Reading some poetry from Malawi—many written during a period when the country was suppressed for decades under the dictatorship of Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Many lived in exile expressing what home is to them.
The nature of politics and art can be deeply intertwined. This piece from an essay by Landeg White encapsulate it beautifully :
“ It’s not that these were ‘political poets’ in the sense that they had an agenda. [It was] a situation in which everything was political, except the politics.
Which church you went to, was political. How long your hair was, was political. Which region you came from, was political. How women dressed, was political. Not attending a political rally, when one was in your area, was political. Not getting out of your car to applaud when Dr Banda’s motorcade was passing, was political.
My late brother-in-law Frank was detained for 18 months in 1976. His crime? He lived next door to Kirby Mwambetania, detained for being a northerner. So when Kirby was taken, Frank went to bath and feed his four young children until Kirby’s wife could return from Nairobi where she was on a course. That, too, was political!
(Landeg White: 17th March 2013).
Malawi gained independence from the British in 1964 (It was known as Nyasaland before its name changed to Malawi - nyasa is lake in Chichewa ) . Although Malawi gained independence, it was ruled by Banda who established a one-party state and ruled as a president-for-life.
His regime was highly repressive - political persecution, censorship, and suppression of opposition. Anyone who dissent were harshly punished.
In the early 90s, Malawi slowly transitioned to a multiparty democracy thanks to the rising internal and external pressures.
While Malawi has undergone significant political reforms, it continues to face challenges in governance and development. With a population of 20 million, Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Only 11% of the country currently has access to electricity, and it ranks 171st out of 189 on the Human Development Index.
Malawi is bordered by Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania with Lake Malawi as its centerpiece. The country is known for its friendliness, diverse cultures and languages, with Chichewa being the most widely spoken alongside English.
Some pics of Malawi here are absolutely stunning.