THE FAMOUS KACHERE TREE
By Sangwani Chigezero Chibaka
Ages ago, somewhere in the outskirts of Kasungu in Nyasaland (present day Malawi), a drum would sound early in the morning. The sound beckoned students from surrounding villages for lessons under the shade of a huge Kachere tree. Among the many pupils reciting the alphabet under this tree was one young boy, a boy who would one day lead the struggle for independence and become the first President of the republic of Malawi.
The first president of Malawi, late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda left behind a great legacy. He was a man of vision and dealt with vast challenges towards building a better Malawi which we proudly call “the warm heart of Africa”. Dr H. Kamuzu Banda ruled this country under autocracy, a reason why most people argue about his rule. Throughout his thirty-year reign both as prime minister and president, a lot of people loved him, on the other hand others feared him. Nevertheless his efforts to shape a better nation cannot go unnoticed, one of them includes improving the country’s education system. It is with this desire of refining Malawi’s education standards that he established the prestigious Kamuzu Academy, nicknamed “The Eton of Africa”.
The president once said in one of his speeches, “I do not want my boys and girls to do what I had to do – leave their homes and their families and go away from Malawi to get an education.” He made this speech in refer to his own life as he had to go and study abroad, let alone learn under a tree in his early primary school.
To this day, the famous Kachere tree is part of the national heritage, and its premises are now a national monument. Preserved away in Chinyama village near Mtunthama in kasungu the tree still stands vibrant and fresh to this very day, and I happened to have the privilege of visiting this amazing site.
“This tree is over 200 years old, its shade functioned both as a school and a place of worship, it was used as a school during weekdays and as a church on Sundays” says Ali Potiphar Banda, caretaker of the monument who gave me an amiable welcome. “The first teacher to be posted here was the late Moses Kambanizithe Chibwe, he taught Kamuzu and his friend’s letters of the alphabet under this tree” says Banda. “The class under the tree was the initial class and it was called bolodi because it involved the alphabet only. A shack was later built, it catered four higher grade classes which were called kauni, mkwere, sub-A and sub-B respectively. Successful pupils were then selected to continue higher classes at Chilanga mission” he narrates. Banda further tells me that the shack was also used for prayers, unfortunately it is no longer standing today.
In honour of the shack, a representational structure now stands at the place where it was built.
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| A representational structure built in memory of the old school |
Banda gave me a me memorable tour around, and within the premises of this monument also stands another kachere tree, which is nicknamed “the drum tree”. According to Banda the tree gained its nickname because it was used for hanging a drum. “When lowered and beaten, the drum called people for school and prayers” he adds.
The Drum tree
The kachere tree meant a lot to Dr H. Banda such that it is symbolised by the school uniform of Kamuzu Academy. The green colour on the uniform symbolises the green leaves of the tree, the grey colour stands for the trunk and the yellow colour represents the kachere fruit when ripe. Who would have known that one of the young boys learning under that kachere tree would one day become one of Africa’s most robust leaders? Honestly I was stunned at the beauty of the place, it is well taken care of and the view is top-notch
The kachere tree located about ninety miles away from the capital Lilongwe is one place you must visit.
Ali Potiphar Banda caretaker of the National Monument narrates to me the history of the Kachere tree
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