MZUZU UNIVERSITY

CENTRE FOR OPEN, DISTANCE AND e- LEARNING

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE, CULTURAL AND CREATIVE STUDIES

TO : DR JOSHUA KUMWENDA

FROM : STAFORD MALIKO

REG NO : BEDLDL 43819

COURSE CODE : ENGL 2301

COURSE TITLE : MALAWIAN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

LEVEL : TWO

SEMESTER : THREE

ASSIGNMENT NO : ONE

TASK : DISCUSSING HOW CULTURE, POLITICS AND

RELIGION HAVE SHAPED THE STYLE, THEMES AND
PRESTIGE OF MALAWIAN LITERATURE FROM
COLONIAL TIMES TO DATE.

DUE DATE : 30 JULY 2022.

HOW CULTURE, POLITICS AND RELIGION HAVE SHAPED THE STYLE, THEMES AND
PRESTIGE OF MALAWIAN LITERATURE FROM COLONIAL TIMES TO DATE

Literature is defined as books and other written work, especially those considered to have creative
or artistic merit or lasting value. Malawi like any other countries in Africa have its own literature.
However, Malawian literature has gone through different stages in shaping it. This is the case
because literature in Malawi has gone through colonial time, independent time and multiparty time.
Some writers categorize these times as the Pioneering Phase, the Second Generation of Writers
and the Third Generation of Writers. In addition, others categorize it in terms of political
development and these are Malawian literature before independence, Malawian literature during
independence, and finally, Malawian literature in Multiparty Era from1994 until now. It can be
noted from these categorizations that indeed Malawian literature has gone through various stages
in shaping it. Some of these areas include culture, politics and religion. Therefore, it is the scope
of this paper to discuss how culture, politics and religion have shaped the styles, themes and
prestige of Malawian literature from colonial times to date on the national and global stage.

Firstly, during colonial time; culture, politics and religion were some of the factors shaped the
styles, themes and prestige of Malawian literature. During colonial times, most of the African
writers were writing by imitating the colonizers. This means that most of theirs works were written
in English. Since culture goes with the language, most of the writers were in between cultures.
That is to mean that they were writing in English which means they were influenced by English
culture. At the same time, they were also influenced by their own indigenous languages which
means they also had their Malawian culture in their writing.

However, there are some writers who wrote in their languages. Some of these writers include;
writers include Kanyama Chiume, John Gwengwe, Samuel Josiah Phiri and T. Dosi and many
others. Some of these writers were prevented to write themes that concerns Africans like love,
poverty and many more. They were told to write themes that will lead to evangelization. For
example, one of the work titled Kalenga ndi Mzake, Andrea is stopping his children to attend the
nyau dance. This can really show that writing about own culture was a very big challenge since
they were the same colonizers who were publishing the works produced by Malawian writers.
Therefore, it can be noted the aspect of Malawian culture was written but at a very small
percentage.
During the colonial time, themes which promoted their (colonizers) mission (Christianizing
Malawians): evangelization were used. Some of the recurrent themes of this period include the
following: heathenism versus Christianity, evil versus good and darkness versus light.
Furthermore, artists themselves lacked exposure to good models of writing as few texts were
available for upcoming Malawian writers to copy from. On the other part, Malawian writers
showed their prestige by writing in their local languages. That showed promoting their languages
and culture. Therefore, it can be concluded that Malawian literatures was controlled by
missionaries during this period since they were the ones who brought education to Malawians and
there were the ones who were publishing the works produced by Malawian writers. This made the
writers not to write as they wish. Politically, Malawian literature is only showing village heads
who are running a small community. In addition, the Malawian writers are showing a system of
government which was governed by the colonizers. For example in Kalenga ndi Mzake, one of the
friends of Kalenga is arrested by the police when they went to look for a greener pasture in the
city.

During independent time, Malawians writers wrote in their languages while others wrote in
English. Politics, culture and religion have shaped the styles, themes and prestige of Malawian
literature during this time. Politically, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda controlled the literary works
of this period by censorship board. Due to censorship laws, Malawi’s literary development could
not be as speedy as one could have wanted. Censorship laws banned and closed down newspapers,
publishing houses and radio stations that carried out anything negative about the government.
However, Malawian writers introduced another type of writing called cryptic writing. They did
this to prevent them to be caught by the board.

Common themes in these texts include: hospitality, social security, family and kinship, alienation,
(arranged) marriages, bride price and gender, politeness and respect for elders, religious practices
and beliefs, social protocol, social etiquette, rites and customs, colonial political oppression,
corruption, migrant labour system, manual labour and officework and Christianity. Though
written during independence, most of the literary works focused on the colonial oppression and
experiences.

Religiously Malawian writers wanted to promote Christianity. The themes to do with darkness
versus light were promote. In so doing Malawians were changing their characters. On the culture,
Malawians were imposed with Chichewa language. This was done by Dr. Band saying that
Chichewa should be national language. This made all literary works in other Malawian languages
to be buried in their languages.

Finally, during Malawian Literature in Multiparty Era; culture, politics and religion also have
shaped the styles, themes and prestige of Malawian literature from colonial times to date on the
national and global stage. Politically, Malawian artists were only concerned with countering Dr
Banda’s dictatorial rule because soon after the new government has been ushered in, very little has
been written. Notable publications include Steve Chimombo’s The Wrath of Napolo (2000), a hefty
novel that recounts some of the problems Malawians went through to be where we are today. Emily
Mkamanga’s Suffering in Silence: Malawi’s Women’s 30 Years Dance with Dr Banda (2000),
though not considered as one of the canonized literary works, is one of the reference texts that
encapsulate the bitter memories of Dr Banda in which women’s role was nothing but dancing for
the political leaders which seems to be refusing to die.

On culture, Malawian writers are able to write literary works that depicts about culture. Cultural
factors including ceremonies, festivals, beliefs and values have also become sources of influence
to write in Chichewa. For example, gule wa mkulu, mganda, chioda, and other traditional marriage
and funeral ceremonies have been creatively discussed in some literary pieces in Chichewa.
Malunga’s Kuimba kwa Mlakatuli and Makumbi’s Maliro ndi Miyambo ya Achewa illustrate some
of these cultural issues. According to Moto (2001), the poet’s biggest mission has been to restore
elements of indigenous culture he perceived as being under a threat of erosion. Poems like Magule
a Kwathu and Ukwati wa Kumudzi are some of the works that praise and celebrate the local dances
and local wedding ceremonies. Therefore, it can be concluded that culture, is one of the focal area
with Malawian literary writers. This shaped the Malawian literature in the sense that many themes
produced in this period are socio-cultural issues. Many Malawians are proud to use their native
languages and the festivals that belongs to one’s culture.

Religion is one of the factor in the multi-party Era that shaped Malawian literature. One of the
major religion is Christianity. Literary works written in this period is to do with Christianity all
over the world. Many of the literary works in religion has themes like evangelization, love, death
and other themes. These themes shaped Malawian in one way or the other for example in the book
Kukula ndi mwambo, and other stories. These works can be written in English and other people at
global level can appreciate how Malawians writers are doing in terms of literature.

It can be noted that now Malawian literature can be appreciated at global level since people can
write in English. People outside Malawi can know the culture, religion, political make up and
many other things that make up Malawi. This really shows how proud is be a Malawian literary
writer.

In conclusion, this essay has discussed how culture, politics and religion have shaped the styles,
themes and prestige of Malawian literature from colonial times to date on the national and global
stage. In addition, it has also discussed categorization of Malawian it in terms of political
development and these are Malawian literature before independence, Malawian literature during
independence, and finally, Malawian literature in Multiparty Era from1994 until now. Therefore,
when one wants to study Malawian literature, should know as to what period did this literary work
is produce as this will help him/her to have a clear understanding of the issues being depicted in
the works.