Beating the odds

Famous writer Robert Michael Hensel once said “Know me for my ability, not my disability.” He was born with a birth defect known as Spina bifida, a condition in which a developing baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly.

Unlike some people living with disabilities, Hensel did not let his condition hinder him from becoming one of the best poets and writers in the world.

The case of Hensel is not different from that of Robert Malemia, a skilled Malawian painter who was born with hearing and vocal challenges.

Just like Hensel, Malemia believes that disability is not inability. The 37-year-old artist, born in Chimweyo Village, Traditional Authority Kafuzira in Nkhotakota District, but now resides in Chimwankhunda, Blantyre, started painting when he was in Standard Eight at Mary View School for the Deaf in Nguludi, Chiradzulu. Little did young and energetic Malemia know that this skill would one day make him a star.

He started a solo journey in his painting career with no one to teach or train him. His only possessions were his ambition and determination.

Said Malemia; “I have never been taught by anyone, but it is a gift from God which I started like a hobby painting on paper with few portraits.”

His perseverance and determination bore fruits as his skills grew as he was growing.

“I started taking up other painting challenges to upgrade my skills for me to reach this far in this painting business,” he said.

At the age of 26, he had become one of the skilled painters in his field and in 2011, Malemia opened his first painting shop in Blantyre.

So far, Malemia has been painting for 13 years at his shop in Chitawira, Blantyre, opposite People’s Trading Centre.

One of his customers, Ruth Mwafulirwa commended the artist for his outstanding works. She said Malemia sets a good example of true determination and diligence and such talent should be recognised and supported by the society.

She said: “We have a lot of people today who are in the streets begging to earn a living. Some of them do not even have any form of physical disabilities. But Robert chose to be different and embraced a career that’s serving him today. I think Malawians should learn from this kind of spirit.”

Today, Malemia is a family man with one child that he supports through his painting business.

“This painting business has been supporting me in different ways. I am able to provide for my family as well as supporting my relatives despite facing some challenges here and there, but all things are good,” he said.

Proud of his determination, perseverance and efforts, Malemia urged every one to work hard on their dream.

He said challenges will always exist.

Malemia said: “You should not underestimate yourself because having a disability, challenges are always there, but it only needs one to be brave and show the world. Always cherish the knowledge you have and what you can do because disability is not inability.

“I want to encourage my friends to work hard to reach where you want to be and don’t give up your dreams, you will always meet tough tasks and challenges along the way to success but at the end, you will make it without doubt.”

Perhaps Helen Keller was right when she said “If I regarded my life from the point of the pessimist, I should be undone. I should seek in vain for the light that does not ring in my eyes and the music that does not ring in my ears. I should beg night and day and never be satisfied. I should sit apart in awful solitude, a prey to fear and despair. But since I consider it a duty to myself and to others to be happy, I escape misery worse than any physical deprivation.”