James Ralph Nthinda Chinyama
Encyclopedia
James Ralph Nthinda Chinyama was a leading member of the Nyasaland African Congress
(NAC) during the period of British colonial rule in Nyasaland
, which became the independent state of Malawi
in 1964.
arm of the 1915 uprising led by John Chilembwe
.
He became an independent tobacco grower and businessman in the Lilongwe District
of the Central Province.
In 1927, Chinyama helped George Simon Mwase to found the Central Province Native Association.
By 1933, Chinyami was leader of the Native Association of Lilongwe, which had been formed to represent the views of the indigenous people of the area to the colonial administration.
In 1950, Chinyama was President of the African Farmers Association, which represented the interests of the most prosperous farm owners.
. In January 1950, Matinga was expelled due to suspected misuse of funds.
Chinyama was elected President of the NAC at a meeting in Mzimba
in August 1950. James Frederick Sangala
was elected Vice-President. Chinyama's election marked a turning point in the composition of the Congress, with prosperous farmers and small businessmen taking the place of the civil servants, clergy and teachers who until then had led the movement.
After the meeting, Chinyami organized a tour of the Central and Southern provinces to publicize the Congress.
In a meeting in London in April and May 1952, the British formed a plan to combine Nyasaland with Southern Rhodesia
and Northern Rhodesia
to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
. Chinyama and other Africans were invited to attend, but only as observers. They declined the offer.
In 1953 the new federation came into being.
It was deeply unpopular with NAC members, who saw it as a betrayal of the compact under which the Colonial Office would place the interests of Africans first in Nyasaland. Some of the younger members of the Congress called for radical protests. Chinyama, perhaps remembering the Chilembwe rising of 1915 which had led to his father's death, held back. Rioting and non-cooperation was ruthlessly suppressed, with an official death toll of eleven.
Chinyama publicly condemned the riots, not wanting the NAC to be associated with them.
Chinyama resigned from his position and was replaced by James Sangala in January 1954.
In 1959, Hastings Banda
had assumed the leadership of the Congress and was making populist speeches around the country that were to lead to his arrest later in the year. Chinyama was considered by this time to be a "quisling
" for having cooperated with the colonial government.
By September 1960, with elections being organized under universal suffrage as a step towards independence, Chinyama had passed into political oblivion.
Nyasaland African Congress
The Nyasaland African Congress was an organization that evolved into a political party in Nyasaland during the colonial period. The NAC was suppressed in 1959, but was succeeded in 1960 by the Malawi Congress Party, which went to on decisively win the first universal suffrage elections in 1961,...
(NAC) during the period of British colonial rule in Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
, which became the independent state of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
in 1964.
Early years
Chinyami was the son of Filipo Chinyama, who had been executed for leading the NtcheuNtcheu
Ntcheu is a town located in the Central Region of Malawi. It is the administrative capital of Ntcheu District.Ntcheu is known for its produce like Irish potatoes.-Demographics:...
arm of the 1915 uprising led by John Chilembwe
John Chilembwe
Reverend John Chilembwe was a Baptist educator and an early figure in resistance to colonialism in Nyasaland, now Malawi. Today John Chilembwe is celebrated as a hero for independence, and John Chilembwe Day is observed annually on January 15 in Malawi.-Early Life and Education:Chilembwe attended...
.
He became an independent tobacco grower and businessman in the Lilongwe District
Lilongwe District
Lilongwe is a district in the Central Region of Malawi. The capital is Lilongwe.The district covers an area of and has a population of 1,346,360. Lilongwe was officially declared a township in 1947. His Excellency the Life President Ngwazi Dr...
of the Central Province.
In 1927, Chinyama helped George Simon Mwase to found the Central Province Native Association.
By 1933, Chinyami was leader of the Native Association of Lilongwe, which had been formed to represent the views of the indigenous people of the area to the colonial administration.
In 1950, Chinyama was President of the African Farmers Association, which represented the interests of the most prosperous farm owners.
NAC President
The Nyasaland African Congress, an umbrella organization for Native Associations launched in 1943, had been struggling due to a dispute with the President, Charles MatingaCharles Matinga
Charles Jameson Matinga was a politician in Nyasaland before the colony obtained independence from the British.He was elected President-General of the Nyasaland African Congress in 1945, after the death of Levi Zililo Mumba....
. In January 1950, Matinga was expelled due to suspected misuse of funds.
Chinyama was elected President of the NAC at a meeting in Mzimba
Mzimba
Mzimba is a town in the Mzimba District of Malawi. The district comprises descendants of Tumbuka and Ngoni peoples.The district of Mzimba comprises a number of Traditional Authorities from the Ngoni people. The head of these Traditional Authorities, or Paramount Chief , is M'Mbelwa IV.-Demographics:...
in August 1950. James Frederick Sangala
James Frederick Sangala
James Frederick Sangala was a founding member of the Nyasaland African Congress during the period of British colonial rule.Sangala was given the nickname "Pyagusi", which means "one who perseveres"....
was elected Vice-President. Chinyama's election marked a turning point in the composition of the Congress, with prosperous farmers and small businessmen taking the place of the civil servants, clergy and teachers who until then had led the movement.
After the meeting, Chinyami organized a tour of the Central and Southern provinces to publicize the Congress.
In a meeting in London in April and May 1952, the British formed a plan to combine Nyasaland with Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
and Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
. Chinyama and other Africans were invited to attend, but only as observers. They declined the offer.
In 1953 the new federation came into being.
It was deeply unpopular with NAC members, who saw it as a betrayal of the compact under which the Colonial Office would place the interests of Africans first in Nyasaland. Some of the younger members of the Congress called for radical protests. Chinyama, perhaps remembering the Chilembwe rising of 1915 which had led to his father's death, held back. Rioting and non-cooperation was ruthlessly suppressed, with an official death toll of eleven.
Chinyama publicly condemned the riots, not wanting the NAC to be associated with them.
Chinyama resigned from his position and was replaced by James Sangala in January 1954.
Later years
In 1956 under a new constitution the Legislative Council was to consist of eleven officials and eleven non-officials. Of the non-officials, five were Africans chosen by the three Provincial Councils. Chinyama was one of those chosen.In 1959, Hastings Banda
Hastings Banda
Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the leader of Malawi and its predecessor state, Nyasaland, from 1961 to 1994. After receiving much of his education overseas, Banda returned to his home country to speak against colonialism and advocate for independence...
had assumed the leadership of the Congress and was making populist speeches around the country that were to lead to his arrest later in the year. Chinyama was considered by this time to be a "quisling
Quisling
Quisling is a term used in reference to fascist and collaborationist political parties and military and paramilitary forces in occupied Allied countries which collaborated with Axis occupiers in World War II, as well as for their members and other collaborators.- Etymology :The term was coined by...
" for having cooperated with the colonial government.
By September 1960, with elections being organized under universal suffrage as a step towards independence, Chinyama had passed into political oblivion.