Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Wellman Kondowe ,  Mwayi Woyamba Lusaka
Publisher:   Springer Verlag, Singapore
Imprint:   Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN:  

9789819589258

ISBN 10:   9819589258
Publication Date:   07 June 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

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 Tshisekedi’s 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 Chisiza’s 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: Malawi’s Dunduzu Chisiza and Kenya’s 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.

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Author Information

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.

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