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Part 1 1898 - 1915 By Dr. Donal Brody....................................................................3Part 2 1915 - 1925 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................14Part 3 1925 - 1930 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................24Part 4 1930 - 1940 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................31Part 5 1940 - 1945 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................43Part 6 1945 - 1950 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................53Part 7 1950 - 1953 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................61Part 8 1953 - 1958 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................70Part 9 6 July 1958 By Dr. Donal Brody..................................................................77Part 10 7 July 1958 - 27 July 1958 By Dr. Donal Brody.........................................88Part 11 7 July 1958 - 5 August 1958 By Dr. Donal Brody.......................................99

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CONVERSATIONS WITH KAMUZUTHE LIFE AND TIMES OF DR. H. KAMUZU BANDAPart 1 1898 - 1915By Dr. Donal Brody

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This month I begin something that is long overdue, an open-ended series of articlesrecounting many hours of conversation with Dr. Banda beginning in July 1989 and continuing until the year before his November 25, 1997 passing. I am moved to dothis at this time because of the numerous communications that I regularly receive, particularly from young Malawians, asking me to please help them understand thehighly complex man that was my friend, Ngwazi Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda, Founder and First Head of State of Malawi. Perhaps his own words will bring to young and old alike, a better understanding of this most incredible man.

Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda was my friend and mentor for many years. He was a super-achiever and I have always been in awe of super-achievers; those people who break the bonds of the ordinary, the commonplace and truly fulfill their destiny. Regardlessof occupation or discipline, they have always held a great fascination for me. What isit in their unique makeup that enables them to overcome all odds, confront allopposition and circumvent all obstacles to achieve their carefully defined and clearlyenvisioned objectives? Looking across the relatively limited spectrum of individualssuch as Aggrey, Lincoln, Azikiwe, Curie, Kaunda, Gandhi and the like, they all