Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Arts
Music & Dance
Traditional music and dance in Malawi, as elsewhere in Africa, are closely linked and of-
ten fulfil an important social function, beyond entertainment. In Malawi there are some
traditions that spread country-wide, as well as regional specialities in which local ethnic
groups have their own tunes and dances.
Malawian musical instruments are similar to those found in other parts of East and
Southern Africa, with local names and special features. These include various drums,
from the small hand-held
ulimba
, made from a gourd, to ceremonial giants carved from
tree-trunks, and the
mambilira,
which is similar to the Western xylophone, but with
wooden keys, and sometimes played over hollow gourds to produce a more resonant
sound.
Modern home-grown contemporary music is not a major force in Malawi as it is in, say,
Zimbabwe or South Africa. However, it has increased in popularity, due largely to influ-
ential and popular musicians such as Lucius Banda, who performs soft 'Malawian-style'
reggae, and the late Evison Matafale. Other reggae names to look out for are the Black
Missionaries and Billy Kaunda.
MUST READ:
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE
WIND,
BY WILLIAM KAMKWAMBA & BRYAN
MEALER (2009)
William Kamkwamba was one of seven children born to a family of subsistence farmers. When the drought of
2001 brought famine the following year, and terrible floods destroyed their crops, 14-year-old William was told
they couldn't afford to continue his education; worse still, they were running out of food. Thirsty for a better fu-
ture, William educated himself, devouring books at his former primary school. He read physics; his natural curios-
ity had always driven him to try and understand the mechanics of things like cars and radios. One particular book
was about energy and electricity generation through windmills.
Reading this topic, William had a light-bulb moment - with electricity his family could plant three times a year,
not just once. In a country where only 2% had access to the coveted energy, this would be an amazing coup - if he
could succeed. Ridiculed by those around him, and exhausted from his work in the fields every day, William
picked around for scrap - found a shock absorber, extractor fan, bike parts and piping - and painstakingly began
