Desmond Dudwa Phiri: mysterious sage who, after death, looms over Malawi

Like a falling leaf, Desmond Dudwa Phiri— popularly known as DD Phiri— has returned to, as the Chinese say, roots of the tree. What they mean is that it is good for one to die where they were born.

And, so, it is that DD Phiri's root turns out to be Henry Henderson Institute (HHI) cemetery in Blantyre.

Born in Mzimba District on February 23 1931, DD Phiri would, in the latter part of his life, be known as a relentlessly practical individual; no wonder, he leaves for us a horde of books, over 20, in fact—statistics of work and life well lived.

It is, therefore, fitting that that one man, the London University-trained economist and historian DD Phiri, used to run two columns—DD Phiri Forum in The Nation and DD Phiri Insight in The Daily Times.

That one man wrote countless essays, giving the Society of Malawi no option but to publish them into the book Malawi Our Future, Our Choice.

It is a journey that started in 1968, when the man DD Phiri authored the play The Chief’s Bride. It seems that, at that age of 37, there were publishers who had faith in him; for that is when Evans African Plays, an imprint of Evans Brothers Limited, published it.

However, it would take 39 years— from 1968 to 2007— before he would publish his second play, Let Us Fight For Africa, thanks to the warm embrace of Kachere Series.

Plays were not the only creative product he gave us; for biographies abound.

To his name, and to HHI cemetery he did not go without that story being told, are six biographies:  Dunduzu Kaluli Chisiza; I See You-Clement Kadalie; Let Us Die For Africa – John Chilembwe and, under the banner or series of 'Other Malawians To Remember', published Inkosi Gomani, James Frederick Sangala and Charles Chidongo Chinula.

Then, there are novels, notably Diniwe in Dreamland and novelettes such as Mankhwala pa Ntchito, Kanakazi Kayaya, Ku Msika wa Vyawaka and Ulanda wa Mavunika.

Other books to his name include History of Malawi: Volume One; History of Malawi Volume Two; From Nguni to Ngoni; History of the Tumbuka; History of Malawi to 1915; Hints to Private Students, and; What Achievers Teach About Success.

There are more essays to his name, a man who also offered selfless service when he worked in the diplomatic service until 1976, when he felt he had served enough and had to leave the work to young blood.

He did not sit on his laurels; instead, he established a distance learning institute, the Aggrey Memorial School, because he felt duty-bound to provide quality education at affordable rates to less privileged members of society.

He realised the importance of education way back in 1931 when, after his birth, he experienced, first hand, challenges Malawians were facing to access education services. It was with this picture in mind that he fought his way to Blantyre Secondary School and Livingstonia before moving to England, the United Kingdom, where he studied economics, history and sociology at the London School of Economics.

Looking at DD Phiri’s contribution to Malawi, it is as clear as day that the gulf he has created, through his death, will remain unfilled.

Today, it is difficult to think about DD Phiri and stand strong, let alone with a straight face.

That is why, when DD Phiri’s only son Kwame got the news of his passing on Sunday last week, he could not help but look at the world with a wan emptiness: nothing, not even the fact that his father had been hospitalised for some time, could placate him.

“At the moment, all I can say is that he was the best father and friend I ever had. I will miss him," he said.

He may need an ancient force of belief to get past the sadness that life has imposed on the Phiri family; after all, nobody prepares for the day they may lose their loved one.

Not that thoughts of death may not impress on us the fact that we are not immortal; such thoughts come, but in a context that is almost hallucinatory.

When death turns into reality, one is haunted with another question: Why dad, uncle, mother, sister, aunt, niece, nephew, grandmother or grandfather?

To make matters worse, it is unlikely that, at HHI cemetery, DD Phiri will be encased by his own people [blood relations], but he can find solace in the fact that among those that lie peacefully, but dead anyway, at HHI are people who read his books.

Although death is a journey best carried out alone, book readers may be there with him; this time, simply by reading his books and letting its message green over in our hearts.

It is as if people read through death’s intentions for, as recently as September last year, people gathered at Jacaranda Cultural Centre to celebrate the life of Phiri.

Before that event, in July 2014, DD Phiri had published his latest book on history.

He had given the book to me for review, and I felt humbled to assess the work of the giant-of-a-man that was DD Phiri.

This is what I wrote:

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‘DD Phiri's quest for national 'immortality'

There is always a past and this makes history unavoidable, and the eventual absence of national records on our journey from the Partition of Africa, colonialism, independence and democracy akin to committing suicide at the national stage.

It must be that prolific historian and writer DD Phiri appreciated this realism by the strength of his age, experience, academic prowess and familiarity to the Malawian subject.

DD Phiri, as he has come to be known, must have realised, too, that forth-coming generations would be acting within their mandate to demand answers on why records were not set straight.

DD Phiri has 'partially' excused himself from such blame by publishing History of Malawi: Volume 1 in 2004. 'Partially' because the first volume limited the scope of Malawi's history to 1915— a time the pint-sized 'Amwandionerapati?' criss-crossed the land. 

Of course, volume 1 continued the tradition of other historians by making no mention of why the  'Amwandionerapati' were that short despite head of Malawi's 'Chipembedzo Chamakolo', Fred Kwacha, saying, time and again, that height provided cover to the country's early inhabitants, and that they could "spy" on lions, tigers, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, buffaloes, among other game, under the 'cover' of their height and forests.

Even though other issues— such as how the African continent was treated as a piece-of-cloth up for grabs, the toils of United States of America (USA)-trained Providence Industrial Mission pastor John Chilembwe, and founding president Kamuzu Banda's trek to South Africa, USA, the United Kingdom and Ghana, in that order  are mentioned; it is a journey half-covered.

Now, DD Phiri has made 'whole' his escape from blame by publishing History of Malawi: Volume 2.

 "As soon as volume 1 was published in the year 2004, book-sellers were telling me that their customers were eagerly asking for the next volume and wanted to know when it was going to be made available...," DD Phiri says in the preface.

In so doing, he has also satisfied the desire of Malawians because history is unavoidable.

 "...We do not need to be thoroughly versed in astronomy, geology or geometry if the careers we have chosen have nothing to do with such subjects.

"But we must be knowledgeable about personal and public health, as well as the history of our country. We cannot keep ourselves in good health unless we know what it takes to be healthy; similarly, we cannot love our country sufficiently if we are ignorant of its history."

David Hume, in the essay, 'On the study of history', also observed in 1740: "I must think it unpardonable ignorance in persons of whatever sex or condition not to be acquainted with the history of their own country, together with the histories of ancient Greece and Rome."

An individual acquainted with history may, in some respect, be said to have lived from the beginning of the world, and to have been making continual additions to his stock of knowledge in every century.

In the new Volume, Published in 2010 by College Publishing Company, we see Malawi, from 1915 to date, pass in review before us.

There is, in this 396 page-volume, the presence of that historical aspect; virtue, too. And orderly tucked in its 26 chapters are people and events in their proper colours. If DD Phiri has personal inclinations; then, they are not so visible to alter the overall state of facts and evidence.

Issues are presented in order of their occurrence. He does the same with personalities involved; he does not introduce them for the sake of it, but ties them to events they played a part in.

The first four chapters start on a social, economic and natural resources' note, with the first chapter chronicling the courage of local men who fought battles that were not theirs, and their contribution to British victory in East Africa during World War 1. The focus on land issues, education history, and rail transportation sets the tone for the brunt tone that characterises volume 2.

But, that aside, the politics of nationalism and independence make chapters four too 26 political— with some unexpected economic and social issues making sporadic appearances in chapters 16 and 22.

The book is a must-read for history teachers, students and the general population because everybody's needs are catered for in its approach. Combined with word economy, logic and a modicum of evidence, the knowledge gates are truly opened.

DD Phiri, a University of London economics, history and sociology graduate, has over 22 fiction and non-fiction books to his credit.

However, the History of Malawi Volume 2 is not a paragon of innocence.

To start with, there are some confusing typos and, second, there are not many books on the subject.

Third, Malawi is still a 'young' nation. As Sir Francis Bacon said, "a young nation is fitter to invent than to judge". Maybe this is why some of the assertions in the book cannot be backed up. Were they invented?

To this, DD Phiri says: "the writing of this book could have taken me even longer if it were not for the fact that most of the events narrated herein happened when I was already old enough to take interest and sometimes participate in them."

Participation and narration can, sometimes, be fortresses that limit the view of the outside world and distort perspective.

Otherwise, DD Phiri's latest publication is written for everyday use, replete with a permanence which the passage of 96 years has very little modified. It presents the Malawi we have always had.

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While it is almost like a state of mind for some people to abhor criticism, I was surprised that DD Phiri lauded my review when I met with him at Jacaranda School for Orphans in Chigumula Township, Blantyre, six months later.

This was after Marie da Silva of Jacaranda School for Orphans had brought people from USA to impart some technical skills in local children.

“I liked the review. You were also spot on on criticism. Keep it up,” DD Phiri said.

He, truly, had the heart of a writer— standing ready to accept both praise and criticism.
Other writers turn post-publication time into one of division; standing ready to pounce on critics.

Today, Malawi is in ruins. The creative mind of DD Phiri, forever a scene of constant bustle, has been frozen; his temperate heart stilled at last.