they been talking about all this time? This book will identify important episodes which have proved to be talking points but will also discern salient threads which run through the entirety of the conversation. One Scot who had a particularly sympathetic understanding of Malawian community life was Thomas Cullen Young, a Livingstonia th missionary during the first three decades of the 20 century. Young observed that at the heart of a Malawian village was found the “talking-

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