Joyce Banda

About

Politician and women's rights activist who became the first female President of Malawi in 2012. She founded the People's Party in 2011.

Before Fame

She was sworn in as president after the death of her predecessor Bingu wa Mutharika, and despite the best effort of the former president's close associates to install his brother at the top.

Trivia

She was elected as the country's vice president in 2009 and she became one of the the president's most ardent critics, but he could not remove her from office.

Family Life

Her sister was the CEO of the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls charity that was sponsored by Madonna.

Associated With

Ellen Jonson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia, was the first female president in Africa, and worked together with Banda to help women on the continent.