Esau Mwamwaya: Reggae-Pop From Malawi

October 27, 2008 - Esau Mwamwaya isn't a well-known name in the music world, but if the growing hype is any indication, it may soon be. The singer and percussionist from Malawi is slowly but surely rising from obscurity with his mixture of reggae, pop and the traditional music of his homeland.

With Radioclit, the two form The Very Best. Their first official studio album isn't due until 2009, so to build hype, they have a mixtape of 15 songs set for release on Nov. 1. Mwamwaya's version of the popular M.I.A. hit "Paper Planes" has already generated a lot of appreciatory buzz. The release also includes mixes from artists such as Michael Jackson, Vampire Weekend and Santogold.

Malawi to host 6th ICT Open Access Conference

Malawi will for the first time host the 6th International Wide Open Access (ICT) Conference from 12th to 14 November in the capital of Lilongwe, APA learnt here on Monday.

Speaking to journalists in Lilongwe on Monday, Chairperson for the ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM), Charles Govati, said the conference would examine the challenges the open access to ICT infrastructure model can be harnessed to improve lives, standards of education, health, housing, transport and production of goods and services for socio-economic development.

\"Ways and means shall be identified to utilise the range of available ICT tools and services offered through the open and accessible ICT infrastructure,\" he said.

He said the conference will among other things address issues of ICT policy, regulation and impact analysis, research, education, universal access for economic growth, ICT open source, media and language, ICT solutions for rural development.

The conference, which will attract local and international dignitaries, will run concurrently with an ICT Fair under the theme, “Open ICT Access for Socio-Economical Development.”

Malawi to embark on nationwide measles campaign Tuesday

Malawi, in collaboration with its health sector partners, will on Tuesday start a three-day nationwide integrated measles campaign to alleviate the health problem in the country, APA learnt here on Monday.

Secretary for Health Chris Kang\’ombe told APA on Monday in Lilongwe that the campaign will target the country’s under-five population to receive the vaccine that would protect them against measles.

\"Measles is a dangerous disease among children because it leads to complications such as blindness and it can also lead to death,\" he said.

During the campaign, he said, children will receive Vitamin A supplements which are important to children’s health as it assists them to improve sight, especially in dark areas and at night.

He added that the children will also be de-wormed against intestinal worms in order to prevent them from getting anaemia.

Kang\’ombe said it was the responsibility of every Malawian to ensure that all children were protected against measles and other ailments that result from Vitamin A deficiencies and worm infestations.

He therefore appealed to the nation to take their under-five children to any of the sites for the measles vaccination, Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming treatment.

Edition of The Big Issue to launch in Malawi

A new edition of the The Big Issue is to be launched in one of the world’s poorest countries – Malawi.

The project is being backed by the Glasgow-based International Network of Street Papers.

The Big Issue Malawi is to be sold in Malawi’s capital, Blantyre, by homeless people and slum dwellers.

According to INSP, the new project will provide training and employment opportunities for over 750 disadvantaged people over three years.

Through its pages, the new title will also seek to educate readers on social issues and “provide a voice to the many Malawians living on the margins of society”, INSP said.

The monthly publication is proposing to launch on December 10 and is currently recruiting a local editor and staff journalist. The title will also make use of content from street papers around then world via a news service run by INSP.

INSP is a charity which supports street paper development all over the world. The Malawi edition of the Big Issue is being backed by a three-year-grant of £93,000 from the Scottish government.

It also has backing from UK-based philanthropist Philippe Sibaud and from Malawian charities.


INSP has previously helped to set up street papers in Kenya, Zambia and Nigeria, and is also currently working with projects in Burundi and Zimbabwe.

The Cultural Awakening Society in Malawi will run the new Big Issue project on the ground.

Its founder Dr John Chikago said: “The economic grant from the Scottish Government towards the start-up costs for the launch of Big Issue Malawi for three years is great news to the jobless, marginalised and homeless people in Malawi. It gives them hope for a better tomorrow.

“Truthfully, it is the manifestation of the trust and confidence the Scottish Government has in the INSP and its international partners. As the founder of the Culture Awakening Society, I am grateful for this consideration and support."

More than half of Malawi’s population live below the poverty line and it has a per capita GDP of $800.

In July, The Big Issue magazine announced plans to launch a new edition in India – recruiting 10 journalists for a December launch.

The Big Issue started in London in September 1991, founded by John Bird, and was intended to provide income for its homeless vendors and an alternative to begging. It was inspired by the New York-based Street News.

It has regional editions in Scotland, Wales, the north England and the South West and is also published in Australia, Japan, South Africa, Namibia and Kenya.