Joyce Banda has been sworn in as Malawi's first female head of state following the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika - the man she had fallen out with.She is the second woman to hold the top job in an African country, after Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a joint Nobel peace laureate in 2011.
Banda, who had been vice president since 2009, rose to prominence through her leadership of women's empowerment campaigns.
She was born in 1950 in Zomba, in southern Malawi, when the country was under British colonial rule and known as Nyasaland.
During the lengthy dictatorship of Hastings Banda (no relation), women were not allowed to wear trousers or mini skirts, as part of the regime's conservative and authoritarian rule.
It was during those years that Banda became known for fighting for woman's rights, and later also supported education and health projects.
Hastings Banda, president since 1964, was forced from power in 1994, paving the way for multi-party elections and some liberalisation.
After becoming a member of parliament, Joyce Banda in 2004 joined the cabinet as gender minister and later as foreign minister - the first time a female had the job of Malawi's top diplomat.
While she initially got along well with Mutharika, and he made her his deputy, the two soon split, with Banda increasingly critical of the president, especially over the economy. This ultimately led to her being thrown out of the ruling Democratic Progress Party.
But amid the turmoil, she hung on to her post as vice president - meaning that when Mutharika died of a heart attack on Thursday, she was first in line to replace him as president, according to the constitution.
“I just sincerely hope that there is no room for revenge. I just sincerely hope that we shall stand united,” she said, after taking her oath to thunderous applause and joyous singing in Malawi’s parliament. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Heart attack. Are ѰӪЦ sure its natural
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