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Tributes
to
J. Desmond Clark
1916-2002
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The news of J. Desmond Clark's death
on February 14, 2002 was relayed to me by Professor Elizabeth Colson
on February 15, through her Zambian colleague, and I immediately
facilitated its dissemination on our local radio station and publication
in the local press. The country was deeply saddened at the passing
away of the first director of the Rhodes - Livingstone Museum and
international scholar.
Because of Desmond's strong connections with the Rhodes - Livingstone
Museum from 1938 to 1961, his fieldwork in Zambia and numerous publications,
on Zambian prehistory, the name of Desmond Clark has become a household
name in Zambia. This became very evident in 1989 when he and Betty
visited Zambia with colleagues from Indiana University, Drs. Toth
and Schick at the invitation of the Livingstone Museum. Large crowds
of people turned up to have a glimpse of their idol. In recognition
of his contributions to the development of museums and the understanding
of human development in the country, the Zambian president received
him at State House and had breakfast with him, Betty, Toth and Schick.
The country was simply saying, thank you, for the tremendous contribution
and achievements he had made in the field of archaeology.
Many of my African colleagues who
knew and worked with Desmond would join me in remembering him as
someone who more than anything else, loved working with Africans.
He helped a large number of us currently working in Africa to obtain
foreign education in the field of Archaeology in American and European
Universities. For those of us who knew and loved JDC, he will live
in our hearts and memory forever.
Between 1938 and the time of his
death, Desmond devoted his life to the study of prehistoric societies
in Africa, the training of indigenous Africans as well as the development
of African Museums. Desmond was always at the heart of everything
we did as African Museum and heritage professionals especially in
Zambia, the country that saw him start his professional career at
a tender age of twenty-two years.
We in Zambia, shall never forget
the power of his memory which was a treasure even a few days before
his death. He always remembered very vividly names of Zambians that
made up part of the staff at the Rhodes - Livingstone Museum and
always showed concern about their well-being. He was especially
fond of his Field Archaeology Assistant and wrote a couple of weeks
before his death to enquire how his former Archaeology Assistant
was doing. His vivid memory of street names in Livingstone and a
host of other historic events about the then Northern Rhodesia mesmerized
Livingstone residents during a public lecture he gave at the Livingstone
Museum in 1989. Sadly, this will remain his last visit to the Museum
he helped establish and develop into a world-renowned museum of
international repute.
I will always remember Desmond and
his caring wife, Betty for their invariable generosity to us Africans
and how they have helped us interpret the complexities of western
societies in which they helped to train us. I always enjoyed his
sense of humour especially when it related to his experiences on
the African continent, his caring ways and loving kindness. He never
lost his distinctive British character which was a great source
of inspiration among us from Africa. His use of terms such as "Jolly
good" and "chap" always made Desmond stand out in
the American society where he spent over forty years.
I will always remember how Desmond
and Betty spent a freezing night at the San Francisco International
Airport in April 1979, waiting to pick me up after a more than fifteen
hour flight from Africa and ensured that I had a comfortable sleep
at the International Hall of Residence, Berkeley. This was my first
trip to the USA to study African Prehistory under his direction.
Since then, Desmond remained my mentor. He and Betty always made
me very welcome. They extended this hospitality to my family and
we were always part of the small community that had beach picnics
along the California Pacific coast. My children always remember
with fondness those rare times when we were privileged to be with
them both in Zambia and Berkeley.
Desmond was incredibly kind and
generous. He shared his knowledge with us from Africa including
published papers and books. My personal library has a sizeable share
of reprints, articles and books through his kind donation. The latest
donation being Kalambo Falls Volume III published by Cambridge University
press last year in October. I received a brand new copy from him
on February 12, 2002 and wrote to thank him and wished him a healthier
life the following day. Unfortunately, he entered eternal rest a
day later and will never be able to receive my letter.
On behalf of Zambia, a country in
which Desmond started his professional career in 1938, a country
in which Desmond and Betty started their family life, the people
of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf and that of my family, I wish
to express our loving condolences to Betty, John and Elizabeth and
all the grandchildren. I mourn his passing away but his memory will
always remain with us.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE
- Dr. Francis Musonda, Executive Secretary, National Museums Board
of Zambia
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