State funeral of Hastings Banda, Malawi's first president, held in Lilongwe with African heads of state in attendance.
Key Facts
- Deceased
- Hastings Banda, first President of Malawi
- Date of death
- 25 November 1997, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Funeral duration
- Over four hours at the State House
- Eulogy delivered by
- President Bakili Muluzi
- Notable attendees
- Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Quett Masire
- First to lay wreath
- Tananga Cecilia Kadzamira, Banda's companion
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Hastings Banda, who had ruled Malawi since its independence and served as its first president, died on 25 November 1997 in Johannesburg, South Africa, prompting the Malawian government to organise a state funeral befitting his role as founding leader.
The state funeral was held in Lilongwe on 3 December 1997 at the State House, lasting over four hours. President Bakili Muluzi delivered a eulogy alongside religious ceremonies attended by several African heads of state, including Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, his vice-president Joshua Nkomo, and Botswana's President Quett Masire.
Banda was interred with national honours, with his long-time companion Tananga Cecilia Kadzamira and relatives among the first to lay wreaths on his grave. Muluzi acknowledged the nation's loss, and Banda was posthumously celebrated with heroic titles including 'the Conqueror' and 'the Messiah'.