Personal and Family Life
Joyce Hilda Ntila was born on 12 April 1950 in Malemia, a village in the Zomba District of Nyasaland (now Malawi). Her father was an accomplished and popular police brass band musician. She began her career as a secretary and became a well-known figure during the rule of dictator Kamuzu Banda (no relation).
She has a Cambridge School Certificate, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbus University a Bachelor of Social Studies in Gender Studies from the Atlantic International University, USA and a Diploma in Management of NGOs from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Centre in Turch, Italy. Currently, she is reading for a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership at Royal Roads University in Canada.
She married Roy Kachale with whom she had three children. By age 25, she was living in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1975, a growing women's movement in Kenya motivated Banda to take her three children and leave what she has described as an abusive marriage. Her marriage to Roy Kachele ended in 1981. She is now married to Richard Banda, retired Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi with whom she has two children.
Between 1985 and 1997 Banda managed and established various businesses and organisations including Ndekani Garments, (1985), Akajuwe Enterprises (1992), and Kalingidza Bakery (1995). Her success moved her to help other women achieve financial independence and break the cycles of abuse and poverty.
She is sister to Anjimile Oponyo, former CEO of the never-built Raising Malawi Academy for Girls founded by Madonna. Madonna dismissed Banda's sister from the position amidst controversy. Anjimile Oponyo sued Madonna who responded with a counter-suit. The case was settled out of court.
Read more about this topic: Joyce Banda
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