Regional/Cultural Day
Kamuzu Day
The birthday of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the first president of Malawi, who ruled from 1964 to 1994. Banda was a complex figure: a medical doctor trained in the United States and Scotland, a dictator who wore three-piece suits and homburg hats in the African heat, a man who built schools and hospitals while imprisoning his opponents. He banned long hair on men, miniskirts on women, and freedom of speech for everyone. The day is no longer an official holiday, but it is still observed by some : particularly older Malawians who remember Banda as the father of the nation who fought for independence and kept the country stable. The debate over Banda's legacy is the debate over Malawi itself: is stability worth the price of freedom?