CHANCO STUDENTS PUBLISH IN MAWU ANTHOLOGY

The Malawi Writers Union, MAWU launched the Malawian Women’s Short Story Anthology titled A Grafted Tree and Other Stories and the award presentation of the National Literacy Awards (NALA) at Jacaranda Cultural Centre, JCC in Blantyre on Saturday, the 21^st of April 2018. The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kondwani Nankhumwa, and the deputy head of mission for the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Bjarne Garden, presided over the event.

The publication of the anthology was funded by The Hivos-Malawi Cultural Fund through the Royal Norwegian Embassy and comprises a total of twenty-one short stories from both published and emerging writers that were winners of previous MAWU/FMB Short Story writing competitions. According to MAWU president, Sambalikagwa Mvona, the publication aims to encourage female participation in writing and to empower and unearth the hidden talent that is existent in Malawian female authors. The anthology also serves as a platform for women to express their voice on the issues that are of concern to them: themes of gender-based and sexual violence and corruption, among others. Amongst the twenty-one authors, two are fourth year Chancellor College students, Dalitsani Anselmo and Tikondwe Chimkowola, who authored “The Night Owls” and “A Grafted Tree”, respectively. They are students majoring in English literature at the institution.

Speaking during the function, Tikondwe Chimkowola expressed joy that her story had been published. “MAWU has taken a great step forward by allowing women to step into the limelight with this publication,” she observed. “I hope it inspires more women to write and probably, one of these days we may have a multi award-winning Malawian author.”