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Do not fill this in! ==Personal and family life== Joyce Hilda Ntila<ref name="Tenthani" >{{cite journal | last = Tenthani | first = Raphael | title = Joyce Banda: Malawi's first female president | journal = BBC News, Blantyre | date = 10 April 2012 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17662916 | access-date =15 April 2012}}</ref> was born on 12 April 1950 in [[Malemia, Zomba|Malemia]], a village in the [[Zomba District]] of [[Nyasaland]] (now Malawi).<ref>{{cite web|title=Malawian president quietly celebrates 62nd birthday |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/04/12/malawian-president-quietly-celebrates-62nd-birthday/ |publisher=Nyasa Times |access-date=14 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414023610/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/04/12/malawian-president-quietly-celebrates-62nd-birthday/ |archive-date=14 April 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name=bdayparty>{{cite web|title=JB Celebrates Her 62 Birthday in Private |url=http://www.malawivoice.com/2012/04/12/jb-celebrates-her-62-birthday-in-private-67799/ |publisher=Malawi Voice |access-date=14 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414080836/http://www.malawivoice.com/2012/04/12/jb-celebrates-her-62-birthday-in-private-67799/ |archive-date=14 April 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Her father was a police brass band musician. She began her career as a secretary and became a well-known figure during the rule of dictator [[Hastings Banda]].<ref name = "Mponda">{{cite web | last = Mponda | first = Felix | title = Joyce Banda poised for Malawi presidency | work = Google hosted news: AFP | date = 6 April 2012 | url = https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jOpjFWpYrm2b4Zl0peP6slJ4dB3A?docId=CNG.d8ee654dd734a2011258c4f87f9da37b.b21 | access-date =20 April 2012}}</ref> She earned a Cambridge School Certificate,<ref name="malawi">[http://www.malawi.gov.mw/information1/New%20Malawi/joycebpro.htm]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref> a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from [[Columbus University (Louisiana)|Columbus University]] (an unaccredited distance education institution),<ref name = "Tribune" /> a Bachelor of Social Studies in Gender Studies from [[Atlantic International University]] (also an unaccredited distance learning institution) and a Diploma in Management of NGOs from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Centre in Turin, Italy. Atlantic International University has been characterized as a [[Diploma mill|degree mill]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-28 |title=Probe IGP's ‘Fake’ doctorate degree - Academics |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Probe-IGP-s-Fake-doctorate-degree-Academics-481571 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}</ref> and its degrees have been widely dismissed as "fake." She also received a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from [[Royal Roads University]] in [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malawi.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=197 |title=The President's Profile |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112091140/http://www.malawi.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=197 |archive-date=12 November 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> and an [[honorary doctorate]] in 2013 from [[Jeonju University]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/korean-university-awards-malawi-president-with-doctorate-degree-dr-joyce-banda/ | title=Korean university awards Malawi President with doctorate degree: Dr Joyce Banda | access-date=18 March 2013 }}</ref> She married Roy Kachale, with whom she had three children. At the age 25, she was living in [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]].<ref name = "Nairobi" >{{cite journal | last = Sigei | first = Julius | title = How Nairobi shaped future president | journal = Sunday Nation | publisher = Nation Media Group | location = Nairobi, Kenya | date = 15 April 2012 | url = http://www.nation.co.ke/News/How+Nairobi+shaped+future+president+/-/1056/1386170/-/item/1/-/c4548d/-/index.html | access-date = 15 April 2012 | archive-date = 15 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120415032159/http://www.nation.co.ke/News/How+Nairobi+shaped+future+president+/-/1056/1386170/-/item/1/-/c4548d/-/index.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |author=Raphael Tenthani |url=http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=169626 |title=Malawi's new leader takes charge with energy |publisher=BusinessDay |date=13 April 2012 |access-date=23 May 2012}}</ref> Her marriage to Roy Kachele ended in 1981. She later married [[Richard Banda]], retired Chief Justice of Malawi, with whom she has two children.<ref name = "energy">{{cite web | last = Tenthani | first = Raphael | title = Malawi's new president takes charge with energy | work = ABC News, Associated Press, 2nd page | date = 13 April 2012 | url = https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/malawis-president-takes-charge-energy-16129884#.T4zdcNUzCSo | access-date =16 April 2012}}</ref><ref name = "Al Jazeera">{{cite web | last = Mutasa | first = Haru | title = Malawi to begin treason trial of ex-officials | work = Al Jazeera | date = 10 April 2013 | url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/04/201341073057327861.html | access-date =10 April 2013}}</ref> Between 1985 and 1997 Banda managed and established various businesses and organisations including Ndekani Garments (1985), Akajuwe Enterprises (1992), and Kalingidza Bakery (1995).<ref name="malawi"/> Her success inspired her to help other women achieve financial independence and break the cycles of abuse and poverty.<ref name="unfpa">[http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=353 Friends of UNFPA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202061622/http://www.americansforunfpa.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=353 |date=2 December 2010 }}. Americansforunfpa.org. Retrieved 10 April 2012.</ref> She is sister to [[Anjimile Oponyo]], former CEO of the<ref name = "Friedman" >{{cite journal | last = Friedman | first = Roger| author-link = Roger Friedman | title = Madonna May Have Problems with the New President of Malawi—She Fired Her Sister | journal = Forbes Online | location = New York, NY | date = 9 April 2012 | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/04/09/madonna-may-have-problems-with-the-new-president-of-malawi-she-fired-her-sister/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120412195419/http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/04/09/madonna-may-have-problems-with-the-new-president-of-malawi-she-fired-her-sister/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 12 April 2012 | access-date =17 April 2012}}</ref> [[Raising Malawi#Raising Malawi Academy for Girls|Raising Malawi Academy for Girls]], financed by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]].<ref name = "Madonna">{{cite journal | last = Fekadu | first = Mesfin | title = Madonna: I'm happy Joyce Banda is Malawi's leader| journal = Boston Globe | publisher = Associated Press | location = Seattle, WA | date = 13 April 2012 | url = http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2012/04/13/madonna_im_happy_joyce_banda_is_malawis_leader/ | access-date =17 April 2012}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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