Mzuzu’s youthful poet debuts with album
An up-and-coming poet Yona Gondwe has debuted on the poetry scene with an album Lakatulo 1, breaking exposure barriers for emerging talent in the Northern Region.
The region has several talented poets who are not well known on the national stage due to lack of avenues to expose their talent. Unlike other regions, the North hardly has shows to promote the art.
In an interview, the 19-year-old Gondwe said he has decided to drop the collection to promote himself by selling copies of the album.
“I want to entertain, educate and inform the public using poetry. But above all, I want to prove to the nation that the North has talent in poetry. It is not dead as some quarters say,” said Gondwe who is awaiting the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination results.
The album has 10 poems in English, Chichewa and Chitumbuka. It was recorded at Malambe Music Studio and Backyard Production.
His poems talk about love, culture and religion.
One of the poems Swagala ya Chimidzi receives airtime at Voice of Livingstonia radio, Radio Tigabane and MBC Radio One, says Gondwe.
The young artist was recently elected events organiser for the Poetry Association of Malawi (Pam) Northern Region Chapter.
During the same election, poet Chigo Gondwe-Chokani, who was elected president, pledged to make sure that they have a vibrant body at regional level.
She said the body will engage a fresh gear targeting primary, secondary and tertiary institutions as well as start training members in the art of poetry.
