General Charles de Gaulle is a renowned French military officer and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in the Second World War. He led that country as president between 1958 and 1969.
Former defence minister Aaron Sangala under the Bingu wa Mutharika regime says it was de Gaulle who personally facilitated the establishment of the French Cultural Centre (FCC) in 1973.
Sangala, a former librarian, teacher of French, Chichewa and guitar at the centre before it closed in 2011, accompanied Malawi’s founding president Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda to France to seek funding for the new republic in the early 60s.
“Dr Banda needed donor-support from the French when Malawi became independent. De Gaulle said his country had no money, coming from World War II. But he promised a cultural centre for cultural exchanges between the two countries,” he recalls.
Since the French left, the FCC has been desecrated and now lies in ruins. Renovations to become the government-run Blantyre Cultural Centre are at a snail’s pace.
In December last year, French Minister of State for Development, Francophone and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou became the first top French Government official to come to Malawi after 20 years. She brought better news, that apart from a full return, the Jacaranda Cultural Centre (JCC) and Maison de la France would be turned into an Alliance Française.
That night, she bestowed on Sangala the highest French honour, an equivalent of the British knighthood, Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite. He was the first Malawian to get it.
The decoration was initiated by de Gaulle in 1963 to celebrate individuals whose distinguished service reflects the values of dedication, courage and solidarity.
It was a night of fun and honours on Thursday November 28 when deputy education minister Nancy Chaola Mdooko and French Ambassador for South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi David Martinon inaugurated the Alliance Française.
Martinon bestowed on film-maker and land surveyor Charles Joyah the Chevalier de l’Ordre National des Arts et des Lettres, a knighthood in arts and literature. Like Sangala, French honorary consul Luc Deschamps got the Knight of the National Order of Merit.
The envoy said the French decided to honour Joyah for his role in the Malawi film industry, citing his films Seasons of a Life (2008), The Last Fishing Boat (2012) and The Road to Sunrise (2017). He said the films have garnered international recognition for their bold exploration of social themes.
“His ground-breaking work has placed Malawian cinema on the global map and inspire a new generation of storytellers. His journey as a self-taughtfilm-maker exemplifies the power of storytelling to transform lives and build connections,” said Martinon.
On the other hand, the diplomat said Deschamps, who is also executive director of the Jacaranda Foundation, was recognised for his transformative impact on education and culture in Malawi as well as the critical role he played to strengthen relations between France and Malawi as he served as honorary consul since the French left.
He added that the efforts included running the Jacaranda School for Orphans with his wife, Marie da Silva, to serve 518 students, and establishing a network of 29 Mr Luc’s community libraries to provide access to books for 63 000 children.
“He also opened the JCC and Maison de la France which is now transformed into the Alliance Française of Blantyre, a vibrant institution where French language and Francophone culture can flourish, and where Malawian artists can create and thrive. As Honorary Consul of France in Malawi since 2012, he has exemplified France’s values abroad with dedication and has helped several French citizens in difficulty,” he said.
In his words, Joyah said French language and creativity need to be promoted. When scouting for a boy to play young John Chilembwe in his r e c e n t l y released Strike a Blow and Die, Joyah went as far as the French drama national theatre competition for secondary schools.
“I went far and wide, but Brian Chalamanda who was one of the actors at the theatre festival, touched me and is now featured in the film. That shows how much the French are going in promoting arts and culture,” he said.
Deschamps, who initiated the weekly Sounds of Malawi acoustic music performances at the JCC and recently facilitated an American tour and recording session for the Kukana Kuba Kasambwe Brothers Band, was grateful for the award, calling it a huge honour.
“This distinction is a huge honour but also a motivation and encouragement to keep on our work of supporting children’s education and putting the spotlight on and creating networks for the talents of the youth and the artists of Malawi,” he said.
The night was rocked with performances. Sangala recited a French poem La Grasse Matinee, a humorous piece on the affair of working late in the night and eating well in the morning.
On her part, gospel artist Chigo Grace performed a French song calling all not to forget there is God in heaven in spite of their money, power and glory.
Timwa Lipenga, author of first Malawian cabinet minister Rose Chibambo’s biography Lomathanda, read a French short story, Maman Pasteur, about a ‘prophet’ who burns gifts brought by his poor followers because they were of ‘low quality’
Lipenga is a lecturer of French at the University of Malawi where she teaches African and Caribean literature in the Romantic language.
The night was also spiced with Jacaranda students who used local instruments like magologondo (xylophone) and visekese (shakers) and Kasambwe closed the night with their beats.
