John Chilembwe - The 1915 Uprisings

The 1915 Uprisings

On January 23, 1915 Chilembwe staged an uprising: he and 200 followers attacked local plantations that they considered to be oppressing African workers. Chilembwe's plan involved the killing of all male Europeans. They killed three white plantation staff, including Livingstone, whom they beheaded in front of his wife and small daughter. Several African workers were also killed, but they did not harm any women or children on orders of Chilembwe. Then following Sunday Chilembwe preached with Livingstone's head beside him on the pulpit. When the uprising failed to gain local support, Chilembwe tried to flee to Mozambique.