Dr. Kenneth Kaunda (honoris causa)
By Dickson Jere
Who was Prof Eyo B.E. Ndem? Those of you who are old enough and went to University of Zambia (UNZA) in the 70s?
I just found – in my late fathers briefcase – the citation Prof Ndem wrote and read in support of the Honourary Doctorate of Laws Degree for Dr. Kenneth Kaunda in 1974. It was an academic comic!
He was truly a praise-singer for KK.
Herewith the excerpt:
“Your Excellency, Sir, your encompassing ethos as a father of this nation has provided us with an elixir. And your magnanimity even in situations that over-tax human forbearance and patience, is worthy of emulation. Mr President, Sir, your humility, your broad smiles and melodic voice, have captivated many a heart of our people: publicly acclaimed number one sportsman of the nation; tall, elegant, majestic, black-ebony – the Adonis of our clime, expressing in both its physical and spiritual sense – the unique African identity…”
He went on;
“During that historic struggle you were condemned, caricatured as rabid demagogue, yet with a charismatic appeal which none could resist save the ignoble and retrograde minds for whom infamy, repine, and political brigandage in Africa constitute a virtue, you triumphed. But political chicanery or any form of philistine acts are inconsistent with your avowed principles of humanism. You nevertheless, in the face of these terrible odda mustered up the courage and valour of a Hercules, combined with the prudence of a seasonal and well-groomed matador, and disintegrated the colonial dinosaurs”.
And he concluded:
“For never before in the history of human endeavors has so much been achieved, with so little personal material reward. We shall ever remain enamored by lustre of your attainment; bathed, greased, and sustained by your prodigious energy for hardwork. This is a garland, a heirloom, festooned on this nation. It is an Ark of the Covenant,new promise to protect and preserve.”
What a speech!
I have learned new phrases.
“Political chicanery”.
“Political brigandage”.
Wow!
