Diplomacy & Public Service
Landmark
David Rubadiri
1930 – 2018
Malawi's first ambassador to the UN, and one of Africa's most anthologised poets
Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Malawi Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
Appointed Malawi's first ambassador to Washington and the UN at independence, he resigned within a year rather than serve Banda — and spent thirty years teaching in exile. After Banda died, Malawi sent him back to the UN.
James David Rubadiri was born on 19 July 1930 and was a Malawian diplomat, academic, poet, playwright and novelist, among the most celebrated East African poets to emerge after independence.
At Malawi's independence in 1964 he was appointed the country's first ambassador to both the United States and the United Nations, but broke with Hastings Kamuzu Banda and left the government in 1965. He taught at Makerere from 1968 to 1975 and at the University of Nairobi from 1976 to 1984. After Banda's death he was reappointed Malawi's ambassador to the United Nations in 1997, and became vice-chancellor of the University of Malawi in 2000. His poetry appeared in the 1963 anthology Modern Poetry from Africa and his novel No Bride Price in 1967. He died on 15 September 2018.
At Malawi's independence in 1964 he was appointed the country's first ambassador to both the United States and the United Nations, but broke with Hastings Kamuzu Banda and left the government in 1965. He taught at Makerere from 1968 to 1975 and at the University of Nairobi from 1976 to 1984. After Banda's death he was reappointed Malawi's ambassador to the United Nations in 1997, and became vice-chancellor of the University of Malawi in 2000. His poetry appeared in the 1963 anthology Modern Poetry from Africa and his novel No Bride Price in 1967. He died on 15 September 2018.
- Wikipedia — David Rubadiri
- Daily Nation — Malawian diplomat and poet David Rubadiri dies
- Brittle Paper — David Rubadiri, Malawian poet and diplomat, passes on at 88
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