Let us Fight for Africa

A Play based on the John Chilembwe Rising of 1915

Let us Fight for Africa is a historical play of the 1915 Nyasaland African uprising led by John Chilembwe. In 1897 the freelance English missionary Joseph Booth took John Chilembwe to America where, through the offices of black American colleagues, he received a three-year theological education. He returned in 1900 and founded his own church and school, wrote in the Nyasaland Times he was to make an African a worthy member of the human race and indomitable. Over time thousands of Africans visited Chilembwe to complain about the manner in which they were being treated as tenants and workers on European estates. On 23rd January, 1915 he led 1000 men in a rising to drive out foreign rulers of the country and set up a government of his own. The rising was crushed within two weeks. His death was kept a mystery for several decades. The Malawi currency now is imprinted with Chilembwe's portrait. Plays are aired on the radio and TV both on Chilembwe Day and on Martyrs' Day. Chilembwe's name is now revered throughout Africa, and therefore has continent-wide relevance.

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