Atikonda Mkochi: Must’s first female director

Dr. Atikonda Mkochi was recently appointed Bingu School of Culture and Heritage (BISCH) director at the Malawi University of Science and Technology’s (Must).

She became the first woman to hold the position of director at the school.

As a director, Atikonda is part of the university’s executive management that develops, implements, reviews the university’s strategic plan and other university policies.

“I attended a grueling interview where they assessed my capabilities for this position. I have never been to such a tough interview! I had to first present my vision for BISCH and then respond to questions from the panel that included members from Must executive management, council and government.

“I feel I earned the position because I have the right qualifications, but also mainly because I have a vivid vision for BISCH, arts, culture, humanities, social sciences, their role in the Malawi 2063 Vision and the 21st Century,” she explains.

In her position, she is expected to provide leadership in teaching, research, innovation and external engagement which comprises three departments, including Language and Communication Studies, African Musicology, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices and the Centre for Strategic Studies.

“I know what the school needs to progress. At university level, I was a senator, leading initiatives such as the Girls Science Camp and the establishment of a journal at Must just to mention a few,” she says.

The 40-year-old’s plan for the next few years is to take the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage to greater heights, repositioning it into the 21st Century by becoming a modern, entrepreneurial, culturally and socially diverse school.

“We will be reviewing our programmes to graduate high quality graduates that are responsive to what the industry needs. We plan to introduce more undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that are aligned with the vision of the country.

“We will also be research and innovation-intensive, as well as engage more with stakeholders and the industry. We would like a table in all conversations and activities to do with the development of arts, culture and heritage in Malawi,” says the young woman who harbours ambitions to become a professor.

Atikonda also previously headed the Language and Communication Studies department and acted as head of department for the departments of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices; and African Musicology.

Her dream is to see the arts, heritage and culture sector more appreciated and invested in.

The director notes that if properly managed, this area can contribute immensely to the country’s development.

Issues in this area, Atikonda observes, should not be seen as secondary, backward and non-essential.

She adds that there is a need for them to work with others in science, technology, health and business to make strides.

“There are some positive elements I can point out that we can harness. There has been a surge of cultural and arts events in the country for the past year or so. I can list many, but more recently, we had the fourth edition of Takulandirani— Malawi Tourism Expo, where cultural and creative goods were showcased.

“This just shows that Malawi is yearning to claim a space in the global creative and cultural industry. Technology has helped in the awareness and the promotion of our cultural and creative goods. We have a cultural policy we need to work together to implement. Culture and heritage has a role in the Malawi 2063 Vision,” she says.

Atikonda was born on January 19 1983 and is the first born in a family of three girls born to Professor Alfred and Mrs. Alice Mtenje.

She is married to Associate Professor Winfred Mkochi.

The academician loves gardening, reading, dancing, singing and site seeing.

Atikonda went Marymount Secondary School before being selected to the University of Malawi to study for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Humanities.

“I graduated in 2006. In 2009, I went to the University of Cape Town to study for a honours degree in Linguistics and then a masters in linguistics from the same university in 2011. In 2013, I went to Cape Town again to pursue my PhD in Linguistics. I graduated in 2016,” says the mother of three.

Her first job was at Mzuzu University as a linguistics lecturer in the then department of Language and Literature until 2018 when she joined Must.

At Must, she was also the head of department for language and communication studies and a senior lecturer in linguistics and communication from 2018 till this year when she was appointed director of the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage.

Growing up, she recalls fighting the notion that females should not aim for big things, should not be assertive and they are weak.

“There were times when people asked me why I bothered with education when I should get married and have children. They claimed no one would want me when I got high degrees. That was an absolute lie.

“There were others who were intimidated when they saw me aiming high and tried to pull me down through their words and actions. I was lucky to have supportive and protective parents who saw the value in education and still encouraged me to reach my greatest potential,” she says.

Atikonda encourages girls to believe in themselves no matter what society tells them; arguing that every person has unique potential and capabilities to enable them achieve great things.

She said women and should not downplay their potential.

“There are many women who have attested to the fact that they can achieve great things. Younger girls should emulate them. Once they believe in themselves, they should have a vision for their life. However, it is one thing to have a vision, but staying focused is another. There will be a lot of distractions along the way, but focus is very critical in the achievement of one’s goals,” she says.