James Frederick Sangala was a founding member of the Nyasaland African Congress during the period of British colonial rule.Sangala was given the nickname "Pyagusi", which means "one who perseveres". Sangala was born in a village in the highlands of what is now southern Malawi, near the Domasi Presbyterian Mission, around 1900, a few years after the British had established the British Central Africa Protectorate. He completed Standard VI (American 8th grade, approximately) at school in Blantyre in about 1921 and for at least the next five years taught at Domasi. Thereafter, until around 1930, he earned between 30/- (shillings) and 75/- a month working for a succession of businessmen as clerk, book-keeper and capitao (foreman). From 1930 until around 1942 he held clerical positions assisting