![Patwell Phiri - Central Region Poetry Chair]()
Poetry Association of Malawi has asked Government to recognize their skill of poetry as one of the important skills of communicating vital messages to the masses apart from educating and entertaining them.
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![Patwell Phiri - Central Region Poetry Chair]()
Patwell Phiri - Central Region Poetry Chair[/caption]
Patwell Phiri, new Chair for Central Region Poetry Association, a branch of the Poetry Association of Malawi, made the appeal recently in an interview with the Lilongwe News Agency (LINA).
He lamented that the association is not recognized formally by authorities:”We don’t have a Ministry where we can say we belong to, which can be in a position to liaise with us on important issues such as matters to be communicated to the nation, for example disease outbreaks such as cholera, fears of diseases such as Ebola so that people are educated about them through poetry.”
Patwell Phiri said communicating to the masses using poetry has proven to be very effective because everyone love poetry, there is no barrier in poetry, young or old, rich or poor, man or woman, decision makers or ordinary people, they all love poetry hence time to recognize the skill’s contribution to the nation.
“We are happy that many Malawians love poetry, we are happy because the nation does recognize our works as they get entertained, and learn lessons for their lives.
The chair also praised the media especially radio stations such as Nkhoma FM, CAN, Dziko FM that are playing a very important role for the central region poets to reach their fans by airing their poems.
Phiri disclosed that under his leadership they have plans of holding many open shows to interact with their fans and said on January 31, they will hold the first of such shows in Lilongwe.
He paid tribute to the former chair, Imulani Makande, for the success they achieved during his term, among other things, they produced an album known as Chikwatu cha ndakatulo in which features poets such as Robert Chiwamba, Humble C, Arthur Maseko, and is still on the market.
Patwell Phiri, popularly known as Mvangeli Sadzu, also revealed that he, alone, has produced an album on Christian poems.
“For the first time in Malawi, an album on Christian poems has been produced with 20 poems and will soon be on the market,” he disclosed.
He explained that the album known as Uvangeli Woyamba, meaning Utumiki Woyamba, includes poems such as
Ukadzafichana Naye Mwini Swaga, which uses language of the youths.
“I want to attract young people to God, the poem
Ukadzafichana Naye Mwini Swaga talks of what happens when the young people meet Jesus; everything in their life changes. Other poems in the album are
Nampulikishya Kuwawa Satana, a Tumbuka piece
, Osaopa,
Mainjankishoni – the meaning in this one is to say that injunctions started with men of God such as Daniel, who got an injunction from God so that the Lions in the Lion’s den could not devour him. Other titles are
: Pakutwanima kwa diso, Nakonjwa, Ndinu mbambande mai wanga- the last one is dedicated to his mother.
Phiri said he, in his career as one of the champion of poetry, has also conducted a radio competition on poetry where Justice Masangano scooped first position and went away with K20, 000 and to record ten poems free at Gani Records together with those on second and third positions.
To become a member of the Poetry Association of Malawi, one must pay K5, 000 as membership fee.
Phiri advised new poets to come to the association but warned them not to copy others.
“One major problem our fans complain about us is that new poets are copying tones of someone who is already known. Find your own identity.”
Patwell Banda is a radio presenter at Nkhoma FM in Lilongwe, also producer of Lemba la Mlakatuli on the same radio. He is 21 years old and comes from Salima, Sadzu Village, TA Kalonga. He is pursuing a Human Resources Course at Lilongwe Technical College. - LINA
Patwell Phiri - Central Region Poetry Chair[/caption]
Patwell Phiri, new Chair for Central Region Poetry Association, a branch of the Poetry Association of Malawi, made the appeal recently in an interview with the Lilongwe News Agency (LINA).
He lamented that the association is not recognized formally by authorities:”We don’t have a Ministry where we can say we belong to, which can be in a position to liaise with us on important issues such as matters to be communicated to the nation, for example disease outbreaks such as cholera, fears of diseases such as Ebola so that people are educated about them through poetry.”
Patwell Phiri said communicating to the masses using poetry has proven to be very effective because everyone love poetry, there is no barrier in poetry, young or old, rich or poor, man or woman, decision makers or ordinary people, they all love poetry hence time to recognize the skill’s contribution to the nation.
“We are happy that many Malawians love poetry, we are happy because the nation does recognize our works as they get entertained, and learn lessons for their lives.
The chair also praised the media especially radio stations such as Nkhoma FM, CAN, Dziko FM that are playing a very important role for the central region poets to reach their fans by airing their poems.
Phiri disclosed that under his leadership they have plans of holding many open shows to interact with their fans and said on January 31, they will hold the first of such shows in Lilongwe.
He paid tribute to the former chair, Imulani Makande, for the success they achieved during his term, among other things, they produced an album known as Chikwatu cha ndakatulo in which features poets such as Robert Chiwamba, Humble C, Arthur Maseko, and is still on the market.
Patwell Phiri, popularly known as Mvangeli Sadzu, also revealed that he, alone, has produced an album on Christian poems.
“For the first time in Malawi, an album on Christian poems has been produced with 20 poems and will soon be on the market,” he disclosed.
He explained that the album known as Uvangeli Woyamba, meaning Utumiki Woyamba, includes poems such as Ukadzafichana Naye Mwini Swaga, which uses language of the youths.
“I want to attract young people to God, the poem Ukadzafichana Naye Mwini Swaga talks of what happens when the young people meet Jesus; everything in their life changes. Other poems in the album are Nampulikishya Kuwawa Satana, a Tumbuka piece, Osaopa, Mainjankishoni – the meaning in this one is to say that injunctions started with men of God such as Daniel, who got an injunction from God so that the Lions in the Lion’s den could not devour him. Other titles are: Pakutwanima kwa diso, Nakonjwa, Ndinu mbambande mai wanga- the last one is dedicated to his mother.
Phiri said he, in his career as one of the champion of poetry, has also conducted a radio competition on poetry where Justice Masangano scooped first position and went away with K20, 000 and to record ten poems free at Gani Records together with those on second and third positions.
To become a member of the Poetry Association of Malawi, one must pay K5, 000 as membership fee.
Phiri advised new poets to come to the association but warned them not to copy others.
“One major problem our fans complain about us is that new poets are copying tones of someone who is already known. Find your own identity.”
Patwell Banda is a radio presenter at Nkhoma FM in Lilongwe, also producer of Lemba la Mlakatuli on the same radio. He is 21 years old and comes from Salima, Sadzu Village, TA Kalonga. He is pursuing a Human Resources Course at Lilongwe Technical College. - LINA