Kamuzu Academy Explained

Kamuzu Academy is a private boarding school in Malawi that was founded by, and named after, the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the former President of Malawi.^[1] It is described by its proponents as "The Eton of Africa".^[2]

In 1987, it was the subject of a BBC documentary entitled "The Eton of Africa" made by John Rae.^[3]

An idiosyncratic feature of the school is that from the beginning Latin was made a compulsory subject for all students, and is still taught today as a core subject up to IGCSE. Kamuzu Banda is recorded as saying: "This place is for classical education, Greek, Latin, particularly Latin. I want that to be clearly understood by everybody. If you don't like Latin, don't come here."^[4]

The 40th anniversary Founder's Day service in November 2021 was attended by President Lazarus Chakwera.^[5]

Notable alumni

• Catherine Gotani Hara
• Samson Kambalu
• Chanju Samantha Mwale
• Yolanda Kaunda

See also

• List of boarding schools

External links

• • • Kamuzu Academy at Malawi tourism
• Telegraph article "The man who saved the Eton of Africa"
• "The Eton of Africa" (BBC documentary, 1987)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Think Africa Press - All African Issues.
2. Web site: The Eton of Africa. 25 November 2002.
3. First shown on BBC One on 9th Sep 1987, repeated on BBC Two on 1st Dec 1988, as recorded in the Radio Times.
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhw5moKF9o "The Eton of Africa"
5. https://www.nyasatimes.com/chakwera-tackles-nation-building-as-kamuzu-academy-commemorates-founders-day/ Nyasa Times 14/11/2022.