Book launch of ‘Madonna is our Mother: Notes from Malawi’ in pictures

On 16 March 2023, Chambo Market hosted the launch of book Madonna is our Mother: Notes from Malawi by Muti Michael Phoya.

We had a wonderful evening with about 100 guests from many walks of life and different ages. Beautiful classical music by the duo the Nyasa Strings, echoed through the halls of Old Town Mall as guests shared delicious Malawian snacks and drinks. Then the duo played the national anthem after guests honoured the lives of people lost to Cyclone Freddy with a minute of silence.

Rachel Etter-Phoya, co-director of Logos Open Culture, opened the launch of Logos’s seventh publication. She talked about Logos Open Culture’s vision, the book, and exciting projects to look out for this year. This includes publishing a Chichewa translation of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition, by William Kamwamba and Bryan Mealer. Logos with Moving Windmills wants the inspiring story of the Malawian child inventor William to be accessible to children across Malawi.

Rachel was followed by Qipase Chibambo Maulidi, Principal Arts Officer from the Department Arts. Maulidi gave a supportive speech about the government’s commitment to promoting arts, culture and heritage.

Then the author Muti Phoya and well-known Dean of Education at UNICAF and social commentator Steve Sharra discussed the book. Muti responded to questions about his journey as an author, read from a couple of passages, including the title essay ‘Madonna is our mother’, and discussed the importance of memory and history for Malawi’s future.

The book is available for sale across Lilongwe, with the best price at our bookshop Chambo Market in Old Town Mall.