Women get a vibe

In most African settings, women voices remain unheard because of cultural beliefs which bar them from presenting issues that affect them.

Some societies require women to shut up or channel their concerns through a man.

But for the Malawian women, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel following the commissioning of the women’s talk show, The Grapevine.

The show is the brainchild of Mibawa Entertainment Company.

The show is hosted by Diana Nthakomwa, Martha Khotokwa, Anne Khataza Chisala and Agnes Mizere.

It tackles a number of topical issues, including sex, gender, lifestyle and HIV and Aids.

Currently, the talk show beams on Zambezi Magic, digital satellite television (DStv) channel 160.

Executive producer John Nthakomwa says Zambezi Magic has since commissioned 13 episodes.

“We signed a contract of 13 episodes with Zambezi Magic which have been showing for some months now. We are hoping that it will continue for the second season,” he says.

Some of the episodes border on women going out to have fun at night and the issues of the ‘hyena’ sexual cleansing rituals which endanger girls and women in these times of HIV and Aids.

Nthakomwa runs several personal businesses, including Mibawa Entertainment Company.

He is assisted in producing The Grapevine by former Malawi Broadcasting Television (MBC TV) producer Wellington Kuntaja.

Kuntaja is also the brains behind Mibawa Studio’s two other soaps, namely Mwachande and Ching’aning’ani which are currently showing on MBC TV.

Nthakomwa said the response to the talk show has been positive.

“The funniest thing is that since the talk show started showing on Zambezi Magic, there has been overwhelming response from countries such as Zambia. This has inspired us to pull up our socks,” he says.

Nthakomwa adds the idea to start recording the episode stems from desire to empower women to express themselves and tackle burning issues that are deemed taboo in society.

“This way, they can be well-informed,” he says. n