Chief Kapeni was a prominent Yao chief in present-day Malawi who, in the 1800s, made a decision that would eventually lead to his death and the capture of his kingdom. Ignoring the warnings of neighboring chiefs, he gave British missionaries a large expanse of land to settle in his territory. This single action set the stage for the tragic events that followed.
In 1876, Chief Kapeni, lured by promises of “peace and goodwill” from British missionaries, welcomed them into his territory. Persuaded by their seemingly pure intentions and reassuring words, he granted them a large expanse of land for settlement. Kapeni’s decision was heavily influenced by the missionaries’ assurances that they sought only to bring peace, education, and religious teachings to his people.
Despite Kapeni’s optimism, neighboring chiefs warned him against allowing the British to establish a foothold in his kingdom.
They had observed the actions of Europeans along the coast, witnessing the enslavement of Africans, land seizures, and the imposition of taxes. They cautioned that once the missionaries settled, soldiers would follow, leading to domination and subjugation.
“Do not receive the white men. We have travelled to the coast and seen their ways. Others will follow them and when they are strong enough, they will take your land and tax you if you stay there: send them away, if they will not go, kill them all”
Kapeni, however, was reassured by the British missionaries when he asked if they had such intentions. They told him no, clarifying that the other chiefs were referring to the Portuguese and that the British behaved differently. Trusting these assurances, Kapeni then sent a message to the concerned chiefs, informing them that the white men were his friends and guests, and any harm intended toward them would have to be enacted over his dead body.
The British missionaries were allowed to stay, and soon after, British soldiers arrived. This marked the beginning of the end for Kapeni’s sovereignty. Six years after the missionaries’ arrival, the British turned on Kapeni. They killed him, exiled his son and heir, seized his kingdom’s land and imposed taxes on the local people. The once-promised peace and goodwill had morphed into oppression and exploitation.
Following Kapeni’s death, the British used his territory as a strategic base to launch further conquests against neighboring kingdoms. The neighboring chiefs who had warned Kapeni faced imprisonment or fled beyond the expanding British sphere of influence. Forts such as Fort Johnson, Fort Sharp, and Fort Liwonde, which also functioned as crucial slave markets and administrative centers, were established to solidify British control and safeguard their interests in the region.
Kapeni’s decision, rooted in trust and perhaps a desire for modernization through missionary education, ultimately led to his downfall and the subjugation of his people.
To this day, the tale of Chief Kapeni’s legacy, his trust, and the subsequent betrayal by the British serves as a cautionary tale, reminding those familiar with his story of the consequences of misplaced faith in colonial powers.
Source:
Booth, Joseph. (1897). Africa for the African
