This book focuses on sudden deaths of African leaders. In doing so, it addresses aspects such as resulting political tensions, issues with regards to law, the constitution, and presidential succession, following a sudden death. It further sheds light on the role of media in constructing and disseminating narratives in the event of sudden deaths of political leaders in Africa. The book brings together established and emerging scholars from ten African countries namely: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Chad, Nigeria, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mozambique.
Authors have applied multiple methodological approaches using data collected from media discourses, documentaries, archival information which makes the book a valuable source of literature for future students, scholars, researchers, and policy makers. Generally, the book will be of an interest across the interdisciplinary fields including linguistics; journalism; political studies; psychology; communication; history, law, sociology, security studies, international relations. and culture.
THEME 1: Setting the narrative of sudden deaths in Africa.
Chapter 1:
Discourses and narratives surrounding sudden death among the Wanga of Western
Kenya.
Chapter 2: Media framing of sudden deaths of African presidents: A
focus on Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Chapter 3: The sudden death of
Tanzanian president John Mafuguli: the political alignments and
realignments.
Chapter 4: Media power in shaping public opinion over sudden
deaths of prominent politicians.
Chapter 5: Quid of opposition Maximo leader
of Democratic Republic of Congo, Etienne Tshisekedis sudden death: A
critical discourse analysis.
Chapter 6: Political solidarity during sudden
deaths In Malawi: A critical discourse analysis of events surrounding the
state funeral of Saulos Klaus Chilima.- THEME 2: Sudden Deaths and Political
Tension in Africa.
Chapter 7: Politics and tension during sudden deaths of
African leaders: A case of Chad, Tanzania, Zambia, and Kenya.
Chapter 8:
Politics and tension during sudden deaths of African leaders: A comparative
analysis.
Chapter 9: Conspiracy or coincidence? The role of the sudden
deaths of opposition leaders in the configuration of power in Mozambique.-
Chapter 10: Rhetoric, mourning, and ethno-political palimpsests in the 2015
Kogi State Gubernatorial election in Nigeria.
Chapter 11: Nipped in the
bud? Politics, rumours and the aftermath of Dunduzu Chisizas sudden death
at Thondwe in Zomba, Malawi.- THEME 3: The Law, the Constitution, and
Presidential succession during sudden deaths.
Chapter 12: Death of Bingu wa
Mutharika and the power struggle: A futile attempt to rape the
constitution.
Chapter 13: The law and the constitution during presidential
sudden deaths: A case study of Zambia.
Chapter 14: Constitutional questions
and presidential succession in Malawi under the 1994 constitution: An
interrogation of the law and practice.
Chapter 15: The politics of Donchi ku
Beba: Political tension and power wrangles during the (un)sudden death of
President Michael Chilufya Sata of Zambia.- THEME 4: Histories of sudden
deaths in Africa.
Chapter 16: Statecraft in Flux: The political
ramifications of Josiah Tongogara's sudden death in Zimbabwe.
Chapter 17:
Malawis Dunduzu Chisiza and Kenyas Tom Mboya: Parallel lives (and sudden
deaths).
Chapter 18: Church, culture and politics: The life and death of
John Chilembwe.
Chapter 19: Mourning the sudden death of Saulos Klaus
Chilima in Malawi: Celebrating life of fervent leaders.- Chapter 20:
Zinayenda bwanji? Wafa Bingu? Wafa Chilima? (How is it that Bingu/Chilima is
dead?) The politics of death in multiparty Malawi.
Wellman Kondowe is a senior lecturer in Applied Linguistics at Mzuzu University, Malawi. He holds a PhD from Central China Normal University. He has published journal articles and book chapters with Wiley, Routledge, DeGruyter, Palgrave. He has four books: Multilingualism in Southern Africa (Routledge, 2024); Discrimination and Access to justice in Africa (Routledge, 2025); Forensic Linguistics in Southern Africa (Cambridge University Press, 2025). The current book is his fourth book publication.
Mwayi Lusaka holds a PhD in History from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. He lectures History and Heritage Studies at Mzuzu University. Currently he is a Research Fellow with University of South Africa-Department of History. He is CODESRIA laureate under Meaning Making Research Initiative 2025.
