Broken-Hearted: Brian Banda’s kids pay tribute to ‘always there’ dad

The six children of the late Brian Banda have delivered a heartbreaking tribute to their father, describing him as a man who always showed up for his family, no matter how demanding his high-profile career as one of Malawi’s most recognisable broadcasters became. In an emotional eulogy read out at his funeral, Banda’s children reflected on the values their father instilled in them throughout his life, painting a picture of a man whose commitment to his family matched the dedication he brought to his decades-long career in journalism and public communication. The grieving children said Banda demonstrated the values of hard work, integrity, honesty and being God-fearing to them not through words alone, but through his everyday actions – lessons they said would stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Their tribute added a deeply personal dimension to a funeral that has already drawn an outpouring of grief from across Malawi’s political, media and religious establishment, following Banda’s sudden death on 8 August at Mwaiwathu Hospital in Blantyre after a short illness. The MBC director general, who took charge of the national broadcaster only in March this year, was laid to rest at his home village in Chileka, Blantyre, bringing to a close an emotional weekend that saw tributes pour in from President Peter Mutharika, First Vice President Jane Ansah, Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman and opposition leader Atupele Muluzi, among many others. But it was the words of his own children that struck perhaps the most poignant note of the entire funeral, offering mourners a rare glimpse into the private man behind the public broadcaster – a father who, despite juggling a demanding career that saw him host high-profile talk shows, serve in senior government communications roles, and ultimately lead the country’s national broadcaster, never once let his family feel like an afterthought.

For many who knew Banda only through his television and radio work – his fearless interviewing style, his ability to hold power to account while still connecting warmly with his audience – the tribute from his children offered a different, more intimate portrait of a man whose greatest achievements, in the eyes of those who loved him most, were not measured in awards or job titles, but in the simple, consistent act of showing up. Mourners at the service were visibly moved as the children spoke, with the eulogy capturing the sense of a father whose integrity in public life was mirrored by an equally steadfast commitment to those closest to him at home. Banda’s death has left what many in Malawi’s media fraternity have described as a significant void, both professionally and personally, with colleagues, friends and now his own children painting a consistent portrait of a man defined by decency, discipline and devotion – whether behind a microphone, in a boardroom, or simply present for the people who mattered most to him. As the family and community continue to process the loss, the tribute from Banda’s children is likely to be remembered as one of the most moving moments of a funeral that has, in many ways, become a reflection of the widespread affection and respect he commanded across Malawian society.