Social Historian John Lwanda, Author of forthcoming ‘Making Music in Malawi’ speaks with The Sunday Times

The Culture Lab hosted social historian Dr John Lwanda last month. Dr Lwanda is author of Logos Open Culture’s forthcoming book Making Music in Malawi.

During the event, Dr Lwanda reflected on his groundbreaking study Kamuzu Banda of Malawi: A Study in Promise, Power and Legacy and what it means today. Most people know Dr Lwanda as a medical doctor and social historian focused on politics and medicine. Yet Dr Lwanda’s first love if music, as he told The Sunday Times.

My first ‘love’ is definitely not politics. I live, breathe and dream music.

[I am interest in what music] tells us linguistically, culturally, historically, philosophically, economically, socially and yes politically!

On his next book Making Music in Malawi, Dr Lwanda told Sam Banda, Entertainment and Online Journalist at Blantyre Newspapers Limited, that it reflects more who he is and his passions,

Who is this old guy who likes Rosetta Tharpe, Black Mambazo, Miles Davis, Madolo, Buddy Guy, Wambali, Ben, Lulu, Chidzanja Nkhoma, Saleta Phiri, Namoko, Toots and the Metals, Wenge Musica, and all of those other as well as Kwin Bee?

Watch this space for the book and our next exciting literary event. The Culture Lab is Logos Open Culture’s hub. It is here to bring together those who wants to discuss, reflect and research to bring depth to the stories we tell and know about Malawi.

Pay us a visit at Four Seasons, off Presidential Way in Lilongwe, our bookshop Chambo Market is also at The Culture Lab.

If you are interest in Dr John Lwanda’s work and the music he has collected, take a look at Pamtondo.