Re: [External] Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obituary: Thandika Mkandawire

akwasi, thank you for this memory.

ken

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

harrow@msu.edu

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Assensoh, Akwasi B. <aassenso@indiana.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 7:54 PM
To: Yoruba Affairs <yorubaaffairs@googlegroups.com>; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
Cc: dejigiri@yahoo.com <dejigiri@yahoo.com>; Onyumbe Lukongo <onyumbe_lukongo@subr.edu>; kesedo@yahoo.com <kesedo@yahoo.com>; afaugustine@yahoo.com <afaugustine@yahoo.com>; Ucheoma Nwagbara <unwagbara@yahoo.com>; Teaway Collins <teaway2001@yahoo.com>; doyinck@gmail.com <doyinck@gmail.com>; noahkankam@gmail.com <noahkankam@gmail.com>; rigodan@yahoo.com <rigodan@yahoo.com>; Godwin Ohiwerei <drohiwerei@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [External] Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obituary: Thandika Mkandawire

 

Dr. Thandika Mkandawire and I crossed intellectual path with each other at University of Stockholm (Stockholms Universitet) in Sweden in 

the early 1970s. He was always passionate about Africa's genuine development and unity. However, he had a mischievous smile as I sometimes 

teased him about his country (Malawi) having the dubious distinction of giving Africa one of its early post-colonial Presidents for Life (Kamuzu

Banda). "A.B., my brother, always remember that your Ashanti King gave Banda his whisk after the Osagyefo's 1965 expensive OAU conference in 

Ghana, which became his symbol of authority back home," Thandika often responded with a serious look. He was referring to the hisoric fact that

 the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Sir Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II, KBE, (1892-1970) gave the white whisk at his Manhyia Palace to the late 

President Banda after he attended the OAU conference in Ghana and, later, paid a visit to Kumasi, where he lived and practised Medicine on Banda 

Hill in colonial Gold Coast (now Ghana) before returning to Nyansaland (now Malawi) to become its first indigenous post-colonial dictator.

Also, I always remember Thandika briefly lecturing Sam Nujoma of Namibia at a Stockholm social gathering. "Brother Nujoma, you certainly deserve

to head post-colonial Namibia. But please spare Africa of another dictatorship, if you see what is happening in my own country, Malawi." A true and

hard-working scholar, Thandika deserves his rest. May he rest in perfect peace!

A.B. Assensoh. 

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From: 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 6:13 PM
To: dialogue; Yoruba Affairs
Subject: [External] Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obituary: Thandika Mkandawire

 

This message was sent from a non-IU address. Please exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments from external sources.

Truth be told: this is the age comrades in our ranks start bowing out of the battle field - by natural and not-so-natural selection processes. As we brace for these impacts, we are once more reminded that the death that takes away one's peers chants a song of parody in one's ears. May we all fulfill our days and may the legacy of Thandika live on, helping all those left behind to be comforted!

MOA

On Friday, March 27, 2020, 9:55:05 AM CDT, Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

The great scholar has moved on, to the great beyond. This is the third death I will be announcing in the last 48 hours.

More later.

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