Renowned hip hop artist, Phyzix, will storm Mzuzu on November 20, 2020 promising an exciting performance a year after he performed in the city.
“We wanted to completely cancel the show in the north because of COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, after considering possible preventative measures on the ground, I felt it necessary to entertain my fans in the region,” he told Malawi News Agency on Monday.
Phyzix, whose real name is Noel Chikoleka, said the show has been shifted from Katoto ground to Squirrels Park near Mzuzu Stadium to address the COVID-19 issue.
“Performing at an open ground would attract a lot of people, which would make it difficult for people to observe COVID-19 prevention measures.
“By shifting it to Squirrels Park, I feel like all necessary COVID-19 measures would be followed,” he said.
Phyzix Spokesperson, Donata Mpochela said the artist would have come to Mzuzu way back but was stopped by the pandemic.
“Because of COVID-19, our performances were happening online where some of our fans had no access. We are excited that on November 20 we will reach out to those,” she added.
Mpochela further said the show will be spiced up by a number of artists including Eli Njuchi.
Phyzix released a song titled ‘Follow’ in September and ‘Beautiful’ on November 2, this year.
Blantyre, November 13, Mana: Veteran Poet Hudson Chamasowa said he is working on an anthology poetry book tilted Ndakatulo Za Makono which themes various contemporary issues including academic and Christian life as well as people and cultural beliefs.
My second book after my debut literature book, The Familiar Stranger– Chamasowa
In a written response on Friday, Chamasowa said he is only remaining with the analytical part where he shall expand the themes and attach questions and activities per piece of poem for people to hear new stories that align to contemporary thinking.
While saying he has not co-authored with anyone, the poet said he started writing the book in 2013 and since then he has been seeking permission of other writers to gather and feature their works in the anthology.
He said: “Malawian vernacular literature needs to be seriously revisited. Reading culture is fast dying because people have stopped writing. Thus why I am working on contemporary literature knowing time has changed and people need to hear new stories aligning to contemporary thinking.”
The poet famed for poems Ku Simongoliya and Ndende Ya Mizimu, said he is planning to first release an online copy of the book before coming up with a hard copy adding that the online copy will be available end November.
“this is my second book after my debut literature book, The Familiar Stranger, which is English Literature For Junior Secondary School In Malawi. The book has been in school syllabus for seven years now,” said Chamasowa
The vernacular poet-cum-writer said poetry is very important because it addresses issues differently adding it is a powerful tool for communication. He also said that poetry could be used to market brands or disseminate awareness campaign messages.
The holder of Bachelor of Arts Humanities from Chancellor College, Chamasowa, currently works as a Copywriter at the Jupiter Drawing Room and also as a Station Manager for Ufulu Fm.
University of South Africa has recognized and honored Malawian Musician Patience Namadingo with Doctorate Degree for his humanitarian efforts in Malawi, for the people of Malawi.
In a statement on Namadingo’s official Facebook page, Namadingo received the honorary degree this morning during the graduation ceremony that was held at UNISA’s main campus in the ZK Mathews great hall.
According to the statement, UNISA has highlighted “Patience Namadingo’s positive social impact and philanthropic work that has been inspired others across Africa, hopefully beyond”
The Mapulani hit maker, is said to be the youngest from four African countries that have been honored.
“Nine Doctors graduated today from four African countries, the youngest of them all being the Malawian Patience Namadingo,” reads part of the statement.
Namadingo further stressed that no “Mo procedures bypassed, no favors asked, no one disadvantaged. Simply the world taking notice of a Malawian, his efforts and the system allowing for such an individual to be awarded for uplifting others.”
Namadingo is not only well known of his melodious voice when singing to his well-cooked and appetizing songs, he has also been a household name over his generous acts aimed at improving welfare of fellow Malawians.
Some few months ago, Namadingo made headlines after he volunteered to stand as a statue with an aim of raising funds for a guitarist William Kachigamba who was scheduled to receive cancer treatment in Zambia.
Miss Malawi 2002 Blandina Khondowe, born Blandina Mlenga has passed on. Apart from best known for her role as Miss Malawi 2002, she is also the founder of Think Pink – Malawi campaign for breast cancer awareness.
Her own diagnoses of breast cancer led her to become a vocal advocate for breast cancer awareness in Malawi.
She advocated for breast cancer awareness and speaks about the lack of facilities and access to equitable management.
Starting in 2013, she began partnering with local companies and local NGOs to create awareness for breast cancer in the country.
Blandina during one of her cancer awareness campaigns.
Family members say Blandina, was pronounced dead at Spring Valley Private Hospital in Area 10 in Lilongwe.
Inside sources indicate that she was rushed to the hospital after she collapsed at home.
Blandina, born in 1980, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, which she later overcame only to be diagnosed again in 2017.
Following her diagnosis and later survival, she became a passionate breast cancer advocate through the two initiatives she founded – Think Pink Malawi (in 2013) and later, Hope for Cancer Foundation (in 2015).
Funeral arrangements are yet to be made.The former beauty queen is survived by a husband and two children.
Kondowe: Her own diagnoses of breast cancer led her to become a vocal advocate for breast cancer awareness in Malawi
She also initiated the annual national Think Pink Walk with Magdelena Zgamvo in 2014 which promotes early detection of breast cancer.
At the time of her death, she was serving as Principal Tourism Officer in the Ministry of Tourism. She continued to judge for the Miss Malawi pageant and other beauty pageantry.
A FIGHTER:Kondowe during breast cancer awareness campaign
The much-anticipated Summer Hangout, organized by Anchors Lounge situated in the old Sunnyside Lodge compound in Blantyre, will take place on Saturday November 28, featuring the most-sought after acts on the Malawi urban music scene.
The line-up includes Tay Grin, Phyzix, Kell Kay, Tuno, Hyphen, Barryone, Piksy and Nyasapiano. But that is not all as the performances will be complemented by DJs such as DJ Flame, DJ Trick and DJ Ronnie.
One of the organisers of the Summer Hangout Mathambo Lowole said all is set for the event.
“We want to give the people the best, this is the time. Since Anchors Lounge was launched, our clients have been asking for something big and we have responded by giving them what they have been asking for,” he said.
Lowole said Anchors Lounge is convenient for those who love chilling. “Anchors Lounge was established to provide the space for people to chill. It is one of the best in Blantyre. There is no compromise on the quality of what is offered at Anchors Lounge. The Summer Hangout will give a lot of people the opportunity to see what Anchors Lounge is all about,” he said.
Apart from the performances, Anchors Lounge has joined hands with the artists and DJs to condemn acts of violence against women and girls.
Mathambo Lowole: We want to take this opportunity to speak strongly against any kind of violence against women and girls
“The main reason for the Summer Hangout is to provide entertainment but we cannot ignore what is happening around us. The reported cases of rape and defilement in Malawi are very worrisome. We want to take this opportunity to speak strongly against any kind of violence against women and girls,” Lowole said.
Piksy, one of the artists who will perform, said he is looking forward to the Summer Hangout.
“I am ready to join fellow artists and provide the entertainment. We exist because of our fans. Most importantly, we have a platform which can be used to amplify the voices of the people, the cry of women and girls who face different kinds of abuse. As an artist, I strongly condemn any form of violence against women and girls,” Piksy said.
The Summer Hangout will start around 11:00am until 7.00pm. After the performances, there will be an after-party at the same venue.
To be part of this big event, patrons will pay K4,000 each while doubles would pay K6,000.
Anchors Lounge is situated in the old SunnySide Lodge compound.
Malawi’s celebrated TV personality Geoffrey Kapusa, popularly known as Mr splash is set to tie a knot with his long time sweet-heart Mary Chande Mhone this coming Saturday in Blantyre.
According to information at hand, the wedding will be officiated at St. Columba CCAP Church and the reception will be held at Soche East Hall.
Kapusa was fired from MBC for allegedly warning management to desist from launching propaganda scheme against Malawi Congress Party ahead of the May 21, 2019 general election.
He later joined Mibawa Television before moving to Times Television where he worked for few months.
While Mary Chande Mhone once worked for Joy radio of Atupele Muluzi before moving to Capital FM radio.
Lilongwe, Mana: Malawians from all walks of life were excited to hear a new genre of music dubbed mash-up of which Patience Namadingo featured several music icons like Lucius Banda, Black Missionaries, Giddes Chalamanda and Billy Kaunda.
Namadingo: It was exciting to do Mash-ups with major Artists
According to Namadingo, mash-up is number of songs put together but listeners choose and select what they want from the songs.
About 12 songs putting them together, basically the word mash up is coming in because they are just mashed together.
He was quick to point out the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the coming up of mash-up with Mlaka Maliro.
Namadingo said that, “The coming of Covid-19 disturbed us on our planning because when Covid-19 came, we had already planned to do mash up with Maliro which we did not do. We will do another mash-up with him but that will be communicated.”
Namadingo said that he enjoyed working with every artist and he could not compare them since everyone was unique in their on way.
“Working with Lucius was full of stories. It took longer working with him because we had so much funny listening to his stories from the past,”
“Working with Black Missionary was exciting since it was group sharing a lot of stories. Chalamanda was another thing because I was working with someone in another generation. I had a lot of questions to ask him. He told us a lot of the stories,” he added.
Acting Director of Music Association of Malawi, Gloria Manong’a said Namadingo is the first person bringing Mash–up in the country.
“Mash-up has really helped Namadingo because he has exposed his talent very far and has reached young and old. He has promoted unity among musicians by working together and pass in different messages to people,” she explained.
Manong’a noted that Covid-19 was really a big challenge to the music industry, as most of the musicians depend on live performances where after performances they get money or funds to support their daily living.
“We did not manage to support our members due to financial or material limitations. We did not have enough resources to do so but this has being a lesson to us all. We did not prepare for the disaster but we have to make sure that we keep something for the future use,” she admitted.
Leader of Black Missionary, Anjiru Fumulani stated that it was great performing with Namadingo, the collabo helped to rekindle the fire for old time sake as black missionary.
“Our fans did not believe that we can collaborate with him but they were excited and amazed that it happened,” he said.
Fumulani said that Covid-19 has affected not only the musician’s but even the business community and has affected people financially.
Upcoming artist, Stanley Zikambuma (Zika B) cherishes an opportunity to do mash–up with Namadingo, since he is one of the best artists in the country.
“I have known mash–up because of Namadingo, not many people were aware of this. This has reminded us, the songs that our parents were listening like Chalamanda songs,” he confessed.
Tamika Mkandawire, one of the fans of Namadingo said that she really like his mash-up and she just hopes that he should continue.
Namadingo is the first musician to bring Mash–up in the country and fans are excited.
Lilongwe, Mana: One of the best RnB inspiring artists in the country, Lawrence Kwisa who is known as Lulu in the music circles, has released a single track titled ‘Nkhaza’.
Music is the power weapon- Lulu
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Lulu said the single will go a long way in assisting government and private sector in fighting against the increase of cases of rape, defilement and other Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The RnB artist reveled that he decided to come up with the song after an outcry from the general public about increased cases of rape and defilement in the country.
“Every day the media is reporting about defilement and gender based violence which made me to intervene through music.
“My music is basically encouraging people to protect women and children from any kind of abuse that these groups of people are facing. I decided to come up with this song because music is the power weapon when it comes to communication,” he said.
He appealed to the police to ensure that defilement cases have handled without bias saying a lot of people are suffering in silence because of corruption that police officers may get.
He also encouraged women and girls to report any cases of abuses to the relevant authorities to help them arrest the suspects.
Lulu also appealed to the church to assist government in the fight against defilement and GBV.
On December 20, Lulu is expected to hold a show at Mnthuzi Lodge in Area 49 where he will sing more about GBV.
Renowned gospel artist George Mkandawire was described as strong-willed, a people’s person and full of life as he was laid to rest at HHI Cemetery in Blantyre on Monday.
Earlier his friends, family, fellow gospel artists and politicians had gathered at the Robins Park to pay their last respect.
Mkandawire died in Zambia from high blood pressure after he collapsed in a bathroom before taking shower.
Gospel artists in attendance included the veteran Lucius Banda, Anjiru Fumulani, Wendy Harawa.
Renowned praise singer Ethel Kamwendo Banda delivered a tribute to Mkandawire.
Mourners and fans sang along and danced when some of the gospel artists performed on stage at the funeral – which also doubled-up as a free concert.
The Ndirande Anglican Voice composed a song specially dedicated to the gospel artist.
Mkandawire, 46, was described as one of the best artists in his genre who had dreams of uplifting his family and community at large and would give with an open heart without wanting anything in return.
Lucius Banda, veteran artists said Mkandawire had taught the musicians love and would be remembered for his passion to succeed.
“He was never afraid to apologize when he wronged you. It is difficult to let it go.”
Minister of Tourism, Michael Usi, who also represented the State President, said it was emotional and unbelievable that Mkandawire was gone.
“George chose to be happy. He never compromised his dream and he knew what he wanted in life.
He was not boring and was sharing. We will remember him by his sense of humor,” Usi told the mourners.
Usi, described him as a shy person but very energetic when performing on stage. He said Mkandawire had touched various people in different ways.-( (By Archangel Tembo)
MICHELLE: Both audio and video will be released on the same day
Malawi’s dance Hall and reggae musician, Michelle Kayembe, popularly known as Shenseh , is set to release a new single titled ‘Future.’
The 19-year old girl from Kasungu district said , that the song talks about a young girl with a bright future due to her hardworking in class.
“Future is a classic song. Through the single, I want to give my fans what they have been craving for all this while. I want to encourage my fellow youths especially girls to work hard in class if they want to have a bright future,” said Shenseh, a student at PACT College in Lilongwe.
She indicated that the song would be available end of December and that she will feature Marfix. “The good thing is that both audio and video will be released on the same day. “I hope that the song will be positively received by my fans. I have made sure to stay within the needs and interests of urban music lovers,” She said.
Shenseh assured her fans that they will get the same taste of her previous singles but in an improved package.
Apart from Future, Shenseh has released other popular singles such False appearance, Never Never and Million Dollar.
MICHELLE:Through the single, I want to give my fans what they have been craving for all this while
Lilongwe, Mana: A musical group based in Lilongwe, Brainlock Fam is set to visit Home of Hope Orphanage in Mchinji along Mkanda road on December 24, 2020 with the purpose to cheer up with orphans as well as share some food items.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) Sunday in Lilongwe, one of the artists in Brainlock Fam, Jeff Nyimbo said the event seeks to celebrate together with the orphans during the Christmas period.
“We all grew up in the culture where Christmas is the time; we gather together and celebrate as one. We do not want our friends of Home of Hope Orphanage to be left out, hence the event,” he said.
Nyimbo said the meeting was an opportunity to chat, eat and enjoy as one family, as well as giving out food stuffs and other necessities such as bags of maize, soya and groundnuts.
The year of 2020 has been a great year with a lot of fruits, so the event is organized to give back the people what we got, he explained.
Part of the occasion is to give everybody a bright picture of what Brainlock Fam is all about.
The meeting is a big motivation to the group as such it will motivate them to go higher.
The artist pointed out that music is not only about going to studios, making sales of the records and rocking stage but one can use talent to help others with their needs hence the programme.
He said Brainlock Fam would continue scheduling such events next year and more years to come.
“After this event, we will continue visiting and helping needy people across the country and in the year of 2021 we will launch a project aimed at helping the needy, called, Ndife Amodzi Project,” Nyimbo continued.
Brainlock Fam will be headlining the event, supported by local artists, such as Krypton, Angie and Aaron Carlos and a headlining DJ Nathan Tunes.
He requested good people out there who are willing to sponsor this meeting, to contact them before the event.
One of the members, Annie Gwaza said she feels so honoured being part of the event and to have time to interact with the orphans during the festive season.
“We will be able to interact with them, getting to hear their stories and share our stories and I feel the festive season is to show God’s love and kindness,” she said.
Brainlock Fam started in 2016 and is comprised of five artists as well as a team of management.
The event will commence on Christmas Eve at 7:00am till the next day.
For support visit Brainlock Fam Facebook page, Instagram pages @BRAINLOCK FAM. And emails Brainlockfam@gmail.com
At 19 and standing not more than 1.5 metres blossoming music sensation, Eli Njuchi is not a giant.
But the transformation that his art is making him achieve is so huge that the giants in the music game and away from it have recognized his increasing presence.
His magic and genius was testified on Sunday afternoon at Robin’s Park in Blantyre when he unveiled his album, The Book of Eli.
The giant Robin’s Park venue was sold out and the atmosphere inside and outside the hall, where other patrons who could not find space inside sat, was infectious.
The euphoria that those present were experiencing spilled over to the social media.
People expressed their awe in the manner the budding star had gripped the moment.
Eli doing what he knows best-Picture by Pemphero Musowa
Fellow musicians, art commentators and ordinary music lovers poured out their admiration and respect for the artist.
Hip hop artist, Gwamba posted on his Facebook page: “The future is here! Eli Njuchi.” His message was accompanied by hands up emojis.
Another rapper, Fredokiss posted: “History made. Congratulations Eli Njuchi.”
The genius of Eli Njuchi spilled over to the office of Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara who has since bought the album at K100, 000.00
“This young man needs our support. He will take Malawi to the world of music,” Hara wrote.
Such was how the magic of the Zitaye hit maker swept across on Sunday.
Inside the fully parked hall there were continuous chants and patrons witnessed the moment that a star was born.
The patronage was a mixture of both the young and the old.
He performed a number of his songs such as Phone and the recently released Honest including a touching conversation he had with his father when he was leaving Lilongwe coming to Blantyre at the onset of his music career.
Among other highlights of the launch was the presence of rapper Charisma, who has been voted as best live Hip Hop act in the inaugural Malawi Hip Hop Music Awards on Sunday evening.
His performance underlined he was accorded the accolade.
Other performers on the day included Hayze Engolah, Classick who did his new song Water.
South African-based music producer and singer, Gemini Major took the crowd to another level.
The Malawian artist had sent the patrons wild with his antics on stage before he did Ragga.
File: Veteran Music Paul Banda Performing before Covid-19
A group of musicians in Lilongwe have obtained an injunction against government over the decision to revise Covid-19 preventive measures, lawyer for the musicians, Innocent Kubwalo has confirmed the news.
The temporary relief follows an announcement on Tuesday by Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 which among others, directed that all public events should not exceed 100 people.
However, musicians said the decision has an implication on the entertainment industry as a number of musicians have already lined up a number of shows across the country.
“I am currently rushing to the attorney general’s office to serve the order,” Kubwalo told Nation Online on Thursday.
Currently, Malawi has registered 6277 confirmed cases of Covid-19 including 187 deaths thus according to the Presidential task force.
Malawi’s top hip-hop artist Fredokiss real name Penjani Kalua has joined UTM party, which is one of the ruling parties in the Tonse Alliance administration.
Fredokiss, a son to a veteran politician Kamlepo Kalua, said he decided to join UTM because it is a safe space for new generation ideas.
In a statement, UTM party has announced that a ceremony to welcome the hip hop artist into the party is set for Thursday, December 31, at Zingwangwa Youth Centre in Blantyre.
He will be welcomed into the party by UTM vice-president Michael Usi and party patron Noel Masangwi.
Fredokiss’ first experience with politics was last year when he contested for the position of Member of Parliament for Blantyre City South on an independent ticket.
Musician cum politician Fredokiss, whose real name is Penjani Kalua, has officially joined the UTM at a function held at the party’s regional office in Blantyre.
UTM Secretary General, Patricia Kaliati, has welcomed Kalua, describing him as a New Year’s gift for the party
.Asked on whether he harbours ambitions to contest as UTM parliamentary candidate for 2025 (Blantyre City South), he says God will guide him to make his next political move.
As one way of giving hope to the hopeless souls in the year started, a Blantyre based upcoming-gospel artist Dr. Drew real name Andrew Mijoya has released a new single titled ‘Always There’.
In an interview with the publication on Tuesday, Dr. Drew said the new single aims at encouraging people who have suffered a ‘big time’ during the previous year saying God is always there to provide for them in 2021.
“Last year was a difficult year for everybody, but there were those who suffered greater losses than others.
“And as we have now entered 2021, God’s promise to his children is that through the fire and the rain He will be there.
Dr. Drew during live performance
He will never forsake them. There will be greater challenges than those of last year, but God will be a present help,” said Dr. Drew, who is a medical doctor by profession.
The song ‘Always There’ has been produced and recorded by AB Malinga of Melodix Studios and can be downloaded on www.malawisounds.com and www.goldencitytower.com.
The artist Dr. Drew started his music career way back with the trio ‘Third Heaven’ before joining Faith Mussa’s Mdidi Band as Piano Player.
Veteran Musician Lucius Banda, who is also President Lazarus Chakwera’s Special advisor on Arts, has been discharged from Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre.
The music icon Banda better known by his stage name as ‘Soldier’ was admitted at the hospital days ago after suffering from high blood pressure.
According to his colleague Jack Macbrams, Banda’s condition has improved.
Soldier Lucius Banda, is a Malawian singer-songwriter, music producer and politician from Balaka.
Tributes from all over are pouring in for veteran broadcaster and renowned singer Maria Chidzanja Nkhoma who has died today of Covid-19.
Until her death Nkhoma was Head of Section for Women and Children Desk at Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS).
According to a communication from ZBS, Nkhoma died Saturday morning at the COVID-19 Isolation Center at Kamuzu Central Hospital where she was being treated.
ZBS says details of the burial ceremony will be communicated in due course but all COVID-19 measures will be followed as guided by health personnel.
In the 1980s, Nkhoma worked at Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Programmes Department, serving in various capacities as announcer, producer and news anchor.
She is also famed as a lead vocalist in the defunct MBC band. Nkhoma is also the lead voice in the well known “Kunali John Chilembwe” song.
In 1994, Nkhoma moved to South Africa where she joined Channel Africa, a broadcasting station under the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).She returned home in 2003 and did volunteer work at Radio Alinafe for nearly a year before joining ZBS as a part timer.
Veteran actor and play wright Frank Patani Mwase has passed on, family sources have confirmed. Mwase who starred with the late Due Chisiza Jr died at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. Mwase was until his death National Theatre Association of Malawi (Ntam) Board Chairperson
MWASE: Gone too Soon
But who was Frank Mwase? Mwase’s theatre interest started at four years during in an Easter play co-acted with his brother. He, then, got baptized into theatre when he attended an Association for Teaching English in Malawi (Atem) festival at Blantyre Teachers College (BTC).
He liked Dr. James Ng’ombe production ‘The King’s Spiral’, as presented by Chichiri Secondary School students. Then, between 1981 and 1982, Mwase found himself testing the drama ropes when he acted in HHI’s ‘Servant of two masters’.
But the defining moment came when, while in Form One, he met Waliko Makhala- then a member of H.H.I.’s drama club. Makhala was rehearsing for ‘The deceased’s attack’.
“I was a silent member of that cast. That is when I met the late Du Chisiza Jnr.,” he says.
‘The deceased’s attack’ eventually won the Atem festival.
That is how Wakhumbata Workshop Theatre was formed. Du left for further studies, Mwase became chairperson of the group, and, with Waliko, toured districts such as Karonga and Mzuzu.
Drawing the audience The French Cultural Centre (FCC) then joined the fray, with ‘That scoundrel Moliere’ production in 1983 becoming FCC’s debut production. The late Jika Mkolokosa and Paul Paseli were part of the cast.
In 1984, Mwase acted in FCC’s ‘That would be gentleman’. The play was directed by Kamdoni Nyasulu. He also acted in ‘Chauta’s wrath’, directed by Nyasulu but scripted by Chris Kamlongera.
“In the formative years, only the ‘cultural afternoon’- a mixed event that featured poetry, music, drama- drew multitudes,” he says.
After Wakhumbata Workshop Theatre came groups such as the FCC Theatre, later renamed Cultural Advancement Theatre. That is how Paul Paseli production, ‘Mine by convenience’, came to grace the local theatre stage.
In 1987, Mwase and Du joined up again to form Malawi Professional Theatre Company. The group later paved way for Tiwuke Performing Arts, whose benefactor was Bazuka Mhango.
It is Tiwuke that turned into Wakhumbata Ensemble Theatre (Wet).
“It was not easy to attract a huge audience in 1987 because Chichewa plays were popular.
“However, the auditorium was full during our first performance. Of course, it was a small auditorium- accommodating 245 people,” he says.
Mwase says, due to the restrictive political situation of the time, “drama was more than entertainment; it was more figurative”.
“Our productions were political in nature and we could tackle issues we cannot tackle now. We did a lot of marketing, and the performances used to be hectic that we could do six performances in four days.
“Eventually, we became popular and could disrupt normal classes at secondary schools,” Mwase says.
The problem with mentoring Why, then, after embracing great artists such as Viphwa Harawa, Edge Kanyongolo, Mwase himself, continuity seems to be a major problem?
“Mentoring is a difficult thing to do in the Malawian set up because it is not instutionalised. There are no programmes meant to nurture talent.”
Mwase also says mentoring the new generation has been a challenge because “we were ahead of our time”.
“So, as they say, in the absence of wise men, even fools can rule.”
He says economic factors have also drawn most veterans away from the stage.
“You can be a very famous person but, economically, you are not progressing and, at the end of the day, you go back to your poverty. If life cannot be found in art, you go elsewhere,” he says.
Mwase also draws stark differences between modern-day Atem and the Atem of old.
“It has to do with the quality of what we are doing. In those days, Atem enjoyed the support of politicians and administrators such that politically-intonated plays such as ‘The deceased attack’ could be performed before Member of Parliament after scooping Atem awards.
“These days, if you go to watch an Atem play, you must be a parent to one of the students,” he says.
Intellectual discourse versus stage act
He adds that, in the past, the academia and arts groups had strong relations, and this contributed to the theatre boom.
Mwase says Chancellor College Travelling Theatre also promoted fine arts. And that is how names such as Lupenga Mphande and Mupa Shumba- figures associated with establishment of Chanco’s fine arts department- quickly come to mind.
The names Mphande and Shumba spearheaded quality among Atem contestants, and artists wrote plays with the knowledge that their scripts would pass through the critical eyes and minds of Chanco lecturers at the back of their minds.
“The level of judgement and analysis in Atem festivals was top level. While patrons waited for results, Chancellor College Travelling Theatre could perform.
“Even if you were not at Chanco, you could mingle with these people and read top notch books. We could read such books as Wole Soyinka’s ‘The swamp dwellers’. Malawi was going through a cultural renaissance and this is the time the Wokomaatani Malungas were coming to light,” Mwase says.
This bond between the academia and performing arts was strategic: Chanco offered courses in performing art while arts groups offered the graduates the stage to perfect their game.
The calling past
Mwase denies that he has retired from the game.
“Good memories are better than a current disaster. However, we have been working behind the scenes with some of the veterans. We want to come back before the end of the year,’ he says.
This means that theatre-goers will be entertained to plays such as the 1989 production, ‘The Fragments’. The Times of 1989 praised Mwase’s performance, but rated other actors’ performance poorly.
Mwase chooses to differ. “’The fragments’, initially, was not understood because people were used to experimental theatre and wanted straight plays. Actually, we were supposed to perform ‘The me nobody knows’, a Du Chisiza production that was dealing with the sensitive subject of incest, but that play was banned by the Censorship Board.”
In the play, Mwase played more than 10 characters. In one instance, he was ‘Mbale’, in the other he played a prophetic role, then an unborn baby in its mother’s womb, a standup comedian, a street smart character from Blantyre Ndirande township, and so on.
By coming back, he says, the veterans want “go back to that basic understanding of theatre as a movement and rekindle the spirit of old to ensure that we export quality”.
Only then, may be, can the theatre ball fall on the nation with equal violence, giving it the potent of staying power again.
GOMANI: The story emphasizes the hardships poor Malawians are facing as results of massive plunder of public resources by some self-centered citizens
A thought-provoking brand new novel by a Blantyre based writer Gertrude Gomani ‘Surviving the lean season’ has finally hit the market in all Montfort Media book shops across the country and its going at MK2000 ( Two Thousand Kwacha) per copy.
According to the author Gomani, ‘Surviving the Lean Season’ novel depicts some of the problems that the marginalized class are facing in developing countries such as Malawi.
Multi-talented Gomani, a graduate from the Polytechnic a Constituent College of the University of Malawi, was inspired by ‘cashgate’- a scandal involving the systematic plunder of public funds which happen at Capitol Hill during Joyce Banda’s era.
“Inspired by the notorious cash-gate, I started writing a story…..the story emphasizes the hardships poor Malawians are facing as results of massive plunder of public resources by some self-centered citizens,” said Gomani
She further said: “The novel is an aspirational story of an ambitious teen-age girl who struggled with poverty until she made it to the university. I hope the story will help to the change mindset of many people.”
In his review, Professor of Africa Languages and Cultures at University of Malawi, Pascal Kishindo said: “It is a well-wrought story, narrated with passion and verve. For those who enjoy reading good stories, this is it. A must read.”
A 25-year old author Gertrude Gomani started writing in 2009 while in Form 2 at Stella Maris Secondary School in Blantyre.
Locally, she is inspired by Stanley Onjezani Kenani and the brain behind Smoldering Charcoal Tiyambe Zeleza.
In May last year, Gomani also launched another book titled Reminiscence: a collection of 24 short stories.
Gomani: I hope the story will help to the change mindset of many people
