‘We need to do better as a country’ – Muti Phoya, author of ‘Madonna is our Mother’: Notes from Malawi

Logos Open Culture’s latest publication, ‘Madonna is our Mother’: notes from Malawi by Muti Michael Phoya was covered in The Daily Times, cross posted here.

In his interview with Sam Banda Jnr, Muti said

“Some of the things that we are praising others for doing for us can be done by ourselves. We are capable,” he said.

The title of the book grabbed the attention of the people recently before its launch in Lilongwe recently.

“The title for sure got a few remarks from people, it is a [cheeky] title but as an author, you want to be read. I am happy it grabbed attention for in the days of social media, you need that visibility,” Muti said.

He said the title came from the remarks that were made by a high profile person and that as an author; he just quoted what was said.

“People need to read the book to understand it better and not make conclusions from the title,” Muti said of the book which has been listed by Brittle Paper as one of the most anticipated African books in 2023.

About the book

In the collection of essays, Muti Michael Phoya reflects on the shifting character of postcolonial Malawi. Focusing mainly on the land and memory, the book paints a nuanced picture of a modern African country through its fascinating history.

African Arguments and Brittle Paper has listed ‘Madonna is our Mother’: Notes from Malawi among the most anticipated books out of Africa this year.

About the author

Muti, the author, has been engaging with Malawi’s story since 2000. He has written several books of fiction and non-fiction, including the best-selling Malawi, Lake of Stars. Muti contributed to the Society of Malawi Journal, and the influential pan-African blog, Africa is a Country. He won the Peer Gynt literary award in 2005 and was the Goethe-Institut Moving Africa scholar in 2011.