John Msonthi

Who is John Msonthi?

John Dustan Msonthi served Malawi as interpreter to Kamuzu Banda and Minister of Transport and Communication. Banda could not speak Chichewa and needed to communicate to the people through a translator. Kamuzu’s message was being relayed to Malawians by his interpreter, John Msonthi. During the years from 1958 until the 1970s he deciphered English into Chichewa using expressions, proverbs, metaphors which mesmerized Malawians. His messages were vital in the Malawian fight for Independence. He is known as one of the greatest orators of out time. The job first fell to John Msonthi and later John Tembo.