Malawian Society Magazine

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 01
MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE CONGRATULATES THE CAST OF

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND AND
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR FOR WINNING THE 2020 NAACP AWARD FOR
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A MOTION PICTURE (FILM) .

MALAWIAN SOCIETY
Malawian Society is published by Otterpoint THE TEAM
Media and Publishing, an Otterpoint indus-
tries Division.
Malawian Society is a monthly society, arts EDITORIAL
and culture magazine distributed in soft A. Phiri Stiglitz
copy . It comes in PDF format and can be +265 885 17 72 70
read on cellphones, computers and hand-
helds/ tablets. anthonypstiglitz@gmail.com
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VOLUME 01 CONTENTS MARCH 2020
PAGE 02
EDITORIAL - FOREWORD
A. PHIRI STIGLITZ
Foreword to the March Issue

Get a snapshot of the March issue
from the Society Editor.
H e touches on the most critical
issues covered in this edition plus
more.
SOCIETY INTELLIGENCE
Get a bird’s eye view into what is
current and hot in Malawian society.
PAGE 06
MEDIA REVIEW
SOCIETY
PAGE 07
MEDIA REVIEW
POLITICS
PAGE 09
SOCIETY & LEGENDS
Under the Radar
Rose Chibambo :
The Low Profiling of a Statesman
PAGE 14
FEATURES
Malawian Influencers and
Innovators
Nthanda Manduwi :
Influencing the new breed of Mala-
wian Go-getters
PAGE 020
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Culture is Dead NTHANDA MANDUWI
COVER FEATURE
Death by Social Media:
Time for a reckoning that culture as ICONS & INFLUENCERS
we know it is dead PAGE 020
PAGE 021
SOCIETY & DEVELOPMENT She is one of Malawi’s most influential and iconic voic-
es among the millennial, mobile large digital natives
Malawi’s Urban Planning Regime:
The Built Environment – A Call for a generation. Highly ambitious, sophisticated and mind-
Paradigm Shift ful of her roots, she is building an empire of media gi-
ants that has the capacity to transform the Malawian
media scene into Africa’s media hub.

VOLUME 01 CONTENTS MARCH 2020
PAGE 040 ECSTACY MAGAZINE

SOCIETY & ENTERPRISE ARTS & CULTURE
THE STRATEGIST Page 044 News and Trends

What Business Are you in? Page 046 Features
Define Your Market First Before You Affix: Gifted, Unsigned
Proceed With Your Next Step. Page 052 FirstEditions:
Lomathinda By Timwa
Lipenga
Page 054 Collections
Music & Poetry
The Definitive Guide to
2019 Malawian Music &
Poetry
Page 069 Studio
New Music
DTTAH BY TOAST
Page 072 Livewire
February Events
PAGE 026
STIGLITZ
Talk of the Town:

Stiglitz chops it up on what people
are really talking about on Malawi’s
streets, bars, homes and offices.
PAGE 028
SOCIETY & LIVING
A Steakhouse Fit For A Senator:

21 Grill on Hanover - Blantyre
PAGE 031
SOCIETY & LIFE
Juice for Mental Health:

Mental Pulp is ready to nourish
Africa’s mental health
PAGE 034
CONTEMPORIST
Urban Beauty as a Weapon for

Economic & Social Prosperity
AFFIX: GIFTED, UNSIGNED, UNKNOWN

PAGE 038
Affix is an emerging crooner who was born and bred on the streets of Li-
THE CONSERVATIONIST
longwe, Malawi’s capital city. Just like his partner in music McChim, Affix is
Climate Chage is Real We all can
gifted with a voice that is so riveting you would most definitely mistake him
do something about it. for a big time American R&B star the first time you auditioned his music.
SEE FULL STORY ON PAGE 046

FOREWORD
Welcome to the new edition of Malawi’s finest magazine, Society Magazine.

Ecstacy Magazine has now been incorporated into Society and will be the Mu-
sic and Entertainment Department(section) of Society Magazine.
There is lots and lots of things to read .
Under Influencers and Icons, we have brought you a feature on Nthanda Man-
duwi, and just like her name suggests, she is a rising star and an influential
voice that is a force to reckon with.
In Legends, we cover Rose Chibambo, one of Malawi’s freedom fighters and

pioneering leading women whose biographical account has been recently writ-
ten by Timwa Lipenga and published by Open Logos Culture.
We also cover issues in health, development, conservation, development and

entertainment.
Please feel free to read from cover to cover and to send your comments if nec-
essary.
Enjoy
Kind Regards
A. Phiri Stiglitz
Editor

SOCIETY
INTELLIGENCE
MEDIA REVIEW I THE MONTHLY DIARY

SOCIETY
IF YOU DIDN’T CATCH-UP ON RECENT NEWS , HERE ARE THE UPDATES, CURATED FOR YOU.
THE MANGOCHI PENINSULA soon after completion of this phase, the The initial story that came out on
PROJECT TAKES FLIGHT project will see a full roll out. the morning of Saturday 04 Jan-
Professor Dr Bnedict Okey Oramah, who uary 2020 said Kottana’s death
was the signatory to the MOU, led the was a result of snake venom, a
Afrixembank team that came to discuss version based on treatment that
the project’s progress and accompanying was administered to Kottana after
the group was Sam Sawiris, Chairman and she “came to the clinic looking for
Founder of the Altdorf, Switzerland-based anti-snake venom,” as reported by
Orascom Development Holdings. Zodiac Online.
Sawiris has indicated that he is satisfied The tale was twisted on the 13th
with the site and the pace of implementa- January when a post-mortem
tion. report was released by the re-
The Nankumba project is is expected to knowned veteran pathologist Dr.
created 40000 jobs once the project is Charles Dzamalala, whose autop-
complete. sy results found that the cause of
the death was Temik, a chemical
VENOM OR TEMIK, TAKE YOUR of the pesticide variety.
PICK.
THE DEATH THAT DIVIDED Daily Times reported on the 24
MALAWI’S SOCIAL MEDIA January that Timothy Ntilosan-
je,29, Gilbert Kamaliza,29 and
Diana Bhagwanji,23, associates
The African Import-Export Bank-funded of hers suspected to have been
Nankumba Project, whose components involved in the circumstances that
include Mangochi International Airport, a led to Kottana’s death were being
logistics park in Mangochi, and a Hotel held in remand.
Resort in Cape Maclear, is a project that is
being financed through the Government’s It was later reported that Dr. Steve
Export Development Fund (EDF), part of a Kamiza, another pathologist and,
US$ 1.4 Billion initiative. US$ 800 million just like Dr Dzamalala, a lecture
has so far already been disbursed. at the prestigious Malawi College
of Medicine, was challenging the
Following the signing in July 2019 of a findings of Dr Dzamalala’s autopsy
Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU), results, labelling them inconclu-
Afrixembank’s delegation was back in sive, as reported by Zodiac Online,
Malawi in March 2020 for an audience with which also reported that one of
President Prof Arthur Mutharika to discuss the suspects in the death, Diana
progress made on this project which aims Bhagwanji, had now hired Dr
to transform Nankumba peninsula into a Kamiza in the quest to prove her
leading hub for tourism in Southern Africa. innocence.
The Namkumba Peninsula spans a wide The Medical Council of Malawi
area and counts Monkey Bay and Cape had meanwhile launched its own
Maclear among its regional and tourist investigation into the death of Kot-
centres. tana reportedly “to address dis-
The Project is being developed by Orascom putes from various other quarters”
Development Holdings whose other proj- The original claim that snake venom was all this as the police were also in
ects include Andermatt Swiss Alps, Jebel the cause for the death of Kottana Maria the process of carrying out their
Sifah in Oman and Lustica Bay in Montene- Chidyaonga, the young woman who died in own investigations.
gro. Lilongwe in early January, was debunked Dr Dzamalala stood by his findings
The project is currently at the Masterplan as inaccurate following the findings of an at the time of writing.
Development stage and it is expected that autopsy report.

SOCIETY
INTELLIGENCE

SOCIETY
IF YOU DIDN’T CATCH-UP ON RECENT NEWS , HERE ARE THE BIG ONES, CURATED FOR YOU.
NO END IN SIGHT FOR

NSUNDWE SAGA
by Malawi Human Rights Commission. Amid running battles between the

This comes in the midst of a 1st of February police and residents of Mchesi,
2020 Young Feminist Network’s delivery of there are reports that the building
a petition to the Minister of Gender asking on the premises where the bodies
her to condemn abuse and violence against were found had been set ablaze and
women, a campaign most recently ignited by demolished by an angry mob out for
the Nsundwe and Vanessa Chilango Inci- blood.
dents - the later where a Blantyre woman was
undressed, shamed and sexually assorted.
MCHESI BIKER KILLER NOT AN

ALIEN
The Women Laywers Association took legal

action against the IG of Police, Clerk of Par-
liament, and Minister of Finance, Economic
Planning and Development by applying for a
judicial review for what they call failure to fulfil
their duties in protecting citizens of the coun-
try, “in particular the 17 women and girls who
were reportedly raped, defiled and sexually
assaulted at Nsundwe, Mpingu and Mbwata-
lika in October 2019,” as per Nationa Online .
The Nsundwe incident followed the 08th of
October 2019 killing of a Policeman when the
residents of Mpingu and Nsundwe
villages mounted illegal roadblocks to stop A residential property in Lilongwe’s Mchesi
DPP supporters from attending a ceremo- Township was earlier in February found to
ny where President Peter Mutharika was to have been turned into an illegal human burial
launch a US Government Funded Project, a field. It has been alleged that victims be-
situation which led to a fracas with the po- lieved to have been motorbike taxi operators
lice who were sent to quell the situation and were murdered and buried there.
eventually to the death of the policeman. The Daily Times reported that a watchman
was arrested after police exhumed three
In the aftermath of the death, a team of police bodies in the backyard of the premises
officers was dispatched to the area on the where he was found providing security.
09th October 2019, a trip which led to allega- Contrary to the rampant rumours that the
tions of the police officers raping women and perpetrator was a foreigner, the Daily Times
defiling self-boarding girl students in addition reported that the Lilongwe Police Offi-
to other actvities that included torture and cer-In-Change, Dennis Katoya, disputed this
looting, per statement by the NGO Gender version as false and communicated that the
Coordination Network and later investigations suspect was Malawian .

SOCIETY
INTELLIGENCE

POLITICS
IF YOU DIDN’T CATCH-UP ON RECENT NEWS , HERE ARE THE UPDATES, CURATED FOR YOU.
ELECTIONS CASE:
THE VERDICT FINDS FOR A RERUN
FEBRUARY 2020
Parliament was advised to enable rele- ELECTIONS CASE:
vant acts that would ensure the use of GROWING CALLS FOR A
the Constitution’s majority stipulation CHANGE OF THE GUARD
through a 50+1 rule. AT MEC
The Constitutional Court also ruled FEBRUARY 2020
that the First Respondent (Arthur Peter
Mutharika) was to bear his own costs
while the Second Respondent (MEC) was
to pay costs for the petitioners.
ELECTIONS CASE: PAC MEETS MEC

THE GRILL & THE AFTERMATH
FEBRUARY 2020
The day for the long-awaited verdict that fol-

lowed the disputed elections of 23 May 2019
came to pass at last.
In summary, it was stipulated in the judge-
ment that the 01st Respondent, Arthur Peter
Mutharika, the President of the Republic of
Malawi, was not duly elected as President for
The Blantyre Synod of the Church
the next five years following the nullification of
of Central African Presybeterian’s
the results by the Constitutional Court.
Moderator Reverend Douglas
The Constitutional Court found that the con-
Chipofya and its General Secre-
duct of the 02nd Respondent in managing
tary the Reverend Levi Nyondo
the elections was very lacking and displayed
signed a letter demanding for a
glaring incompetence.
new commission, one that would
Following on the findings and judgement,
be made up of people who are
the court concluded that the Presidency and
capable of conducting an election
Vice-Presidency were to revert to where they
in a fair and unbiased fashion.
were prior to the elections held on the 21 May
Blantyre Synod’s letter echoed
2020.
In line with the ruling and recommendation of sentiments from Human Rights
The ruling, which also stipulates that fresh
the Constitutional Court to use relevant legal Defenders Coalition and Vice
elections must be held within 150 days,
instruments to inquire into the capacity and President Saulos Chilima.
doesn’t invalidate the decisions made by the
Presidency in the period before the ruling was competence of the 02nd Petitioner (MEC) to
passed. hold free, fair and credible elections, the Public
The ruling also mandated parliament to use Affairs Committee of Parliament commenced
relevant legal instruments to inquire into the it’s duty on the 10th of February 2020 by
capacity and competence of the 02nd Petition- engaging in meetings with the commission-
er (MEC) to hold free, fair and credible elec- ers of the Malawi Electoral Commission. The
tions in addition to making an amendment to meetings will be broadcast on radio and the
Section 75 of the Constituion so that it men- commissioners are being questioned on an
tions the appointing authoity for the individual basis.
commission.

SOCIETY
INTELLIGENCE

POLITICS
If you didnt read much or anything else recently on what’s been going on, here are the things that you
need to know inorder to get up to date with regards to the status quo on current affairs in politics.
THE ART OF WAR:

DPP AND UDF BECOME ALLIES
AS ELECTIONS LOOM LARGE
Whoever said there are no permanent enmities

in politics knew exactly what he was talking
about.
DPP and UDF, two parties for which only a few

weeks back there seemed to be no chance in
hell that they would get together and become
allies, just agreed that they would become
partners and work together as a team for mu-
tual good. The partners held a press confer-
ence on Tuesday the 26 February to bring the
news to the publics.
According to DPP leader President Peter

Mutharika, they are yet to agree on a political
coalition, as reported by the Daily Times.

STIGLITZ
Twitter handle: @timber_wolfe_
TALK OF THE TOWN

The Elephant In The
Room
The Town’s Main Street is really phasis on Nsundwe’s situation. immediately resign as initially
buzzing right now, more so than We are yet to have more details stipulated. Chairman Ansah has
it did at this same time in 2019. of the case but come what may, said she will now wait for the
it will be talk of The Town. judgement of the Supreme court
Take Club Profile, just at the of appeal. In the instance that
corner of Tweet and Main Tweep, a drinking buddy and the Supreme Court doesn’t rule
Streets. At this joint the buzz is self-styled Master of Zero Toler- for MEC, she has indicated that
all about which side is Chilima ance to GBV, was among those she will resign.
going to go? Is he going to go leading the latest foray into Whether she will actually do it
into an alliance or go it alone un- demonstration activities by the and not dilly dally is something
der UTM? With Atupele Muluzi’s Young Feminists Network, an Settings is having sleepless
recent decision to become allies endevour in which they deliv- nights with, failure of which
with DPP, it seems more unlikely ered a petition requesting the will be major media and advo-
that Chilima will chose to walk Minister of Gender to condemn cates’ fodder as we get close
alone. abuse and violence against to the day, but he is hoping
women. This comes in the wake that President Peter Muthari-
Earlier, the streets also became of recent high profile incidenc- ka will do the necessary and
awash with conversations about es among them Nsundwe and dismiss the current MEC
Atupele Muluzi following his Blantyre’s Vanessa Chilango Commissioners in line with
meeting with Dr. Chakwera.The episode. recommendations from Parlia-
imbibers were now wondering As I was walking out of the ment’s Public Appointments
as to which side Muluzi would Gents Room at Club Profile, my Committee rather than to
go but this was settled soon old pal Bookmark informed me endure the wait for a voluntary
enough when an alliance was that the three guys who resignation.
announced with DPP. were on remand for the death of
Kottana had been given bail and The patrons at Moments Bar
Aunt Proxy, a resident imbiber were in the process of finalizing became ecstatic on Monday
at Club Profile, couldn’t stop be- the details of their bail condi- the 24th February when the
moaning the status of justice for tions, according to a defense guzzlers learnt that Parliament
Nsundwe when we met a few lawyer who thanked all those had now passed the Par-
days back. Honestly, she looks who were wishing the three well. liamentary and Presidential
disappointed. She says she Elections Bills following the
sees it as another hopeless case The Town has also been talking ruling by the Concourt. In line
and hates the thought that this about whether, following the with this amendment, May 19
is all a wait in vain. She reminds ConCourt ruling, Chairwoman of 2020 has been set as the date Comments are
us that justice delayed is justice the MEC Commission will resign for fresh presidential elections welcome and
denied. her post as earlier stipulated and which were ordered by the appreciated.
She was really excited go- as expected prior to the ruling. Constitutional Court. Other as- Kndly submit your
ing into early February when Across the road from Club Pro- pects of the Bill stipulate that comment through the
the Women Lawyers Network file, Moments Bar lit up when a rerun, in case no contestant following email
applied for a judicial review for Settings, my other good friend, gets 50+1, must be held within address:
what they call failure to protect said he couldn’t help but feel 30 days after the election and ecstacymag@gmail.
Malawians, with particular em that Chairwoman Ansah was that the current MPs will seat com
changing goal posts after her for 6 years up until 21 May
continued refusal for calls to 2025.

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FROM INTERESTED INVESTORS
MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE
We believe that publications like Malawian Society Magazine have the power to bring
much needed information necessary for positive change, education, inspiration and
entertainment in places like Malawi.
Despite the need for more publications of this nature, it’s literary impossible to produce
and distribute such works with limited resources.
A part from the critical importance to bring in talented writers, there is also the very
important aspect of reaching as many people as possible. Here in Malawi, reaching the
most people means putting our publication into print format because digital reading is
not yet at a stage where creative work can be seamlessly accessed while at the same time
also allowing those who invest their time and effort to get something out of their ende-
vours.
This Call for Expressions of Interest from Interested Investors is an invitation for those
who beliebe in the power of publications like Society to change mindsets, to educate, to
inspire and to entertain.
We want to make Malawian Society accessible to as many people as possible in Mala-
wi. The problem is that because we are handicapped in terms of resources , we can not
afford to produce printed copies of this magazine, whose content we believe every one
should be able to have access to, because it’s tailored to the interests, and for the benefit,
of everyone who is passionate about knowledge and progress and there are many of
those in Malawi.
We are looking for a silent partner/partners who could be willing to invest in Malawian
Society Magazine for purposes of building our operational capacity.
To discuss how we could work together, here are our contact details:
Cell: 0885 17 72 70
Email: ecstacymag@gmail.com

THE
PUBLIC
SQUARE
A Conduit for Bringing Develop-
ment-Oriented Academic
Research to Malawian Society.
TPS THE ANTIDOTE TO POOR PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY
BY ANTHONY PHIRI STIGLITZ
HEALTH CARE: FOR SOME TIME NOW, STUDIES CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT SERVICE LEVELS IN OUR
HOSPITALS ARE IN BAD SHAPE. SOMETHING MUST CHANGE. OTHERWISE THINGS WILL REMAIN THE
SAME.
Like KCH - a hospital built to cater

for 780 patients but currently
admitting well over 1200 patients -
many other public hospitals in Ma-
lawi are in pitiable conditions on
many levels with regards to criti-
cal, life-impacting aspects. Suffice
to say, most of the existing issues
have salient similarities - a clear
indicator that these weaknesses
are most probably issues of policy
implementation failure as opposed
to the lack of visibility.
These problems need attention,
but what is also important and
good to know is that they can be
resolved with mettle, resolve and
sacrifice of things of lesser impor-
tance.
Research continues to show that
among the many persistent issues
that patients and caregivers com-
plain about, the most pressing
Perceptions drive most of the senti- Just across from Central Med- include problems of limited space
ment surrounding the state of public ical Stores and a stone’s throw and crowding, shortages of medi-
health facilities in Malawi among from Malawi College of Med- cine and medical supplies, limited
individuals, households, civil ser- icine’s Lilongwe campus - for access to proper meals by both
vants, employees in the private and which it acts as the teaching patients and their caregivers, lack
non-profit sector, and entrepreneurs. and training institution - is of life saving diagnostic equip-
How could those who have no idea Kamuzu Central Hospital, a ment, low physician to patient ratio
of how it feels to endure a health public tertiary level medical at 2/100,000, longer waiting times,
system that is incapacitated appre- centre and the biggest provid- risk of hospital acquired diseases
ciate the importance of having a er of referral services, public by caregivers, poorly maintained
sound public sector managed health or private, in Central Region. facilities (leaking wards during a
system, they ask. People’s negative When you get sick anywhere in storm are not unheard of) and per-
perceptions are partially propelled by central Malawi and your case ceived poor quality of care.
the known fact that while the poor can’t be handled at the District The question now is why is this sit-
endure longer waiting times and level, you will most definitely uation a mainstay in our hospitals?
queues in public, taxpayer funded get referred here. For a cause that is even more
health centres where services are But the sad and uncomfortable important here than in developed
overwhelmed because of inadequate truth is that our public health countries - societies where public
resources, those that are entrusted system is incapacitated and so health and safety regulations and
with changing the status quo opt for hospitals like Kamuzu Central habits are more stringent and the
virtually exclusive, boutique-style are under pressure to deliver. prevalence of disease more man-
treatment at private medical institu- ageable - we are dropping the ball.
tions locally and abroad.

Equipment like this
is rare and a luxury
to most of the poor
patients.
Certain quarters scoff at the idea coverage, which to me sounds like a financially-well-endowed-elites do
of providing universal health care somehow thinly veiled mischaracter- when they get sick is to go the pri-
even for a country like Malawi. In ization of Malawians as people who vate route, where proper accommo-
addition to claims of dependency have developed a spirit of freeload- dations and care lie in wait for those
syndrome side effects, they say ing. Nothing could be further from who can afford them.
that people have a choice to go the truth.
private for medical care if they And so the question is, if there are
complain about public facilities. Most of the people seeking medical millions of families fighting every day
For someone who was born in this assistance at our public health cen- to make medicine feel like a right
country and well aware of people’s tres are mostly those at the bottom and not a privilege in a rich coun-
economic weaknesses - some- rung of the economic pec-ing order try like America, what about a poor
thing you could easily witness on in a country where 50.7 percent of country like Malawi? Why can’t we
the interregional high-ways, such the population live below the na- do better on this front? Why can’t
talk is really reach, and smirks of tional poverty line and population we start implementing health poli-
privilege and entitlement. The hon- growth hovers at 3.32% per annum. cies in a manner that is inclusive for
est truth, in short, is that the ma- It’s well documented how the ma- a country which has been ranked as
jority of Malawians do not have the jority of Malawians are poor and that one of the very poorest in various
luxury to finance that route. a remarkable number live on less global poverty rankings?
Those better off financially to afford than a dollar a day, a widely known We can do it if all those who are re-
health insurance are few and a fact. In a country where a CT scan sponsible in one way or another can
small percentage of the populace. costs MK200000 at private institu- start getting more involved in trans-
That’s why the proposition that tions, public funded Health care is formation processes.
private medical facilities can be an undebatable obligation and solely
a handy alternative for our large- because of this very reason - that We can start by becoming more
ly poor folk is very academic and most Malawians can barely afford selfless. Because this country needs
doesn’t even start to become an their daily bread, let alone expensive public sector managers who are less
Comments are option. private health care. self centred and more passionate
welcome and While providing a great insightful Like anywhere else globally, a ma- about the pain and the indignity felt
appreciated. report, what Abiiro, Mbera and jority of those with money, resources by those children and mothers who
Kndly submit Allegri call “a universal sense of and connections do not consider frequent health centres with no med-
your comments entitlements to free health care at public sector hospitals as the prima- icine, no physician, no equipment,
through the fol- the point of use” in their 2014 BMC ry point for treatment and the only no food and no space for one more
lowing email Health Services funded research time they find themselves at public patient.
address: could make it sound like the people hospitals is because that particu-
ecstacymag@ here would have managed to afford lar treatment or diagnosis can’t be We need more of those who could
gmail.com medicine on their own if not for the provided at the private hospitals put the country first and their own
Essential Health Package approach for some reason. The first thing the interests last.
to universal health health insurance-cover-holding,

UNDER THE RADAR
ROSE SOCIETY&LEGENDS
CHIBAMBO STATESMEN, ICONS & HISTORY
1928 - 2016
INTERVIEWS & PROFILES
THE LOW PROFILING OF A STATESMAN
BY CLARENCE MIKEKA
Only 6 years after the war, and shortly after the March Three score and seven years ago,
37 years after John Chilembwe’s
1951 Central African Council meeting on the question failed rebellion against the British
colonial government, Chibambo
of amalgamation and federation, she was ready to rose, explosively erupting on to the
start another, this one of the political variety, for free- Nyasaland political scene with a
force of volcanic proportions that
dom of Nyasaland. Her first instinct was to start orga- could be felt at the Colonial Office.
nizing, and she was just getting started. It was sometime around 1951,
and the tough as nails 24 year-old
Rose Lomathinda Chiwambo, nee
Ziba, had decided that she was
going to get involved in the fight
for the rights and independence of
Nyasaland, even if it meant losing
her life in the process. Unknown at
the time, just like smoke she burst
through the seemingly impene-
trable crust of a male-dominated
Nyasaland political arena, a boys
club mostly made up of a growing
class of an educated African elite,
the majority of them educated in
the United Kingdom and instru-
mental in the strengthening of the
NAC after 1944.
Not long ago, she had become
aware of the activities of the Nyas-
aland African Congress during
the controversial discussions over
the government’s unpopular plan
to make Nyasaland part of the
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyas-
aland. Only 6 years after the war,
and shortly after the March 1951
Central African Council meeting on
the question of amalgamation and
federation, she was ready to start
another , this one of the political
variety, for freedom of Nyasaland.
Her first instinct was to start or-
ganizing, and she was just getting
started.

The story of Rose Chibambo, from
how it began to its conclusion, is
extraordinary and captivating . That
is why it’s a mystery that hers is a
legend that has seen the rarest of
profiles for a freedom fighter whose
sandals most of the current crop of
politicians are not worthy to untie.
A close study of the social, economic

and political climate of the colonial
period is a testament to why the
work of Chibambo and others should
not be overlooked today, despite
the minimal gains that the country
has achieved in the 126 years of its
existence.
Throughout the colonial years - a

dominant symbol for most of the
early to mid-20th century Central
and Southern Africa - Africans in
Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia,
well informed of the discriminato-
ry governance system that was in
effect throughout Southern Rhode-
sia, wanted no part of the Southern
Rhodesia pplitical machine.
Federalism would mean being run
under the oppressive hand of domi-
nant Southern Rhodesian interests at
a time when Nyasaland and Northern
Rhodesia were eagerly looking for-
ward to the prospects of a shift to-
wards more freedoms and ultimately
independence.
Currently part of a common, emerg-

ing sentiment, “The white man left
too quickly” is an assertion that you
can’t help but frequently overhear
these days when you happen to at-
tend events across Malawi - among
them funeral gatherings and wed-
dings - as both old and young peo-
ple spur over questions of whether
Malawians themselves are capable
enough to develop their country, a
goal that has persistently evaded the
country’s development architects
after 55 years of self-rule, in addition
to questions of who is really at fault,
126 years after the founding of the
British Central African Protectorate
in 1891, for a country that was once
labelled “economically the poorest
while being politically the most ad-
vanced“ among the three territories
that made the federation, according
to historian Robert Blake.

To paraphrase Chikumbu & Ziba- It is also imperative to mention that
ni(2017). “Despite the fact that some while the surging demand for African About year be-
good came out of the Federation sys- labour following the out-break of the
tem, the policies were generally racially First World War acted as a catalyst
fore the fed-
selective, discriminatory and oppres- for Chilembwe’s 1915 uprising - in eration was
sive,” they continue, “While a great deal addition to the other dominant issues implemented,
of advantages in terms of economic, among them land alienations, labour Chibambo made
social and political gains were realized, exploitation & abuse, hut and poll
they were, mostly, exclusively for the taxes, racist and paternalistic prac- a decision to
benefit of the minority white settlers as tices, arbitrary violence and political get Malawian
Africans continued to suffer political, illegitimacy, from 1951 onwards, the women involved
economic and social subordination.” proposition, adoption, and ultimately
In other words, there was a strong senti- the introduction of the federal sys-
in the struggle,
ment that the implication of federalism tem on 01 August 1953, a step which a plan that she
was that the two territories would now acted as betrayal of the agreement by put into motion
be subservient to the economically the government to put the interests of when she start-
powerful European dominated colony Africans first, was the dynamite in the
of Southern Rhodesia which also meant tinder box that was partially made up ed organizing
potential loss of capacity and leverage of a younger, educated, more militant the women in
with regards to a desired shift towards generation of Africans who were capa- Zomba, the Cap-
more self-governance. ble enough to revive a collapsing NAC
after sustaining a heavy onslaught
ital City then, for
It came to pass that despite the proc- of blame for its failure to prevent the participation in
lamations of improved economics and federalizing of Nyasaland in 1953. And the fight against
public services by, among others, the among those at the top of this active oppressive colo-
Hilton Young Commission in 1929 and generation was Rose Chibambo. Born
the Bledisloe Commission in 1938 - on 08 September 1928, she was just nial policies.
assertions that were later adopted by about to turn 25 when the Federation
the Central African Council in 1951 - the system was implemented.
absence of interest to properly serve the
welfare of Blacks was no secret, even
after the establishment of the statu- The essence of her story is courage
tory powers-endowed African Affairs and initiative, the first woman on a
Board, a body set up to safeguard the number of fronts in the history of Mala-
interests of Africans particularly with wi’s struggle for freedom. This is a first,
concern to discriminatory legislation, because we don’t have another story
a case in point being the nightmare that mirrors this one.
experienced by Sir Garfield Todd, the About two years before the federation
New Zealand-born Prime Minister of was implemented, Chibambo made
Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958, a decision to get Malawian women
whose whole cabinet resigned after he involved in the struggle, a plan that
suggested giving suffrage to at least the she put into motion when she started
educated Africans. organizing the women in Zomba, the
Capital City then, for participation in
So, is the sentiment that the European the fight against oppressive colonial
folk left too quickly, or that African- policies.
ization was rushed, valid for Malawi?
It depends on how one looks at it but In 1953, Chibambo moved to Blantyre
what’s clear is that this is a self-insult where she joined the local branch of
to the capacity of Africans . In the long the Nyasaland African Congress. She
run, the answer to this question, which became the first woman to hold a
will definitely be influenced by the pace senior position in the NAC, in the role
and inclusivity of development, will of Treasurer. At that time, there was
cement or break the legacy that was no organized women’s organization, a UNDER THE RADAR:
built on toil, blood and sweat by those situation which she corrected almost THE LOW
single-handedly by starting the Nyas- PROFILING OF A
who came and fought before us so that
STATESMAN
we could acquire self-rule and determi- aland African Women’s League with
nation, among them Rose Lomathinda Vera Chirwa, another leading lady in
Chibambo. the area of political activism.

It’s therefore somehow After winning the Mzimba South parliamentary seat in 1963 elections, she became the first and at that time
ironic that she is one of the only female member in parliament . In addition to her responsibilities as Kamuzu’s Parliamentary Sec-
the most low-profiled retary, Chibambo was made the first woman ministerial cabinet member in the new cabinet of 1964 after
women in Malawi’s po- Malawi had managed to wrestle away its right to self-governance - until that time a far-fetched pipe dream.
litical history despite her
pioneering work in Ma- It’s therefore somehow ironic that she is one of the most low-profiled women in Malawi’s political history
lawian politics especially from a literature and media point of view, despite her pioneering work in Malawian politics especially when
when one considers her one considers her huge personal sacrifices and the indignity sustained in the fight for freedom.
huge personal sacrifices
and the indignity sus- On 23 March 1959, she was arrested and taken to Zomba prison two days after giving birth, twenty days af-
tained in the fight for ter her fellow freedom fighters, among them Dr. Hastings Banda, had already been arrested on 03rd March
freedom 1959 following the declaration of emergency by Robert Armitage, the Governor at the time.
In the same year of independence, she had a fall out with Dr. Hastings Banda following the 26th August
1964 cabinet crisis. Kicked out of the cabinet and suspended from the party, Chibambo and her colleagues
were labeled traitors to the state and threats to national security, a development which forced her to go into
exile in Zambia in 1965.
That’s why Timwa Lipenga’s scorching narrative of Rose Chibambo’s historical account of a patriot through
and through, mostly in her own words, deserve a read by everyone who believes in freedom for all.
UNDER THE RADAR:
THE LOW
PROFILING OF A
STATESMAN
Comments are welcome and
appreciated.
Kndly submit your comments through the following
email address:
ecstacymag@gmail.com

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MALAWIAN
INFLUENCERS & INNOVATORS
WELCOME TO
THE ERA OF
NTHANDA
MANDUWI
AN INFLUENCER
FOR A
NEW BREED
OF
MALAWIAN
GO-GETTERS.
Malawi’s most influential and iconic voice among the

millennial, mobile large digital natives generation.
Nthanda is at the centre of one of Mala-

wi’s most bold corporate media moves to
date, with origins tracing back to a dorm
room at Chancellor College.
COMPILATION: ANTHONY PHIRI STIGLITZ
INTERVIEW: WONGANI SIWANDE MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 020
The Nthanda Manduwi Feature
It’s okay if you want to call the 2020 de-

cade the era of Nthanda Manduwi, one of
Malawi’s most influential and iconic voices
among the millennial, mobile large digi-
tal natives generation. Highly ambitious,
sophisticated and mindful of her roots, she
is building an empire of media giants that
has the capacity to transform the Malawi-
an media scene into Africa’s media hub
while empowering content developers at
a collosal scale like we have never seen.
With a portfolio of companies and initia-
tives that include By Ntha Media - where
she is the Managing Director, Nthanda
Foundation - where she is the Founder,
Morningstar News - where she is the Pro-
ducer and Host, coupled to Nyenyezi Ya
Ku M’mawa (NYKM) Collective, there is no
stopping her.
She is unquestionably ballsy - a discovery
that you will witness once you take a few
seconds to browse her portfolio of twits
that she dishes on a remarkable frequency
to her loyal congregation of 10 000-strong
tweeps, a quality that she possesses in
equal measure with brains, something that
doesn’t seem to be lost on her.
For someone who initially had a flirtation
with dreams of becoming a doctor, she
took Social Sciences, for a Double Ma-
jor in Economics and Demography, “I
wasn’t interested in medicine anymore,”
The media sector has always been subject she responds, as she narrates her story in
to changes, long before the days of the in- response to a pre-compiled Q&A that we
had sent her the day before, between what
verted pyramid approach to prose. And the was definitely forced breaks from her tight
schedule which I could clearly glean from
emergence of technology has meant that her sweaty tone on the recordings that she
the inevitability of that change has become had compiled , “And also, Social Science
sounded cool. I also loved Demography
even more accelerated, and so because and so I double majored .”
of that, I thought it was important to find I came to realize that as an individual
whose work ethic and hectic schedule are
out what an insider’s view could be, “It’s widely known, attending to our questions
was definitely a favor, an exercise covered
changing,” she answers “It’s growing. We with a veil of professional mannerisms,
are coming from a phase in time time when based on the fact that there was absolute-
ly no hint, or betrayal if you will, of that
everything was need-based. Now, people sentiment in her voice.
have time to engage with content that’s no Initially, I had this misconception about
her that she was going to stand us - like
longer all about poverty or sadness. We can what most celebrities do when you ask
for an interview, on claims that she was
talk more about what it means to be Ma- busy. I was dead wrong, because like she
lawian. It’s a window of opportunity that I promised, the recordings started flooding
in first thing the next morning. I was like,
think we should all grasp.” here is someone who can keep her word,
a very important pre-requisite for business
success.

The Nthanda Manduwi Feature
I firstly came to know about

Nthanda shortly after I came
back from my 12 year sojourn
abroad early 2019. I wasn’t
spending so much time on
Malawi twitter back then, and
so I noticed that for some
reason, people were seemingly
glued to her every word, like
congregants during a touching
sermon. And I thought to my-
self, “Must be some real im-
portant and famous socialite.”
At that time, it was seemingly
farfetched to conceive of a time
and place where this beauty
that I took for granted would be
somehow at the centre of one
of Malawi’s most bold corpo-
rate media ventures to date,
whose nascent origins go back
to a dorm room at Chancellor
College. Back then she was
blogging a multitude of subjects
including fashion.
For starters, I wanted to know
what she thinks about her ca-
reer choices today, “I wouldn’t
have opted for social sciences if
given another chance now,” she
continues, “but I am grateful
that I did it, because it gave me
knowledge that I would never
have possedded today, which
is great and has given me so
many opportunities.” She con-
tinues, “I would have preferred
to do Media for Development,
because that is where my heart
and passion are, communi-
cations.” She continues, “No
regrets though, but media and
development is what I could go
back to, despite the fact that I related to her academic qualifica- can dabble in a lot of things which “I would
really appreciate the knowledge tions. In 2017/2018, as an admirer makes me multi-talented I guess.”
that I got from Social Sciences.” of her work, her boyfriend talked to She says that she wanted to work have pre-
Nthanda has always been pas- her about the great potential that with that and bring it into the By Ntha ferred to
sionate about media since she her work possessed from a business blog, and see how she could engage.
was a little kid, “I have always point of view. In 2019, more writers were involved,
do Media
had interest in writing and me- BYNTHA, her blog, was born, and a collective so to say, “It’s been a for Devel-
dia. I remember being a little girl has been in operation for several learning phase for all of us.” opment,
and going behind the TV and years now, a period in which it has Just like any endeavor worth pursu-
then saying to my parents,”can gone through a few name changes, ing, challenges are part and parcel of because
you see me?” she continues, “ a reflection of the transformation the game. that is
So I always wanted to be on TV, process that has led to her current On the question of what challenges
in front of the Camera, if I may.” thematic focus, development, the and lessons she has learnt so far, where my
It’s hard to pin an exact date area that Nthanda has decided to she was straight-forward with us, “I heart and
on when she made a foray into make it her mission to concentrate am still learning and developing my
on in a bigger way. brand.”
passion
professional media because
Nthanda has been writing for On what gives her the drive, “I con- are, com-
some time, initially starting sider myself as talented in different munica-
serious content development fields,” she explains, “jack of all
trades really, I am a master of none,” tions.”
as a hobby while pursuing
she continues,” I am not really partic-
endeavors
ularly talented in any one thing but I

Nthanda is a very In enterprise, failure is a norm
rather than an exception. Nthanda
Nthanda is also an accomplished,
award winning speaker, a land-
accomplished is well aware of that fact, “Failure
is normal, the standard. Winning
mark achievement of her life for
which the depiction of its sym-
award winning is the thing that’s hard. But you’ve
just got to push to win. Stress is
bolic importance, inscribed in the
third row of her Twitter Profile
speaker, a always gonna be there, so you
rest and then keep on.” To Para-
header proclaiming Internationally
Awarded Speaker, is a memento
landmark achieve- phrase her words.
Budding businesses always ex-
to remind you that you are now
in the presence of awesomeness.
ment of her life for perience a myriad of challenges
most of which lead to remarkable
In December 2017, Nthanda, the
2017 Miss Malawi Beauty Pageant
which the depiction failure rates among early stage
entrepreneurs. One of the things
First Princess, attended the Mer-
cenat Beauty World Miss Univer-
of its symbolic that I wanted to find out is where
ByNtha Media is right now and
sity Competition in Cambodia, “
I was in Cambodia at the World
importance, where it’s heading. “Just trying Miss University, for the World Miss
to expand, trying to work with University Pageant, and we all had
inscribed in the more creatives, and working to do a couple speeches based
on different topics which they had
third row of her
with people who look up to me,”
she responds, “Currently, I am to give you,” she narrates on how
Twitter Profile
working with 7 creatives/content she got the Award, “ when the an-
writers and planning to go to 14 in nouncement came that contestant
header proclaim- 2020.”

Most times, questions arise
No. 66 from Malawi had won the
Best Speech Award, I was ecstat-
ing Internationally regarding criteria attached to

emerging opportunities - because
ic. I am a writer and a speaker,
and so that validated me in a lot
Awarded Speaker, people are used to not having

faith in most institutions because
of ways. I was super happy.” After
the award was announced, she
is a memento to of phenomena such as nepotism.
We wanted to find out what the
was asked to host a show.
remind you that you approach is in terms of the new

proteges to be brought on board
A year ago, she published a book,
By the End of Your Teens, a com-
are now in the in 2020 in a manner that is in-
clusive. This is what she said, to
ing of age narrative, Nthanda’s
account of issues she wishes she
presence of paraphrase, “We gonna put out
a call in early 2020 and people
knew in her teenage years, hope-
fully an inspiration for the country’s
awesomeness. can apply. The qualities include
authenticity and creativity. Merit is
youths to move from basic to real
issues, “ The book contains every-
definitely at the centre of the pro- thing that I wish I knew when I was
gramme even though the concept a teenager. To anybody who has
of merit as far as creativity is a any questions like how did you get
complicated one as it’s not real- to where you are, or how do you
ly a matter of one plus one. The do what you do, that’s the book
most important thing is that you you want to read.”
move me and my team.” The media sector has always been
Brand development is very im- subject to changes, long before
portant and at the centre of the the days of the inverted pyramid
work that Nthanda does. She is approach to prose. And the emer-
as acutely aware about the power gence of technology has meant
of branding as any other profes- that the inevitability of that change
sional you will ever meet. “For my has become even more acceler-
brands, I consider what they want ated, and so because of that, I
to be and not what I want them thought it was important to find
to be. And so I let them become out what an insider’s view could
whatever they want to be when- be, “It’s changing. It’s growing. We
ever they want to.” She says. are coming from a phase in time
One of the things that stand out time when everything was need-
on her website is the mission to based. Now, people have some
bridge research and creatives, for time to engage with content that’s
which I needed some clarity, “This no longer all about poverty or
is still work in progress, a model sadness. We can talk more about
that I am still developing.” what it means to be Malawian.
It’s a window of opportunity that I
think we should all grasp.”

The emergence of the internet has meant that everyone who

fancies themselves the next Chase or Austen can grab a
computer and self-publish. We wanted to find out what
Nthanda’s advice is to up and coming content developers, “Be
original, and be authentic. Don’t dwell on who is doing what. Do
what you are doing but also think about why you are doing it.”
The emergence of the internet has I also wanted to know what dig- As we get underway in taking on
meant that everyone who fancies ital media products By Ntha are the 2020 decade, Malawi will need
themselves the next Chase or currently specializing in, “We have more from Nthanda Manduwi’s
Austen can grab a computer and the website, the newsletters, and boldness and leadership, a trait
self-publish. I wanted to find out we are trying to launch a Youtube we would like to see more from
what Nthanda’s advice is to up and channel. We are going full digital, like-minded, selfless individuals
coming content developers, “Be and as you may see from our web- who are ready to contribute to the
original, and be authentic. Don’t site, we have a road map on exact- noble quest of taking Malawi to the
dwell on who is doing what. Do ly what we are trying to do.” next level because, to borrow from
what you are doing but also think This is what she said on her hu- Ernest Hemingway,” There is noth-
about why you are doing it.” man rights endeavors, an arena ing noble in being superior to your
Since the advent of the internet for which she is a very well-known fellow man; True nobility is being
as invented by Tim Berners-Lee in fixture, because she speaks out superior to your former self.”
1990 following the equally import- when need be, “I am an activist by
ant seminal work by Robert Kahn nature, so I advocate for stuff that
and Vint Cerf in the 1970s, there affect me as a person and those
has been a great change with re- that affect the people that I love. So
gards to the way people consume for me it’s about freedom, people
the written word, mostly of which being free, people being happy. I
has moved to digital format. There will fight for everybody’s right as
is increasing utilization of modes long as I am alive.”
such as mobile phones, e-readers On how she defines success,
such as Kindle, and tablets such as “Success is seeing people more
Apple’s Ipad, with certain publica- free; seeing people becoming less
tions such as this one i.e. Malawian ignorant. I am quiet ignorant my-
Society (and its supplement Ecsta- self, still pursuing knowledge. There
cy) being born digital, published as is so much that needs to be done.
digital native publications , “ We are Each of us needs to do a little bit of
not yet there. Internet penetration in something. We have to stop saying
Malawi is still very low. Internation- “apange awowo” or “why are you
ally yes. But it’s still growing, and not doing it”. Everybody can do it.
so we are still gonna keep growing If I have a voice and I am in a posi-
with it. We should still take the win- tion where I can fight for somebody
dow.” Nthanda says. else then I should.”

We believe that publications like Malawian Society Magazine have the power
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inspiration and entertainment in places like Malawi.
Despite the need for more publications of this nature, it’s literary impossible to
produce and distribute such works when you have only limited resources.
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CULTURE IS DEAD SOCIETY&MEDIA
Social Media, Technology
DEATH
BY SOCIAL MEDIA BY ANTHONY PHIRI STIGLITZ
TIME FOR A RECKONING THAT

CULTURE AS WE KNEW IT IS DEAD
The reason is two-fold: the first is subconscious attachment - in-
herent in nature and more noble, and the second smirks of self-
“You pray for rain, you gotta deal with ishness and involves relentless fame chasing by way of likes and
the mud,. That’s a part of it,” to quote
Denzel Washington in 2014’s Equalizer. retweets.
Not that we exactly prayed for the
dawn of the rise of the all powerful
social media platforms, but across Ma-
lawi’s social mediapolis, it’s a lesson
many have not come to heed, not yet
atleast. By the way things look, it will
take some time, if a recent Twitter war
is anything to go by.
On most occassions, there is no valid
case for hostilities that are behind most
fights in Twittersphere. You can be in-
sulted for simply using the wrong word,
or unfriended or blocked for merely
‘sounding’ disrespectful.And when
battle lines are drawn, you better pray
that you have many followers- among
them a remarkable number of vocal
ones, and the more celebrity you are
the more guaranteed your victory, no
matter how lame your arguments come
across .
The catalyst for the skirmish hinted
to above was the demise of a young
woman whose boyfriend had made
it a habit to post pictures of her or
both of them on Twitter, an act which
after some time created a situation
where the deceased became a darling,
if I may, to many of the boyfriend’s
tweeps, as per twitterspeak. And that’s
where the problem started, because
despite the sense of‘wokeness’ that
permeates most followers, they still
believe that the sense of privacy that The reason is because 21st century is a new friends - which most definitely you will,
existed in the days prior to the emer- day with a new, fame-and-social-media-be- because that’s the whole purpose, don’t
gence of social media can still be haviour powered culture with its own rules to expect that there will be special treat-
counted upon today to deliver privacy, reckon with. ment in instances that something
or put another way, to shield so called The reason is two-fold: the first is subcon- happens to you and it’s worth sharing.
private aspects of society. scious attachment - inherent in nature and Because that’s the high, sharing the
The truth, to the uninitiated, is that more noble, and the second smirks of selfish- most sharable story to get more likes
privacy and social media is a paradox. ness and involves relentless fame chasing by and more retweets. Look at it as a jour-
These two don’t mix, and to be honest way of likes and retweets. Together, they form nalist breaking a news story, only this
I can’t guarantee they will. a potent cocktail possessing the addictive time, it’s more closer to home and like a
Those days are numbered and outdat- potential of MDMA proportions that makes pawn you don’t matter any more. What
ed, history of dinosaur proportions . people want to put their nose where they have matters more today is popularity, even
They belong to the archives. And it’s no business, none at all. Welcome to the 21 more so than respect for the departed.
not because people woke up one day century. And the more dramatic the circumstanc-
and decided that they won’t respect So here it is: If you or your friend are on a so- es the more the retweets and likes. No
cial network and you or they happen to have one is being spared.
your privacy any more.

MALAWI’S SOCIETY&DEVELOPMENT
URBAN
Discourse on Poverty, Growth,
Development, Wealth
PLANNING Critiques, Proposals & Advice

REGIME -
THE BUILT We have intellectuals who are very capable
ENVIRON of crafting initiatives and proposals that
are good enough to not be in conflict with
MENT political maneuverings, especially initia-
tives that don’t even require donor support
A CALL FOR or remarkable financial resources,
and instead capable of being implemented
A by merely instituting new regulations,
PARADIGM policies and sound enforcement mecha-
SHIFT nisms.
PART 1
Try and visualize three light-weight ac- season for a destination thats about 5
countants with a combined weight of about kilometres away, because there is literary
250Kg literary struggling to physically no alternative forms of transport from the
move a totally functioning, fully fueled, deceased’s dwelling to the main road or
3000 pounds VW Polo GTI throughout the burial field due to the absence of a road
night for a travel distance of more than or because it’s condition is so bad no car
BY THOMAS MARSHALL 500Kms on a bumpy, rocky and at times would get through it.
water logged unpaved road. Contrary to Across Malawi, it’s a common phenome-
what you may have initially thought, this is non, in both rural and urban areas, to find
not a body building exercise. The reason a remarkable number of neighborhoods
is because the condition of the terrain is with no discernible access roads; some
so bad to drive on, and so instead of them people can build a house literary in the
riding in the vehicle the only viable option is middle of an established street without
for them to push the vehicle through most consequences, and most communities
of the road’s unpaved surface area until are lacking in their levels of appreciation
they reach their destination. The road in for building proper structures. Lack of
question also happens to pass through one regulations, zero awareness of existing
of the biggest estates in northern Malawi, regulations and the absence of officials
acting as its main conduit and feeder road responsible enough to own these chal-
through which its produce is conveyed to lenges and enforce the necessary pre-
the Zublin & Strabag constructed part of ventive and remedial actions seem to be
the M5 that gives you the feeling that you some of the reasons behind this wide-
are now on the Autobahn. This was one of spread culture.
the most arduous trips I had ever made in
my lifetime. It was the second time in two
weeks that I was on this route, because No one is going to
almost a week ago I and my father were change things for us.
visiting my very ill uncle. Now, two weeks
later, we had just received the sad news
Only we ourselves
earlier that day that he was gone. We had can change our des-
to drive all night because, instead of trav- tiny by changing our
elling quickly and in comfort on a German
made VW, we were the ones who had to
mindsets and realiz-
carry it. ing that we too can
Or picture a coffin being passed from do it and live good
shoulder to shoulder on a slope in rainy
and proper.
When I recently visited Monkey Urbanization doesn’t even seem (organizational, policy and regula-
Bay, a town on the south shore of to come close to being the reason tory) reform and capacity building
Lake Malawi where I grew up in the for the prevailing state, because in all sub-sectors,” and advocates
90s and 80s, I was overwhelmed even for areas that were previous- “development of sustainable (pub-
with both disbelief and sadness. ly properly designed, we are now lic) urban transport systems served
Back then, it was a charming place experiencing the same continued by a strong mass transit network
due to a certain order that exist- lack of attention which is leading supplemented by other modes
ed, a code that made it liveable, a to degradation of existing struc- including walking, cycling, buses
haven of well-organized and prop- tures. It’s not so much a product and taxis.”
erly maintained road and street of rural-urban migration and pop- Then we have the UN Habitat’s
networks, nicely manicured lawns ulation growth as it is of the ab- Regional and Technical Coopera-
and folks who seemed like they sence of existing rules on where tion Division’s studies on Malawi’s
cared about the environment where and how you can build. Like Urban Profiles that put a light on
their kids lived, walked, played and Mahoney put it in Prison Break, a diversity of issues including how
ate. In those days, walking on the “without rules, we are animals.” no footpaths and bicycle paths
streets of this coastal town made That’s how I feel about our lack have been provided for in most
a young man aspire for a better life of concern for where we or our places, persistence of inadequate
that would include decent living fellow citizens live. road infrastructure to support the
spaces, proper housing and proper In a country where the number growing number of vehicles, lack
streets. It was an environment that of urban planners hover in the of up-to-date development plans
never fueled the desire to relocate hundreds and continue to grow and land use plans, lack of social
to another town or country like has due to the availability of acces- infrastructure such as roads in cer-
become so common today. Not sible scholarships in the public tain urban areas, absence of legal
anymore. sector and the urban planning frameworks to facilitate the upgrad-
So how did this happen? programme introduced at the Uni- ing of informal settlements and the
Ntandire, a slum in Lilongwe’s versity of Malawi circa 2005, it’s need to involve stakeholders from
inner city, is an excellent example unfathomable that we are all used all sectors in the formulation and
of what has not been happening to sitting on the sidelines, not so implementation of slum upgrading
in our cities. A five minute drive to different from spectators, as we policies and programmes.
this settlement, located just shy of wait for some sort of Messiah
500 metres from Lilongwe’s tony to come and sanitize us of our As always, finances is the issue
suburb of Area 47 and Bingu Sta- planning deficiency syndrome. It’s that leads among the reasons for
dium - a land mark sporting arena definitely not how you show the not doing the right thing, an area in
in the capital, and separated only will and desire for radical change. which the Malawi Urbanization Re-
by the Kenneth Kaunda road to It’s suffice to mention that these view of 2016 has lamented on with
Area 49 and beyond, will bring you are well known issues among the regards to the challenges affecting
to a neighborhood that is a typ- land and urban planning society. urban development financing, em-
ical illustration of urban neglect. Take, for instance, the 2016 Gov- phasizing how “property taxation is
Despite being less populated than ernment funded Malawi National cumbersome, inappropriate, unre-
the favelas, this area represents Transport Master Plan’s Urban alistic and outmoded to effectively
constituencies where urban struc- Transport Sub-sectoral plan update the tax rolls” and the need
ture is absent, streets are almost which “includes a prioritized time for “systematic, focused efforts to
non-existent and houses are built in bound plan for institutional improve revenue systems.”
a fashion that evokes a time when
we were primal.
A CALL FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT
IN MALAWI’S URBAN PLANNING REGIME
PART 1 : STREETS & ACCESS
My fear is that all these It’s time things needed to Regulations and their enforce-
change. Here, we have a knack ment is one resource that could
studies have on most for blaming politicians for every- be of great use in developing
occasions been the ends thing, and so it’s easy to start complete street networks that are
believing in a false narrative that inclusive enough for all those who
rather than the means, with says it’s the politician who will are resident in a particular locality.
nothing or not much to show sort it out, and so those capa- That’s because despite the ne-
ble and mandated sit there, in glect that we currently face when
for it, just as what happened their offices, waiting for the day it comes to inclusive street devel-
with the Vision 2020 project, when the politicos will instruct opment and maintenance, streets
them to start taking care of our are very important for improved
an initiative which many peo- street networks, among many living standards, something we all
ple have decried today as one other things that need attention. need.
I am confident that we have In The Atlantic’s recent republish-
of those intellectuals in this country who ing of Dr. King’s Letter from Bir-
unrealized political pranks. are capable enough to craft mingham jail, there is a part where
initiatives and proposals that are he says “injustice anywhere is a
But I believe that these good enough to not be in con- threat to justice everywhere.” That
projects can be accom- flict with political maneuvering, statement resonated when I was
especially initiatives that don’t writing this piece. That’s because
plished, especially in an even require donor support or neglect starts slowly, then it per-
incremental approach (like remarkable financial resources meates through the very fabric of
and are instead capable of being who we are.
we do when building a house) implemented by merely institut- But we can do better, especially if
and that finances should start ing new regulations and sound those who are mandated to doing
enforcement mechanisms, such something about our worsening
being thought of as the last as policies that make it manda- living environments can be con-
thing in the pecking order of tory for any residential area, es- tinuously reminded about what’s
pecially slums, to have a pre-de- at stake, because we, as humans,
factors that make signed neighborhood level street are fallible and forgetting is one of
development possible. We network managed by the local our tendencies.
chiefs or ward counselors. Let’s be aware that the absence
need to start prioritizing reg- or bad state of roads and streets
ulations, policies, monitoring It’s also important to realize that exacerbates the impact of the
poor, insensitive, non-inclusive
and enforcement. design is also an issue of envi-
prevalent poverty that will con-
tinue to dog Malawi’s residents
For the most part, being poor ronmental justice (Day, 2010) be-
living in these unattended, under-
cause it has the negative effect
has nothing to do with living to limit access to a resident’s
served areas for a long time to
come.
in shabby conditions, it has own environment, among other
reasons.
everything to do with a peo-
ple’s way of life.

A CALL FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT they provide a network
IN MALAWI’S URBAN PLANNING REGIME for all the dynamic
PART 1 social, economic and
physical activities that
make cities vital for
human living while also
acting as collection
and drainage mecha-
nisms for channeling
and conveying rain
water.
That’s why a new

paradigm must be
implemented, one that
is inclusive in terms of
age, ability/disability
and mode of transpor-
tation.
For this to happen,
we need a new, coun-
try-wide approach,
implemented through
an institution with a
mandate to enforce
and monitor the work
of the road and trans-
port departments, spe-
cifically to oversee the
design, construction
and operation of this
new paradigm of street
When people think of streets, mood swings, anger and PROPOSALS & ADVICE networks, one that
there is that common, subcon- muscle pain related to long People deserve a system of incorporates the needs
cious conception that the main distance walks. complete street networks, in of car owners, public
reason societies desire streets Then there are school every community. transit users, pedes-
is only for aesthetic purposes.In children who are still tender Not merely for beauty and trians and cyclists, the
reality, nothing could be further to walk long miles while aesthetic reasons, but be- poor and the disabled.
from the truth. battling scorching heat and cause they are a necessary This will require gov-
Picture an old woman, in poor elements of weather that part of modern living and ernment policy that
health, living alone, with no one include heavy rains in sum- they play a big role in trans- mandates all transpor-
to call upon for errands such as mer. forming towns like Monkey tation institutions to
shopping for groceries, visiting Bay, Ntandire, Ntopwa and restructure their focus
the pharmacist for medicines or Mbayani into liveable com- to accomodate all Ma-
checking in at the local public munities by bringing a feeling lawian towns, suburbs
clinic on a regular basis. Despite of being safe and welcome. and rural centres (that
not being fit enough, she is forced Tangible benefits include im- includes chiefs), to
to walk those long miles because provements in public health, develop new design
there is no transport of any kind. lowering transportation costs policies and guidelines,
Any transport wouldn’t get there, for families, saving travel- to introduce training/
even if she had money to call for ing time through improved education opportuni-
it. Wasting away in tropical heat, transport and flow of people, ties for planners, elect-
she has to contend with impass- Comments are encouraging local businesses, ed officials, chiefs and
able roads, rain, stick up kids welcome and increased capacity, improved the general public on
looking to rob unexpecting folks appreciated. mobility for all, they act as these matters includ-
by taking advantage of limited Kndly submit a catalyst for neighborhood ing an appreciation of
visibility posed by these paths, your comments prosperity, culture and sol- street networks, and to
extreme fatigue associated with through the fol- idarity; they improve com- institute better ways for
old age, and many other chal- lowing email munity level idea exchange measuring performace
lenges. As her body breaks, she address: through increased interac- and collecting data on
has to deal with the ensuing side ecstacymag@ tions, they reduce crime (by how well streets are
effects among them depression, gmail.com improving visibility, among serving users.
other reasons),

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

A STEAK SOCIETY&LIVING
Food, Drink,Hangouts, Travel & Tourism
HOUSE
FIT FOR A BY ROBERT SEAMAN
SENATOR
21 GRILL ON HANOVER
BLANTYRE
They are calling 21 Grill-on-Ha-

nover Blantyre’s eatery fit for a
Senator for a good reason. Imagine
yourself at Georgetown’s Bour-
bon Steak at the Four Seasons
- a great spot for dignitaries and
celebs in the DC area and Barack
and Michelle Obama’s occasional
spot, the Bistro Bis up at Kimpton
George Hotel, or Ashok Bajaj’s
The Oval Room, but instead of the
scene being DC or Georgetown,
you are in Blantyre – one of South-
ern Africa’s historic cities, deep in
the Warm Heart of Africa, minus
the relatively very chilled weather
of course.
In 1876, Church of Scotland mis-

sionaries found Blantyre, one of
the oldest cities in Southern Afri-
ca. The city, which predates Nai-
robi, Johannesburg and Harare,
was named after the Scottish city
of Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
- where David Livingstone, the
famous explorer and missionary
was born. Blantyre, which be-
came a British consular in 1883
and attained its municipality status
in 1895, has fascinating history, upmarket social scene whose pa- The original 21 Bar & Grill was
numerous heritage sites and old trons included missionaries, bank opened in 1969 later to be replaced
buildings worth visiting. clerks, businessmen, tobacco grow- by the new 21 Grill on Hanover
ers, insurance men, and commercial following the completion of the new
The Marriot-managed posh Protea travelers. Just as it did then, this spot Protea Hotel Ryalls. Certain quar-
Hotel Ryalls, which houses the chic continues to exude a quintessential ters have referred to the steakhouse
21 Grill, is located here and can African charm that is hard to beat as the finest for a la carte dining
trace its beginnings back to 1919 anywhere. in Malawi, a sentiment that we will
when Louisa Ryall, owner of Limbe In the early 2000s, the Ryalls went have to delegate for confirmation
Hotel (established 1914), decided through a renaissance, a time when because, like they say, proof is in
to respond to an advertisement colonial met contemporary and the pudding. But I am sure that 4.5
in the Nyasaland Times in 1919 history the future in a 4.5 Million US out of 5 rating on both Google and
“requesting the need for hotel ac- Dollars project that saw the comple- TripAdvisor is a sign of many satis-
commodation in Nyasaland.” She tion of the new Protea Hotel Ryalls fied patrons. An Award Winning Fine
went on to build Malawi’s longest in 2002, a development which would Dining restaurant, 21 Grill is very
established hotel, opened in 1922 see the old linked to the new and the popular among group, business and
as Ryall’s Blantyre Hotel, a major rebirth of the original hotel and con- leisure guests. It is one of Blantyre’s
modern development that defined ference centre through subsequent most upmarket dining joints, and
colonial Blantyre’s renovations and upgrades. probably the best steakhouse in
Malawi, a haven for those with the
most discerning taste.

Society & Living : Food, Drink,Hangouts, Travel & Tourism 21 Grill On Hanover
Contrary to what many could The fare is classic too. Main

rather be inclined to believe attractions include Flame- Amenities include an
because of its high status, 21 grilled steak and the signa- outdoor swimming pool,
Grill is at the forefront in pro- ture ’21 Spare Ribs dipped Spa and Wellness Centre,
moting local agriculture. Most, in bourbon. In addition, the Fitness Centre, a mas-
if not all of its steaks come menu also carries Salad, sage service, free WiFi,
from produce farmed at a local Desserts, Fish and Pasta. free parking, accessibility
ranch right here in Malawi. For vegan palettes, a range wheelchair, accessible
The 21 Grill interiors are of Vegetarian options are on entrance and wheelchair
decked in comfy Chesterfields, offer for you to savor. accessible seating. For golf
salmon colored seats, ornate Both Lunch and Dinner are connoisseurs, there is a
carpets, and a granite-topped offered and reservations are Golf Course within 3kms -
bar for those whose thirst required, though the chance at Blantyre Sports Club.
requires quenching as the fare of being sent packing for the
gets prepared. absence of an advance reser- A Shuttle is available from
The décor is complemented vation is slim. the airport at Chileka to
byan array of shelves that pro- The restaurant’s onsite bar Blantyre.
vide an atmosphere reminis- is a fixture you cannot miss. Dress is smart casual.
cent of a reading room, giving In addition to a selection of
visitors an imaginary sense of great wines available for your Opening hours are 11:00
intellectual prowess of sorts. drinking pleasure, highlights am-3:00 pm; 4:00pm-
The dining room is lit by sever- include the great cocktails 10:00pm – Monday to Fri-
al large multi-panel panoramic and an assortment of beer day; 4:00pm on weekends.
arch windows that flood the brands, both locally brewed
hall with the golden Blantyre and international imports. There is a Band Playing
hue that, if you are from out of on Friday, Saturday and
town, reminds you that you are Sunday.
now in the tropics.
21 Grill provides visitors with Reservations:
an atmosphere that is cozy Comments are 011 – 820 955
plus a service that has been welcome and
hailed as fantastic and profes- appreciated.
sional by most of the patrons. Kndly submit
If your goal is to be in the your comments
presence of Blantyre’s upward through the fol-
mobile crowd, this is the spot lowing email
to see and be seen. address:
ecstacymag@
gmail.com

Malawi.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

SOCIETY&LIFE
JUICE
Health, Medicine, Fitness, Cleanlinness
FOR BY ANTHONY PHIRI STIGLITZ
MENTAL NOURISHMENT
MENTAL PULP
IS READY TO NOURISH
AFRICA’S MENTAL HEALTH
There is a suicide case every 40

seconds in the world, according to
research by the World Health Orga-
nization.
Between June 2019 to October
2019, 150 people committed sui-
cide in Malawi, based on reporting
by the Malawi Police Services.
One of the reasons identified as
the cause for this surge in suicide
rates is that of an escalating prob-
lem in mental health, a term which
refers to the level of psychological
well-being or an absence of mental
illness.
As long as there has been a human
being, mental health has been in
existence, but it’s only recently that
there has been a big push towards
more awareness with regards to the
critical importance of living in soci-
eties where mental health is given
higher priority, in the same way we
do with Malaria or HIV .
Just like Prince Harry, who is also
taking-on the issue of mental health
head on - having attended the re-
cent launch of Rugby League men-
tal fitness initiative whose Mental founded Mental Pulp, a mental health In 2019, a vision for the mentalpulp website
Fitness Charter’s focus is to train awareness campaign which began in 2018 was developed with the intention of having all
both the players and those working and whose work started with a blog series the work, and projects, accessible online.
in the sport on how to “look after titled “ A Troubled Psychologist.” in 2019, Depression Speaks, a compilation of
their own wellbeing and that of The Mental Pulp concept, whose logo stories, poems and works from 24 individu-
those arounf them,” as reported by depiction of dripping orange colour under als providing accounts of their mental health
People Magazine, Prince William is the word pulp imagines a flower’s pulp as problems , specifically depressive related
also highlighting the importance of juice for mental nourishment, was hatched challenges, was published in e-book format.
mental fitness through his involve- from the desire “of wanting to produce “The aim is to have a continuous book series,
ment with the English FA. more content that promoted mental health with a different set of stories as per edition
Back here in Africa, Malawi’s Chi- awareness.” The name Mental Pulp was and we are currently working on the next
mango Chirwa, a Counselling Psy- fashioned to be an umbrella for all the edition.” says Chimango Chirwa.
chologist currently based in Kenya, content that would be produced under this
recently mental health initiative.

Mental Health Feature
MENTALPULP’S
JUICE FOR
MENTAL HEALTH
November is recognised as
Men’s Mental Health month. In
November 2019, Mental Pulp,
in pursuance of their mission
to reach out to as many people
who could benefit from the work
done by the organization, collab-
orated with Zosowa Immaculate
Chibwana to promote Men’s
Mental Health Awareness across
Malawi. The centrepiece of this
campaign was a collection of
wallappers exhibiting imagery
and quotes labeled “It’s Okay”
whose aim was to contribute
towards the pursuit to destigma-
tize mental challenges among
men.
Inorder to support those with

existing and emerging mental
health issues, they have set up a
WhatsApp Messenger Help Line.
The purpose for this help line is
to provide psychological support
and mental health consultan-
cy services. “People can get in
touch with a team of counsel-
lors, anonymously if they prefer,
by simply adding the number
on our website and getting in
touch,” says Chimango Chirwa.
Inorder to support those with Comments are
welcome and
existing and emerging mental appreciated.
Kndly submit
health issues, they have set up your comments
a WhatsApp Messenger Help through the fol-
lowing email
Line. address:
ecstacymag@
The purpose for this help line gmail.com
is to provide
psychological support and
mental health consultancy ser-
vices.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

CONTEMPORIST
Fashion, Design, Architecture, Environment, Beauty, Aesthetics
URBAN BEAUTY AND AESTHETICS
URBAN BEAUTY
AS A WEAPON FOR
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL PROSPERITY
INVESTING MORE IN THE BEAUTY OF MALAWIAN CITIES CAN ATTRACT MORE
BUSINESSES & IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF URBAN LIFE
A CALL FOR A RENAISSANCE IN THE PRESERVATION OF OUR URBAN BUILT ENVIRONMENT
For a long time, economists have proclaimed that among

us humans, good looking folks tend to earn more and enjoy
more success in their lifetimes compared to their
counterparts. A wave of studies undertaken in the past few
years to look into whether this phenomenon, also known as
the beauty premium, applies to cities, has shown that
indeed, attraction associated with beauty is not
limited to humans only, and more specifically, that even at-
tractive cities tend to be more successful than their unat-
tractive counterparts.
BY THOMAS MARSHALL
The desire for increased eco- For a long time, economists have
nomic and social prosperity proclaimed that among us humans,
in cities is a mutually shared good looking folks tend to earn
desire among city residents more and enjoy more success in
worldwide. On the basis that their lifetimes compared to their
numerous studies continue to counterparts. A wave of research
show that investments intended projects undertaken in the past few
at uplifting the visual appeal of years to look into whether this phe-
the built environment bring both nomenon, also known as the beau-
economic and social benefits to ty premium, applies to the beauty
cities, it is a mystery that most of cities, has shown that indeed
local authorities do not allocate attraction associated with beauty
more resources for the purpose is not limited to humans only, and
of developing urban beauty and specifically, that even attractive cit-
aesthetics. ies tend to be more successful than
their unattractive counterparts.

BENEFITS OF BEAUTY IN CITIES
The need to make urban centres

more attractive can therefore
not be emphasized enough,
especially here in Malawi, where
urban development continues to
progress but at a relatively slow
pace.
Beautiful cities with improved

public facilities have been found
to have the potential to increase
a city’s growth by up to 10%,
compared to other less attrac-
tive cities.
Improvements in urban beauty
and public amenities are there-
fore powerful tools for economic
growth and urban resurgence
because of their proven ca-
pacity to bring new business
while drawing in the affluent and
educated who are important in
a city’s economic and social
well-being.
In addition to being good for at-

tracting and keeping business,
beautiful, well maintained cities
improve quality of life through
increased social interaction, and
for attracting educated and cre-
ative people who are necessary
for a city’s resurgence, growth
and prosperity.
Because of increased business

activity and an upsurge in the
Beauty and aesthetics also affects the way But Unlike us here in Malawi, other cities
affluent and educated, there will
city residents feel about the city in terms of are increasingly coming to realize that
obviously be fast increases in
whether they are satisfied with their quality reducing ugliness and improving beauty in
incomes, housing appreciation
of life, Just like how among humans looks the built environment are a very powerful
and surging levels in education-
and cleanliness play a major role in the tool for economic growth and urban resur-
al attainment.
quality of a relationship, beauty and aes- gence and have made it a mission to keep
One other salient result of beau-
thetics also determine how people relate to pushing forward with transformational
tiful cities is the inherent poten-
their city in terms of satisfaction and how projects that continue to change the face
tial to “inspire creativity, energy
far they are prepared to be attached to it. of the modern metropolis.
and affection for the places we
That’s why it really baffles many Malawians
live in.” Investing more resourc-
CURRENT STATUS when they see a city like Kigali, the capital
es into making a city like Blan-
It’s become a very well-known fact that of Rwanda - a country that went through
tyre, Mzuzu or Lilongwe more
there is, among local authority and city a 5 year war which destroyed much of the
beautiful also brings the add-
council professionals globally, this deeply infrastructure and rendered most buildings
ed advantage of “shaping the
rooted problem of unwillingness, grounded in ruins, continuing to enjoy record-break-
residents into individuals and
on a belief that projects whose objective is ing beautification and infrastructural leaps
communities whose aesthetic
to uplift the beauty and aesthetics of urban while our cities can’t even start, let alone
sensibilities are enhanced and
built environments is ostentatious and a complete, a tiny project like renovating a
refined.
waste of resources, a notion that is in con- historical landmark.
flict with facts.

So the question now is, why aren’t Environment concluded that more run-down public facilities and
we doing it? Does this mean that people are in favour of putting structures both private and
council personnel responsible for higher priority on preserving exist- public.
implementing beauty and aesthetic ing beautiful places and keeping Despite the financial con-
projects have not read the memo straints that city councils face,
places clean and tidy than they do
on the benefits, both economic neglecting to maintain or im-
on constructing new ones. prove the beauty and aesthet-
and social, of architecturally ap-
ics of urban built environments
pealing buildings and public spac-
That is where we need to, and is a missed opportunity and
es?
must, start. To achieve beauty for a loss rather than a benefit
our cities, we must stop thinking as some may be inclined to
As urban planning professionals, I believe.
am sure that the officers responsi- that we can achieve that desire
ble for the beauty and aesthetics in only by erecting brand new struc-
As a start on the journey to
Malawi’s cities are very aware that tures. Cities like Cape Town do this having a culture where making
the visual appeal of any city is the better. Founded in 1652, most of our cities appealing becomes
second most important factor that the buildings there were built long part of our DNA, local authori-
determines a city’s well-being, the before Malawi was a protectorate. ties will have to start looking at
first being a city’s solid economic Today, because of a rooted culture the benefits of uplifting urban
foundations. to preserve landmarks, you could environments closely and pas-
sionately before turning down
be forgiven to think that those
But so far, that’s not what the urban beauty projects based
buildings were only built yesterday. on grounds that they are os-
cities are investing in, not at a re-
tentatious and that money is
markable scale anyway. The num- Malawians and Malawian institu- tight.
ber of urban dereliction is alarming.
tions must develop a culture of
In the Capital City, we have old Despite the fact that some
caring and respecting the environ-
buildings like the Town Hall, an places are gifted with natural
ment in which we live by making it
eye sore on the City, a humiliating beauty, most urban beauty
landmark that leaves a lot to be de- a habit, and policy, to preserve our
globally is a product of human
sired with regards to our character, cities today so that they remain so effort lead by the city author-
our level of self-respect, and our in future. The advantage of creat- ities because beautification
passion for aesthetics. ing a culture of well looked after projects require major commit-
surroundings is that we teach our ment from both a public policy
Other places that leave so much kids to learn to appreciate beauty and an investments point of
to desire include the Lilongwe Bus and aesthetics. Once these kids view.
Depot, most of the roads in the city On the other hand, it’s also
learn that maintaining appealing
easy for authorities to say
and suburbs, commercial buildings cities is a virtue, they will make car- everyone who lives in the city
that seem like they have not been ing and respecting places where has a responsibility to make
painted forever, poor drainage, no they live a part of themselves and the city look attractive, a senti-
visible proof of standards in en- they will ensure that they keep that ment which, while being par-
hancing the liveability of urban res- tially right, is wrong on many
tradition in future.
idential areas such as compulsory levels because it is not backed
How do we succeed in having
streets and minimum design for a by public belief, at least when
aesthetically pleasing cities when
house built in the city, non-existent it comes to taking initiative
infrastructure – such as the com- those in whom we have placed our because most city residents
Comments are mercial private bridge on Lilongwe trust to lead our cities in respect feel strongly that “the greatest
welcome and river which honestly is not sup- of beautification do not have the responsibility for ensuring that
appreciated. posed to be tolerated and instead appreciation and the commensu- the built environment is beau-
Kndly submit replaced with a proper bridge and rate aesthetical molding and sensi- tiful lies with the local authori-
your comments many others. bilities? ties & city councils,” per Ipsos
through the fol- MORI CABE commissioned
lowing email research. In other words, the
FINANCING & ACHIEVING We need to religiously start pre-
address: city must lead by example and
URBAN BEAUTY serving, and essentially protecting, members of the community
ecstacymag@ A 2010 Ipsos MORI research com- our landmarks, historic places, and will follow.
gmail.com missioned by the Commission for neglected,
Architecture and the Built

Malawi.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

CLIMATE CHANGE THE CONSERVATIONIST
ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY
LET’S ALL CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE
SOMETHING TO THE FIGHT FOR
EARTH.
BY FORREST ATKINS
Climate change, pollution,

environmental degradation and
resource depletion are some of
the more pressing environmen-
tal issues that pause serious
challenges to mankind today.
More than at any other time
in history, climate change is
one of the most serious issues
impacting our world in a de-
structive way. Non-stop fires
in Australia and California,
drought in sub-saharan Africa,
tsunamis in the Pacific and
Tornadoes in North America,
all have something to do with
climate change.
The question is, what is the
impact of your activities on
exacerbating climate change?
And how much are you, as an
individual, as a leader, as a
business or as a country, doing
to curb the ravaging impact of
the climate change phenome-
non?
One of the largest environ-
mental protests in history, The
Global Climate Strike, hap-
pened on the 21 September
last year when young people
from around the world led a
massive coordinated strike
from their schools to protest
Many companies, in the United States
government and business inac- Just as Thurnberg travelled to New
and abroad, have made it a personal
tion on climate change, helmed York on a zero-emissions sailboat, we
mission even in the absence of gov-
by non other than Greta Thurn- can also engage in our own small en-
ernment support, to keep pushing on
berg, the 16 year old climate devours to help the movement.
with efforts tailored at reducing carbon
activist who, while in New York Among other things, we can change
emissions which is the culprit on climate
at the time, later spoke at the our means of long-and short-distance
change and our future.
United Nation’s Climate Action travel, we can change the forms of en-
The fight on climate change gives us the
Summit, sending a message ergy used in our households, such as
opportunity to secure tomorrow today
and stern warning to world using less carbon generating resourc-
without which we won’t have a world to
leaders that the time was now. es.
live in, let alone enjoy all the assets that
While it’s a well known fact that
we keep amassing everyday.
what the United States did by Above it all, we can also engage in ad-
Here in Malawi, we can do the same, by
pulling out of the Paris Climate vocacy for climate change so that we
joining all those people out there who
Change Agreement was like can spread the word while making the
believe in the power of collective action
throwing a big spanner in the big industrial players do more in reduc-
and in the fact that together, no matter
works, the good news is that ing their carbon emissions.
what small contribution we make, we
all the other signatories remain
can achieve our goal, which is a future Comments are welcome and
in the fight on climate change.
in which we still have our earth and an appreciated.
It’s not only those signatory
environment where our children’s chil- Kndly submit your comments
countries though.
dren can enjoy, like we have done before through the following email
them. address:
ecstacymag@gmail.com

EXCITING NEWS THE CONSERVATIONIST
FOR WILDLIFE
ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY
LOVERS BY FORREST ATKINS
We have just learnt of some exciting news for

nature lovers through a post by the African Parks
Twitter Account @AfricanParks.
A leopard was recently caught on a camera trap
in Mangochi Forest Reserve.
According to Olivia Sievert, a Stellenbosch Uni-

versity Msc student currently working on be-
havioural ecology of reintroduced cheetah, thanks
are in order for @RobDavis1104 for his skilled
camera trap placement!
“Great to find one of the few remaining leopard
populations in Malawi,” remarked Olivia Sievert
@Olivisiev, part of the team behind this rare find.
According to the African Parks tweet, “a small

population has managed to survive in this moun-
tainous terrain,” one that they hope to “supple-
ment with translocations to Liwonde National Park
later in 2020.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

THE STRATEGIST SOCIETY&ENTERPRISE
Entrepreneurship & Business
BY RYAN KESSLER
WHAT BUSINESS ARE YOU IN?
Why is your business plummet-

ing? One of the most important
reasons is that you have been
defining your business’s basis for
existence in very narrow terms
and in the process you have un-
knowingly reduced your market
size.
That is the reason why, before

you start re-structuring your oper-
ations to save your business, you
may need to sit down and answer
the question Which business are
you in?.
Fortunately, in 1985, Theodore
Levitt’s Marketing Myopia was
published. In a nutshell, what
Marketing Myopia did was to give
entrepreneurs a fighting chance
through lessons drawn from years
of studying the characteristics of
companies that live longer com-
pared to those that disappear
after a while.
In short, the lesson is that com-
panies that survive are those that
are market focused and always
re-inventing themselves rather
than sticking with business mod-
els and products that at some
point become so archaic to the
extent that the only logical option
is to close shop.
A good example is Post Office,
who lost the plot when, to a cer-
tain extent, they decided in nar- Comments are
row terms that their business was welcome and
handling letters. appreciated.
Define your market first, because Kndly submit
the market is the business. your comments
In other words, define the mission through the fol-
lowing email
of your business in broader terms
address:
rather than sticking to services
ecstacymag@
and products that will sink your gmail.com
business when the environment
changes.

THE ARTS & CULTURE SUPPLEMENT
ECSTACY MAGAZINE

MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE CONGRATULATES RJ THE DJ
FOR BEING APPOINTED AS THE AMBASSADOR FOR EVERY GIRL
IN SCHOOL ALLIANCE - EGISA .

VOLUME 07 CONTENTS
FEBRUARY 2020
ECSTACY MAGAZINE
SOCIETY ARTS & CULTURE
PAGE 044
News and Trends
PAGE 046
Features

Affix
Gifted, Unsigned
PAGE 052
Firsteditions

Lomathinda By Timwa Lipenga
PAGE 054
Collections

Music & Poetry
The Definitive Guide to
2019 Malawian Music & Poetry
PAGE 069
Studio
New Music
Don’t Try This At Home

Featured Artist: TOAST
PAGE 072
Livewire

The Definitive Guide to February Live
Events
LOMATHINDA
BY TIMWA LIPENGA
ECSTACY FIRST EDITIONS

PAGE 052
“The book contains Rose Chibambo’s story in her own words. But that is not all. The book also
contextualises that story by giving information about that particular historic period.” Timwa
Lipenga.

Malawi.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

ENTERTAINMENT
INTELLIGENCE
MEDIA REVIEW I
WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON
ARTS & CULTURE
HERE ARE THE STORIES THAT YOU MUST KNOW
MALAWI’S RJ THE DJ BECOMES THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE

AN AMBASSADOR WIND POWERS IT’S WAY TO THE
TOP OF THE NAACP AWARDS
Malawi was at the centre of this year’s

NAACP Image Awards when the Outstand-
ing Directing in a Motion (Film) Award went
to Chiwetel Ejiofor for his work as Director in
the William Kamkwamba inspired The Boy
Who Harnessed The Wind.
The film, which was distributed by Netflix,
was competing with other blockbuster titles
for this category including Jordan Peele’s
Us(Universal Pictures), Kasi Lemmons’ Har-
riet (Focus Features), Mati Diop’s Atlantics
and Reginald Hudlin’s The Black Godfather
(Netflix).
The movie has previously won the Heartland

Film’s Truly Moving Picture Award (2019)
and the Sundance Film Festival’s Alfred
EGISA is excited to announce that RJ THE P. Sloan Feature Film Prize and also been
DJ, Malawi’s high flying turntable Wizard in nominated for Black Reel Awards (2020) and
the mold of LTJ Bukem, will be the EGISA British Independent Film Awards (2019).
Ambassador for the next two years. Accord-
ing to a communication posted on Twitter
and Facebook.
RJ THE DJ will use her music platform to

champion the the organization’s causes.
More specifically, she will be counted upon
to harness collective support for EGISA’s
#FreeSanitaryPads campaign that will be
launching in May 2020.
EGISA, which stands for Every Girl In School

Alliance, was established in 2018 as a
non-profit organization with a mandate to
promote women’s rights. According to their
website, the organization works towards a
“gender equal society with equal access to
opportunities for education, health and em-
powerment for women and girls.”
EGISA is the organization behind #SheTalks,
”a platform for dialogue on issues that matter
to women and girls.” Their FUULA Campaign
works on efforts to end violence against
women and girls.
The organization’s Secretariat acts as the
resource hub where tools and resources are
developed to help partners in enhancing and
scaling their “individual and collective work
and action.”

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

FEATURES
AFFIX
GIFTED.
UNSIGNED.
UNKNOWN.
BY ALEX LENNON
The absence of
artist develop-
ment programs
that could take
off some of the
weight off these
artists mean that
for a Malawian
artist, to blow,
get recognized,
and start recoup-
ing some of the
funds invested
in his artistic en-
deavors, he or
she must grind 10
times harder to
earn a fraction of
what an artist in
a developed coun-
try with the same
or lesser talent
could earn.

A PROFILE ON MALAWI’S
ECSTACYPROFILES
INDEPENDENT Profiles in Arts and Culture
STRUGGLING ARTISTS
Affix is an emerging crooner who was born and bred on the streets of Li-
longwe, Malawi’s capital city. Just like his partner in music McChim, Affix
is gifted with a voice that is so riveting you would most definitely mistake
him for a big time American R&B star the first time you auditioned his mu-
sic.
The first time we crossed

paths with Affix was by way
of the internet shortly after
the UMP Music Awards, on a
WhatsApp platform that we
had just launched to act as a
conduit for emerging artists,
an exhibition space of sorts for
exposition of their music and
for exchange opportunities,
a platform envisioned to give
music aficionados some sort
of freedom from the ubiquitous
phenomena of head hunting
operatives working on behalf of
big win sports betting schemes.
The next thing, I see a text in
my in box. My first instinct was
to take my time before I popped
the question of who this was,
fearing that I could alienate
an old friend who could feel
slighted for the kind of attitude
that smirks of utter disregard
for friendships. But I thought
against it, “Who am I talking
to if I may?” I started. “Affix,”
came the response, in a fash-
Barely known among the ma- ion that said I am “the” Affix.
jority of the Malawian music Luckily, I thought, let me check
eating, sleeping and walking the new uploads again and see
connoisseurs, Affix introduced whether I could pick up some-
himself as part of an R&B and thing on who Affix was. That
Hip Hop collective early in is when I found three songs
2019. He is an emerging croon- posted on the Music Exchange
er who was born and bred in Group. He thought I had al-
Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, the ready made myself conversant
city on whose streets he refined with his music but at that time,
his craft. Just like his partner in I hadn’t, because I had never
music McChim, Affix is gifted heard of him or about his mu-
with a voice that is so riveting sic.
you would most definitely mis-
take him for a big time Ameri-
can R&B star the first time you
auditioned his music.

Affix informed me that all he has ever There are no music labels in these
wanted is to sing, real passionate parts, at least not like those of the
about it. It’s only after I auditioned Universal, Island or Sony Music
his music, an endeavor that gave me variety. When you are an artist, you
the opportunity to witness the sound are on your own. If your parents or
of his angelic voice, when I realized relatives are not well endowed with
that here was a gem in the rough, resources of the monetary nature in
better than a remarkable number remarkable amounts, forget it. Your
of contestants whose vocal capa- career is toast. Thanks to the surg-
bilities I have had to endure on the ing rates of youth unemployment,
internationally acclaimed The Voice. the chances for alternative sources
Unfortunately, those are opportuni- of seed capital to finance a young
ties that continue to be a pipe dream driven artist’s career are almost
for many Malawian artists endowed non-existent.
with some of the greatest talents the At the time of writing, I was still in
world has ever seen vocally. the process of looking for the pres-
ence of a local record label in the
The Affix story reminds me of a line true sense of the word.
in a movie I watched a few months Most of the entities calling them-
back where one of the bad guys selves record companies here are
coins an assertion and says “geogra- what in the music profession are
phy is destiny, my friend,” to para- referred to as recording studios.
phrase. Their only capacity is making beats
and doing the recording, finish. And
Unlike in most of the developed they will need their money in ad-
countries and a few other developing vance before they can get started on
countries like South Africa, India and a recording project. Like elsewhere
China, Malawi doesn’t have a prop- globally, there is no doubt that most
erly developed structures in terms of of them would love to invest in up-
artist development. coming artists, especially those with
exceptional talents like Affix and his
music partner, McChim. What they
lack though is the financial muscle,
the capacity, to invest in an artist’s
career.

There are no music So when a young artist has put his lyr- Affix started singing in 2005 while he
ics together, he will do some research was still in primary school. “In 2010 I
labels in these parts, on which studio is better positioned went to see Ralph Ching’amba about
at least not like those to recording his music in line with the promoting my music but he advised
cost aspects. Proximity also plays a me that I needed to finish school
of the Universal, Island role. Once the songs are recorded, first,” he explains about his initial
or Sony Music variety. that’s it. The artist is now responsible steps leading to where he is now.
When you are an artist, for the acquisition of promotional and
distribution opportunities. With limit-
“After I did my form four exams, I
went to see DJ Sley,” he continues,
you are on your own. If ed to almost non-existent alternative “I paid him MK 24 000.00 but I end-
your parents or sources of money, careers of artists ed up in frustration because he didn’t
like Affix & McChim fizzle out. deliver on what we discussed. In
relatives are not well The absence of artist development addition to that, he did not refund me
endowed with programs, which could take off some my money.” Affix says he never gave
of the weight off these artists, means up after this ordeal. “I never give up.
resources of the that a Malawian artist, to go up there, After that episode, I started working
monetary nature in get recognized, and start recouping with PV Records and then Mapili. I
remarkable amounts, some of the funds invested in his ar-
tistic endeavors, must grind 10 times
always work hard, but I need help.”
forget it. Your career harder to earn a fraction of what an It was during 2019 that Affix started
is toast. Thanks to the artist in a developed country with the some sort of a musical partnership
same or lesser talent could earn. with another budding Malawian artist
surging rates of youth This is the challenge which Affix and who calls himself McChim. So far,
unemployment, the his partner McChim are wrestling with they have released three songs as a
every day. This is the reason why mu- collective, a group which they have
chances for any alter- sic from Affix, McChim, and other art- not given a distinct identity to with
native sources of seed ists, both emerging and established, all their songs recorded as Affix x
capital to finance a doesn’t yet feature on the local and
global radars of music connoisseurs,
McChim.
Mame, produced by George P.V
young driven and not because of the absence of Records, is a dedication to a faithful
artist’s career are artistry or some desire or conspiracy girlfriend who is labeled a slut by
other guys for turning them down,
to rob you of your right to enjoy the
almost non-existent. best of the talents Malawi has to offer. with an emotionally lifting melody
that is a deserving platform for sig-
But Affix keeps trying. “I am not yet naling his arrival. On Tivineko, Affix x
there, but of course I am a pushing McChim are in a celebratory mood,
upcoming artist.” He responds during begging for permission to dance,
our first interaction on WhatsApp as even though it’s obvious that they
I go digging for the sender identity to don’t need it, because shortly after
a text that had just hit my inbox from the opening chorus, they are already
a number I didn’t remember coming dancing. Nthiti, a declaration of love,
across before. seems to continue from where Mame
left off.
Haunted by a burning desire to suc- Affix believes that many of those
ceed, budding artists end up as who have the power to do something
pawns by unscrupulous pay-day about the development of Malawian
chasing producers whose only capac- music have no appreciation or under-
ity is to record songs and make beats standing of the challenges dogging
many of which are not even good the artists, the people who are the
enough to blow up an aspiring musi- centre of the music industry, most of
cian’s career , and even if they blow them struggling to even make so tiny
up, there is no expectation that the a project such as merely releasing a
artist will recoup his worth in resourc- mix tape. Problems are myriad, and
es invested, a phenomenon partially include among them lack of personal
due to online digital supply chains recording and computing equipment
that are under-developed and virtually and limited access to the internet
non-existent to make the music worth due to high data costs. Add to all this
the buzz in financial terms. Malawi’s almost non-existent online
payments regime which complicates
the process of making sales on infor-
mation (digital) goods such as music.

One of the important areas that young Affix and his friend
and new artists could benefit from is continue to do what
technical assistance (an endeavor that we they can. At the
here at Society Magazine look forward moment, they have
to participating in through our new Free uploaded one of
Technical Support Initiative for Develop- their songs on lusu
ment of Malawian Artists (FTSI – DEMA)). manda enterprise
website, in addition
While it could be hard to support each to submitting their
artist with financial resources, technical songs to various
development support that empowers music-focused ra-
each artist on best business practices for dio programs that
artists including in areas such as funda- include Joy Nathu
mentals of self-promotion, marketing, and at Radio 2, Jamse,
sales, while putting more emphasis on the Timveni and Galaxy.
power of new technologies to promote
artist visibility at a fraction of the cost that So far it’s been
one would otherwise have to spend if quiet in terms of
alternative means were utilized, would be radio airplay, but
highly beneficial. they continue
“I wish there were many people who un- putting in time and
derstood Malawian music from the artistic whatever
challenges point-of-view,” says Affix. resources they can
Affix and his friend continue to do what find, hoping that one
they can. At the moment, they have up- of these days, they
loaded one of their songs on lusu manda will blow up.
enterprise website, in addition to submit- Comments are
ting their songs to various music-focused welcome and
radio programs that include Joy Nathu at
appreciated.
Radio 2, Jamse, Timveni and Galaxy.
Kndly submit
your comments
So far it’s been quiet in terms of radio air-
through the fol-
play, but they continue putting in time and
lowing email
whatever resources they can find, hoping
address:
that one of these days, they will blow up.
ecstacymag@
gmail.com

Malawi.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

ECSTACYFIRSTEDITIONS
MALAWIAN AND AFRICAN LITERATURE
LOMATHINDA Books, Short Stories, Fiction, Non-Fiction
TIMWA LIPENGA
BY ANTHONY PHIRI STIGLITZ
FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
Among many of the books and articles which have
been published to date on the history of Mala-
wi’s struggle for self rule and the profiles of men
and women who mustered the courage to get out
and lead in various aspects of the independence
Timwa Lipenga’s scorching account of coalition, you could be stuck in limbo to go looking
Rose Lomathinda Chibambo’s life and politics, for comprehensive and detailed works that are
capable of letting you in on the life and times of
in Chibambo’s own words, is a magnum opus Rose Lomathinda Chibambo, Malawi’s pioneer-
on a stellar journey that has so far not been ing female political activist in the mold of Harriet
Tubman and Rosa Parks, whose only reason for
afforded the exposure that it deserves. entering Malawi’s political fray was a desire to
demonstrate against and put an end to the preva-
lent status quo characterised by racially selective,
discriminatory and oppressive policies that borne
the Thangata system , a status quo built on repres-
sive legislation that continued to bring political,
economic and social suffering among Africans.
Starting in 1951 as a community organizer for

women in Zomba to participate in the fight against
the repressive colonial rule, she went on to form
the Women’s League with Vera Chirwa. Chibambo
was also the first woman executive member of
the Nyasaland African Congress (a party whose
demise led to the formation of the MCP).
When Robert Armitage, the Governor of Nyasa-
land at the time, declared a State of Emergency
over Nyasaland in 1959, Chibambo was one of the
political leaders that were arrested, hers coming
20 days after Operation Sunrise of 03rd March
1959.
The first woman to be appointed for a ministerial
position in the newly independent Malawi in 1964,
she would go on to live in Zambia for the next
30 years after she was forced into exile in 1965
following the cabinet crisis of 07 September 1964
that led to a rift with Dr. Hastings Banda.
That’s why Lomathinda, Timwa Lipenga’s scorch-

ing, comprehensive narrative of Chibambo’s life is
a welcome project, a breathe of fresh air. The book
looks at the History of Malawi’s struggle from an
alternative perspective compiled from an account
of a face to face conversation between Chibambo
herself and the writer, a generally rare opportunity
in the literary circles, because most historical pro-
files are based on a third party point of view. With
Lomathinda, the subject of the story is giving it to
you first hand.
According to Timwa Lipenga, “The book contains
Rose Chibambo’s story in her own words. But that
Publisher: Open Logos Culture is not all. The book also contextualises that story
Where ro Buy: Bookshops in Malawi; Online by giving information about that particular historic
Availability: December 2019 period.”
Synopsis:
Chibambo traces the origins of her family, her culture and her commitment to building
a post-colonial nation – and the heavy price she paid for it.
Cell: 0885 17 72 70

MUSIC & POETRY ECSTACYGUIDES
CURATED BY ALEX LENNON

GUIDES & DIRECTORIES
TWENTY NINETEEN
ALBUMS
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO 2019

MALAWIAN MUSIC & POETRY
ARTWORK FOR
NAMADINGO’S NEW, 2019
ALBUM YA SYMON

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO 2019 MUSIC
ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
2019 MALAWIAN ALBUMS Events, Guides, Details on
new music, tv series & movies
2019 ALBUMS THAT YOU MUST AUDITION
ARTIST
PATIENCE NAMADINGO
ALBUM
YA SYMON
YA SYMON RELEASED
12/2019
50% GOSPEL, 50% INSPIRATIONAL
LABEL
NAMADINGO’S BLUEPRINT ON LIFE AND HOW ELATION ENTERTAINMENT
SOUTH AFRICA
PEOPLE OUGHT TO TREAT EACH OTHER.
GENRE
AFROBEAT
Patience Namadingo is a Malawi-

an Composer and Songwriter. He
was born in May 1990. Namadin-
go’s debut album, Goshen, was
released in December 2007 and
features his mother on two of the
songs. Patience’s Sophomore
album, Tiri Ndi Yesu, signalled
his arrival.It featured the hit song
Mtendere and was Malawi’s No. 1
selling Gospel album from 2010 to
2012.
Ya Symon, a 15 track album that
dropped in December 2019, is
Namadingo’s third album. The al-
bum’s title, Ya Symon, is a dedica-
tion to Patience’s father, Symon.
Patience is a National School of

the Arts (Johannesburg) Alumni,
and has for the most part of his
career been known as a gospel
singer to most people although this
is changing. On the new album,
he is dishing out an eclectic mix
of sounds. The album, according
to Namadingo, is 50% Gospel and
50% inspirational.
“I am talking about life. I am talking
about how people ought to treat
one another,” he said shortly before
the album was released, “I don’t
want to talk about the Bible only. I
want to talk about life issues. If that
Notable songs include does not make me a Gospel Artist,
Wayima, Ng’wing’wi, then I am not one.”
Tchafwa Tchafwa and The album was recorded and pro-
Vinyo. duced in 4 countries. He is current-
ly signed to Elation Entertainment
Southern Africa.

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
GWAMBA
Gwamba
ALBUM
MAMA SAID GOD FIRST MAMA SAID GOD FIRST
RELEASED
21/12/2019
LABEL
INDIE
GENRE
GOSPEL
According to Malawimusic.com,
Gwamba, born Duncan Zgambo
in November 1994, is a Malawian
rapper who has been a fixture
on the Malawian music scene for
more than 10 years. Initially part
of the Pittie Boiz, he went solo in
2009.
Some of his songs include Mme-

sa, “Tikakumane Kumadzi”,
“Sindingasiye Bawa”, “Carina ya
Mdala”
His moniker, Gwamba, means

Mama Said God First is “The One Who Gives,” in Tumbu-
Gwamba’s second album and ka, a local language spoken by
follows Jesus is my Boss, his the Tumbuka , a tribe predomi-
debut album released in 2016. nantly originating in the northern
Released on the 29th Sep- region of Malawi.
tember 2019, the album was
officially launched on 21 De- Mama Said God First is Gwam-
cember 2019. ba’s second album and follows
The tracklist includes Mtima Jesus is my Boss, his debut
Pansi (Feat. Onesimus), You album released in 2016.
are everything (Tumi) and Final Released on the 29th September
Say(Feat Da Lu). 2019, the album was officially
launched on 21 December 2019.
The tracklist includes Mtima Pansi
(Feat. Onesimus), You are every-
thing (Tumi) and Final Say(Feat
Da Lu).
ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
KELL KAY
Kell Kay ALBUM
LOVE AFTER 24 LOVE AFTER 24
RELEASED
26/10/2019
LABEL
INDIE
GENRE
R&B
Kell Kay burst onto the Malawi

music scene in 2014 with a song
titled Ndilore Ndipite (Let me Go).
He is mostly known for being a
multi award winning artist, having
won an award every year since
2015. Some of his popular songs,
a number of them also featured
on his first EP titled All for You,
include Mwano (Feat. Martse),
Mbuli, Mpaka Pamenepo and Mr.
Yesu(Feat. Gwamba).
Love After 24, an Afropop
album released on the 26th Love After 24, an Afropop album
October 2019, is inspired released on the 26th October
by a recollection of his 2019, is inspired by a recollection
love experiences when he of his love experiences when he
turned 24, a point in his turned 24, a point in his life when
life when he realized the he realized the importance of be-
importance of becoming coming “a better person, a man,
“a better person, a man, a brother, a son and a friend.”
a brother, a son and a according to Kelly Kay himself,
friend.” according to Kel- born Kelly Kambwiri.
ly Kay himself, born Kelly Love after 24 has 12 songs and
Kambwiri. was produced by Henwood and
Tricky Beats.
Notable hits include Chatha(It’s
Over), Nakupenda, and Nsi-
kusambizye.

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
LULU KHWISA & MATHUMELA
BAND
ALBUM
BETTER IN YOUR ARMS
RELEASED
07/09/2019
LABEL
INDIE
GENRE
FUSION/GOSPEL
Mostly known as a Guitar Wizard who

can sing, Lulu began his music career
with Zembani , Luscious Banda’s Balaka
based Ensemble .
Better in your arms is his 06th album and
features a harmonic collection that incli-
udes Hanna (with Zambia’s B1), Undip-
weteka and Better in Your Arms.
ARTIST
CHARISMA
ALBUM
BAD DECISIONS
RELEASED
26/08/2019
LABEL
INDIE
GENRE
HIP HOP
Born Madalitso Kantema, Charisma is a

Lilongwe based rapper who arrived on
Malawi’s Hip Hop scene in 2011.
Hailed as one of Malawi’s best rappers,
the reviews on Bad Decisions have pro-
duced mostly good ratings . The album
boasts many great features and includes
Kell Kay on Mmamawa.

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
DNA
ALBUM
DZIKO LA AMUNA
RELEASED
05/08/2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
AFRO-POP
Dziko La Amuna is DNA’s second com-

ing. His debut album, Mizizi, came in
2015. Since then, he went into a hiatus
until 2019 when “he saw an issue to
address.”
If the album title feels heavier for your
palate, you may as well refer to it as
Pursuit of Love : The Pain because that
is the inspiration behind the album. The
album has 13 tracks.
ARTIST
ROYAL BLOOD ARMY
ALBUM
THE SCROLLS SECRET
RELEASED
2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
HIP HOP
Royal Blood Army’s Scroll’s Secret talks

everything social, economic, political and
spiritual.
The 14-track album, designed with a
global audience in mind, has been hailed
as “unapologetically street with a raw
authentic sound.”

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
VITA CHIRWA
ALBUM
MWAYI WA NZAMA
RELEASED
19/10/2019
LABEL/GENRE
INDEPENDENT(KALIMBA BAND)
GENRE
Following the demise in 1996 of the Late

Griffin Mhango, a guitar maestro and arguably
Malawi’s most prolific vocalist at the time, Vita
became the leader of Kalimba, Malawi’s great-
est band to date, most probably.
Vita, Griffin’s nephew and protege, has gone
on to become a succesful solo musician
and the perfect embodiment of what Griffin
Mhango and Kalimba stood for - excellence.
ARTIST
PHYZIX
ALBUM
SOLID
RELEASED
27/07/2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
HIP HOP
Solid, Phyzix 07th Album, has 11 songs in-

cluding Yeye, Ghetto Gospel, Lele and Cap-
tain Flex. Born Noel Chikoleka, he calls the
opus “a three- dimensional album with various
topics for the mind and soul.”
Featured Artists include Barry One, Bucci and
Stitch Fray.

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
TRIZAH TITUS
ALBUM
UMOZA
RELEASED
19/11/2019
LABEL
GENRE
GOSPEL
The Blantyre-born, Mzuzu-raised and

South-African based Trizah Titus can
write, compose, sing and perform.
Umoza is her fourth album and follows
Tsika Mzimu Woyera, Yesu Wakwiza and
Ndendende.
ARTIST
SYMON & KENDALL
ALBUM
NATALIA
RELEASED
15/10/2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
The title track to the group’s 06th Studio

album, Natalia, received alot of rave re-
views when it was released in 2019.
The album, according to the duo, “is about
love, culture and a sense of humanity.”
Nyembanyemba, a chart topper, was the
crew’s debut album and was released in
2003 to critical acclaim.

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
LAZARUS
ALBUM
STOMP ON THE DEVIL
(TIMPONDE SATANA)
RELEASED
16/08/2019
LABEL/GENRE
LILONGWE DIRECT/
“They named me Lazarus, the Leper,”

writes Sarah Larson in the October 2019
New Yorker documentary on Lazarus, the
now internationally recognized Malawi
born musician and activist.
“His music is inviting and immediately
appealing,” is how Larson puts it, “warm-
ly rousing, combining elements of Mala-
wian music, punk, and folk, with lyrics in
Chichewa.”
Madona called him “the powerful voice of
a new generation.” Deserves a listen.
ARTIST
SHAMMAH VOCALS
ALBUM
ASAMALA YEHOVAH
RELEASED
07/12/2019
LABEL/GENRE
NTHANDA ARTWORKS/GOSPEL
Shammah Vocals, like most Malawians,

was born in a Christian family. This back-
ground played a big role in his passion to
sing Gospel.
Asamala Yehovah, which he launched in
December 2019, is a complete body of
work with the potential of satisfying the
curiosity of the most discerning taste.
The 10 track album includes Asamala
Yehovah, Amayankha, Muyende Nane
and Zoe.
Malawi.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
FAITH MUSSA
ALBUM
KALILIMA
RELEASED
26/07/2019
LABEL/GENRE
BEATING HEARTGENRE
GOSPEL
AFROSOUL;FUSION
According to beatingheart.com,”Faith is a
one-man band oozing fluidity, groove and
soul.”
Faith Mussa is one of only a handful of Mala-
wian musicians who are famous within Mala-
wi and even more without, being a staple at
the big international festivals in both Europe
and North America.
He has previously played Glastonbury, Arts
Festival of Northern Norway, Tumaini Fes-
tival and Worldfest California among many
other joints.
On Kalilima, his second album (after Mdidi)
and third including the Desperate EP, “Afri-
can rythms collide with touches of eletron-
ics. glistening production and layered gui-
tars.” per beatingheart.
ARTIST
FAITH TSOKA
ALBUM
CHIKONDI
RELEASED
23/02/2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT/GOSPEL
GENRE
GOSPEL
The Social Scientist has come from far,

having started singing at her local church
very early when she was aged 8. Later while
in Primary school, she was sent for music
lessons .
Chikondi is Faith Tsoka’s second album,
and it comes on the heels of 2016’s This is
the Promise and the Peace of Loving You
EP.

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
CHIGO GRACE
ALBUM
BREATHE IN ME
RELEASED
00/06/2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
GOSPEL
Chigo Grace is a Gospel Musician, Singer

and Songwriter with a knack for exper-
imenting with rock and pop to give her
listeners a unique brand of gospel sound.
The guitarist’s previous albums include You
are Righteous (2008) and Beautiful (2009).
ARTIST
FRANK KAUNDA
ALBUM
NTHAWI
RELEASED
30/11/2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
GOSPEL
Located in the confines of Mangochi Sec-

ondary School, just across the road from
Mangochi Post Office is St Augustin Angli-
can Church. When Frank was 11 years old,
he started his music journey as a Choir boy
here.
Nthawi has 10 songs including Ma Virus (Vi-
ruses) and Nthawi (Time) .

ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
ARTIST
JOHAN HUGO / BEN LOVETT/
LAZARUS
ALBUM
LAZARUS (ORIGINAL SCORE)
RELEASED
15/11/2019
LABEL
The Lazarus documentary, which

premiered at the Tribeca Film Fes-
tival, tells the story of how a busk-
er(street musician/entertainer) de-
fied the odds to attain international
recognition through his music and
activism for Albino causes, being
born an albino himself.
This is the soundtrack to the docu-
mentary.
Producers and contributors include
Johan Hugo (producer to Mumford
& Sons), Ben Lovett (Mumford &
Sons) and Lazarus himself.

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO 2019 POETRY
ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
Dark Shadow’s Lost and Marumbo’s Things I wish I had Said signal the coming of age of Malawian
poetry. sink your teeth in the works below and you will agree that we are rising on a steady pace with
the art form.
ARTIST
DARK SHADOW
ALBUM
LOST
RELEASED
07/08/2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
POETRY
Dark Shadow, born Christina

Kamwendo in 1999, has a knack
for words. an endevour that she
expresses through poetry, an
art form that she is great at. Her
writing skills are stellar and her
delivery bold and flawless.
ARTIST
MARUMBO
ALBUM
THNGS I WISH I SAID
RELEASED
2019
LABEL
INDEPENDENT
GENRE
POETRY
A young poet in the mold of Edgar

Allan Poe, William Butler Yeats
and Shakespeare, Marumbo will
mesmerize you with his wordplay.
His verses are potent and his de-
livery palpable.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

SOUND ECSTACYSTUDIO
SCENE
Records and Singles
NEW MUSIC
TRY
THIS
AT
HOME
AND
YOU
ARE
TOAST
9.03.2020
WRITTEN BY ROY KAFOTEKA

ECSTACYSTUDIO
Records and Singles
NEW MUSIC

The EP Malawian Hip-Hop artist, Toast, has
finally revealed the name, artwork and
"It's called "DTTAH", which stands for
Don’t Try This At Home,” he explains
consists of six tracklist for his new EP, DTTAH (Don't
Try This At Home).
the title, “I chose this title and the
artwork to convey a message. Peo-
songs and two DTTAH is Toast's first project as a solo
ple tend to try and copy most of what
various artists do forgetting that some
Bonus tracks, artist. In trying to explain the reason
for the slight delay in the release of the
of it is just for entertainment purposes.
There is need to appreciate that an
including fea- project, the rapper said he had been artist is a tool for educating as much
as entertaining".
busy with studies. "This is a project
tures from I have worked on from 2018. It took
"So in the artwork is a reflection of
Tuno, Quest, me time coz I had made a decision to
return back to varsity, but I can finally
something I don’t do, but most peo-
ple would presume I do hence the title
Henwood and say my first solo project is done and
coming out on 9 March 2020".
"Don’t Try This At Home".
South African The EP consists of six songs and two

"The album has different type of
sounds, from Rap and Trap to Pop
rapper Kwesta. Bonus tracks, including features from
Tuno, Quest, Henwood and South Afri-
and Dancehall,” Toast says, ”I tried to
create music that everyone can listen
can rapper Kwesta. to and not just focus on one type of
Prior to its release the EP will be made sound, and in my songs I use Chiche-
available for purchase as soon as it drops. wa, English and Swahili. I hope when it
“It will be at an affordable price, one that is released you will support the craft as
everyone can afford,” said Toast. you have over the years."

EVENTSLIVE ECSTACYLIVEWIRE
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 2020
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO

MARCH 2020 EVENTS

Events, Guides, Details on
THE LIVE EVENTS GUIDE
GWAMBA
MAMA SAID GOD FIRST
ALBUM LAUNCH
MZUZU STADIUM
Gwamba will be in Launch Mode

for his Mama Said God First
album Launch to take place on
28th March 2020.
This is the northern region leg of
the launch tour which follows pri-
or shows that already took place
in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
Venue is Mzuzu Stadium. En-
try tickets are MK500 before
12:00AM and MK1000 after
12:00AM.
Kindly refer to poster for further
details.

THE LIVE EVENTS GUIDE Events, Guides, Details on
2020 ST PATRICK’S DAY

FOOD FESTIVAL,
BLANTYRE

Food Festival - Celebrating Cul-

tures is a food show to be held
on Saturday the 14 March 2020
from 400pm - 800pm with the
auspices of the 2020 St Patrick’s
Day.
You can book your food stall be-
fore the time.
Kindly refer to the accompanying
poster for further details.

BLESSINGS GONDWE
ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY

Blantyre Cultural Centre will be

the venue for Living Worship’s
presentation in the form of an
Album Launch Party for a new
release by Blessings Gondwe.
Kindly refer to accompanying
poster for further details.

THE LIVE EVENTS GUIDE Events
COLOUR RUN
LILONGWE NO. 32
ROUNDTABLE MALAWI
Colour Run, to take place on

the 14th March 2020 at Kumbali
Country Lodge, has three cate-
gories comprising the 2km-10km
Colour Run with entry pegged
at MK8000, the 21km Mountain
Bike Race pegged at MK10000
and the Classic Car Show going
at MK5000 for each participating
car.
Refer to Poster for further details.

THE LIVE EVENTS GUIDE Events, Guides & Details on
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
SHE DECIDES DAY 2020

02 MARCH 2020
COMMUNITY GROUND
DUBBED “RED LIPSTICK
& BODY AUTONOMY
MARCH.”
Creating a #NewNormal is the

theme for this She Decides Day
2020.
According to SheDecidesMala-
wi Twitter page, a New Normal
is deciding what to do without
question. This, according to
SheDecides, includes the liberty
to decide what to wear without
explaining that dressing and mo-
rality does not warrant consent or
harrassment.”

SECOND ANNIVERSARY
SHUTDOWN
This show will be held in Area 21,

CCDC, at Grittas Camp on Sat-
urday the 28 March 2020 from
1300PM - 1800PM.
Refer to Poster for further details.

MOVIE PREMIERE
CAN’T HAVE T ALL
LILONGWE AND BLANTYRE

According to their poster, Can’t

Have It All is a West African Thrill-
er that has been produced by
Lilian Azizi, a Malawian producer.
The movie will premiere in Lilon-

gwe on Friday the 27th March
2020 and then on Saturday in
Blantyre the next day, 28 March
2020.
This is a Red Carpet event.
Refer to poster for further details.

ROCK & ROLL FASHION

SHOW
JACARANDA CULTURAL
CENTRE, BLANTYRE
On 28th March 2020, Phyllis &

Patt Fashions will present what
they have dubbed the Rock &
Roll Fashion Show.
The show will be held at Jacaran-
da Cultural Centre in Blantyre.
The venue is located opposite
CFAO Malawi in Mandala.
Time is 13:00PM.
Refer to poster for further details.

FREDOKISS
MAMA SAID GOD FIRST
ALBUM LAUNCH
MZUZU STADIUM
Fredokiss will be part of Gwam-

ba’s Mama Said God First album
launch to take place on 28th
March 2020.
This is the northern region leg of
the launch tour which follows pri-
or shows that already took place
in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
Venue is Mzuzu Stadium. En-
try tickets are MK500 before
12:00AM and MK1000 after
12:00AM.

ST PATRICK’S DAY
CELEBRATIONS

The Saint Patrick’s Day Cele-
bration is a Malawi Irish Society
presentation to take place at
Sunbird Capital Hotel Marquee
from 07PM on Friday 13th March
2020.

BRUNCH
SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2020
KAZA KITCHEN


YOUTH FOR CHANGE

Y4C

BASI
#BARSABOUTSOMETHING
28 MARCH 2020
This is an Open Mic competition

about the SDGs.
Venue is BICC Amphitheatre,
Lilongwe.
Kindly Refer to poster for more
details.

CHE WIKISE
TIPHULITSE CHIBOMBA
THE GREENLAND GARDEN

A live show featuring Che Wikise
to be hosted by DJ Snow and
fellow DJs.
details.

FREAK FRIDAYS
CLUB CYCLONE

Freaky Friday will feature DJ
Wayne and DJ Slow Mo.
Date is 06 March 2020.
This is a Sound Freak Presenta-

tion.

details.

Malawi.

Cell: 0885 17 72 70

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MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 01

MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE CONGRATULATES THE CAST OF

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 02

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 03

Foreword to the March Issue

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 04

PAGE 040 ECSTACY MAGAZINE

THE STRATEGIST Page 044 News and Trends

Talk of the Town:

A Steakhouse Fit For A Senator:

Juice for Mental Health:

Urban Beauty as a Weapon for

AFFIX: GIFTED, UNSIGNED, UNKNOWN

SEE FULL STORY ON PAGE 046

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 05

Welcome to the new edition of Malawi’s finest magazine, Society Magazine.

There is lots and lots of things to read .

In Legends, we cover Rose Chibambo, one of Malawi’s freedom fighters and

We also cover issues in health, development, conservation, development and

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 06

MEDIA REVIEW I THE MONTHLY DIARY

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 07

MEDIA REVIEW I THE MONTHLY DIARY

NO END IN SIGHT FOR

by Malawi Human Rights Commission. Amid running battles between the

MCHESI BIKER KILLER NOT AN

The Women Laywers Association took legal

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 08

MEDIA REVIEW I THE MONTHLY DIARY

ELECTIONS CASE: PAC MEETS MEC

The day for the long-awaited verdict that fol-

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 09

MEDIA REVIEW I THE MONTHLY DIARY

THE ART OF WAR:

Whoever said there are no permanent enmities

DPP and UDF, two parties for which only a few

According to DPP leader President Peter

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 010

TALK OF THE TOWN

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 011

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 012

Like KCH - a hospital built to cater

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 013

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 014

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 015

A close study of the social, economic

Throughout the colonial years - a

Currently part of a common, emerg-

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 016

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 017

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 018

MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 019

Malawi’s most influential and iconic voice among the

Nthanda is at the centre of one of Mala-

It’s okay if you want to call the 2020 de-

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 021

I firstly came to know about

MARCH 2020 MALAWIAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE 022

header proclaim- 2020.”

ing Internationally regarding criteria attached to

Awarded Speaker, people are used to not having

remind you that you approach is in terms of the new