David Livingstone: the other side
by Kondwani Kamiyala That Dr David Livingstone was a great man goes without saying. How else can a man have his name in monuments in so many countries in Africa, America and Europe? Livingstone’s life is well-documented, in books, journals and he provides fodder for the historian seeking to piece up history. To the Malawian, Livingstone occupies a great space. Apparently, Malawi history records that the evangelist and medical doctor brought to Malawi commerce, modern medicine, Christianity and civilisation. We forsake the fact that there were iron smelters in the land before Livingstone set in, hence the name Malawi. The name is derived from the flames of fire rising from their furnances. Obviously, the iron smelters were selling their wares, either in exchanging of food or cowrie shells. There was fair trade before Livingstone. History teaches us of the barter trade before the arrival of Livingstone. That the natives healed the sick, however crude the means, before he set foot on the