Escom fails to darken Chiwamba’s recital

Not even Escom could stop Robert Chiwamba’s recital as a series of blackouts almost ruined his show.

The poet overcame the power challenge by using his phone to illuminate himself as he performed in the dark Great Hall in Zomba.

The Udzafa Imfa Yowawa poet, whose mother graced the performance at Chancellor College on Saturday, gave his Chanco audience the whole nine yards, performing all 20 poems from his collection.

They say a prophet is not honoured in their own home, but Robert Chiwamba’s story speaks charity begins at home as his recitals were followed by series of applause.

Chiwamba was backed by some up-and-coming poets such as Samuel Joseph, Blessings Masina Khalipwina Mpina, Mollen Nazombe, Gift Matabwa, and Trust Banda.

However, like most Malawian fourth generation poets, most of the recitals were treading in the genre of satire with more poems begging for a laughter than appealing to the intellect.

Just like there is popular theatre and popular music, one can say Chiwamba’s poetry belongs to popular culture.

The poetry that was recited before the Great Hall audience, which is considered one of the toughest audiences in the country, could be categorised as commercial poetry.

Some of the poems that were recited included Njinga Zokhwefula which talks about Chancellor College students’ union elections and its fall-outs.

Chiwamba said he does not only target the Chanco audience but for the sake of making his show attractive and appealing to the audience, he wrote some poems that are for the audience.

The poet was ridiculed by an up-and-coming stand-up comedian Madock Masina who gave a promising stand-up routine to spice up the event.