Chilembwe day

Reverend John Chilembwe died 100 years ago. He was one of the most educated black African leaders at his time. He is known as a brave African nationalist who challenged Europeans when many viewed the whites as gods who could not be challenged. In 1897 he went to the United States with the missionary he was working for at that time. When coming back to Africa two years later he was ordained as a Baptist minister.

He preached the values of hard-work, self-respect ad self-help to his congregation. In 1912 he became more politically militant and openly voiced criticism over the state of African land rights in the Shire Highlands and of the conditions of labour tenants.