The Chiwaya War: Malawians In The First World War (History and Warfare Series)

Editorial Review:

When World War I came to the British Protectorate of Nyasaland, Africans called it the Chiwaya War, from a Chichewa word meaning a "potsherd used for roasting grain." Malawians first used the word to describe military mess tins. When they later discovered that grain roasted on the tins made a distinct popping sound, they began using the term to describe the noise of machine guns rattling around them. Gradually, chiwaya became associated with the war itself, the conflict's new military technology, and the effects of the war, which seemed to be everywhere, like the sudden scattering in all directions of the popping maize.This is the fascinating story of how most of the adult male population of Malawi was pulled, for the most part unwillingly, into the horrors of a modern war. Melvin Page not only examines the recruitment and military service of Malawian askari (soldiers) and tenga-tenga (military laborers) but also considers the impact of wartime experience on all facets of Malawian life. The Chiwaya War became the nation's first truly national experience, and as such was a watershed in Malawian history.Based on extensive use of oral sources, plus archival research in Africa, Europe, and the United States, The Chiwaya War is the most complete analysis of the effects of the World War I on any African country. As such, the book sets a standard for the further study of the impact of the Great War not only in Africa, but in other areas of the world as well.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Invaluable Study of an African Colony at War:

This long-awaited work sadly seems to have been in print for all of 30 minutes (sic). "The Chiwaya War" is based on Melvin Page's 1977 dissertation, and normally the passage of 20+ years means that the research gets stale. In this instance, the long hiatus enabled him to write an even finer book, with mature reflection leading to better insights. It exemplifies the New Military History, with more attention given to what happens behind the front, greater focus on the ordinary rank-and-file, and examination... more info

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