Sagonja to launch movie and book in January

Veteran playwright Roy Sagonja launches his first-ever movie, Living Corpses, month-end of January, On the Arts has established.

Sagonja is famous for writing several plays for State broadcaster at MBC’s  Nzeru Nkupangwa programme since the late 1980s. He has also authored a number of books both fiction and factual.

And now, through his filmmaking company Midnight Stars, he has joined Malawi’s budding movie industry with Living Corpses, a story that tackles cultural issues such as the negative impact of chokolo (wife inheritance).

“The movie is about a young man whose brother died in a road accident. However, his uncle wanted him to inherit the deceased’s wife. But he vehemently refused, knowing fully the risks of doing that in the face of HIV and Aids scourge,” said Sagonja in an interview.

The movie was shot in Salima, Nkhata-Bay and Lilongwe, among other locations.

“It is confirmed that at the launch, we will be joined by some in the arts industry like The Marvellous Deeds, Evance Mereka and Zikomo Cultural Troupe who will entertain fans through their musical and dancing performances,” added Sagonja.

The writer is joined by Pilirani Phiri, Hendrix Mwale and Branzio Kanyong’o as cast members.

He said he has a number of scripts ready which need funding for production.

Explained Sagonja: “After the launch, we will be focusing on our next productions. Two scripts; Blood Money and Namaluzi are ready and currently I am finalising them.

“Again, as Midnight Star Production, we are also encouraging other writers to come up with scripts which we will buy and use in our productions. We are doing this to ensure further growth of Malawi’s film industry.”

Meanwhile, the writer said he is going to hold a double launch as he premieres his first movie and sixth book.

“Stories Left Untold is my latest book and will be launched on the same day. The 133-paged book, is a collection of several stories concerning Malawi. The illustration on the cover was done by my very good friend, the late Brian Hara,” he said.