Conversations with David Young

Ever since United States Ambassador David Young took up his tour of duty in Malawi in 2022, he has generated interest beyond the realms of his official duties.

Young, to a larger extent, has been one person who has demystified the ambassadorial office owing to his easy-going limitless approach which has seen him associate with people you would never expect someone of his calibre to.

We have seen the US envoy engage in adventures that are a complete no for other people of his status. We have seen Young seated in some  locations in the Capital City in search of locally-made confectioneries, mandasi.

The Ambassador has partaken in other local delicacies such as mbewa. He has associated with all and sundry in public eateries such as Pamudzi , a place renowned for serving traditionally inspired dishes in Blantyre. Indeed the other year, Young was on stage dancing with a local ensemble during the Tumaini Festival at Dzaleka Refuge Camp in Dowa District.

Of all the things that the US envoy has been involved in, one thing that stands out is his passion for the arts. More than at any time of its establishment, the US Embassy in Lilongwe has turned into a defacto home for Malawian artists.

It is not odd to see a picture here and there of one artist posing with Young. His interaction with the creatives has even gone as far as doing collaborations with the local artists such as rapper Suffix, whom he worked with on a Christmas Carol project last year.

A good number of artists have also benefitted from the cultural exchange programmes and scholarships that have been facilitated by the US Embassy. In mind come names of artists such as comedian Tannah Mr Broken English, filmmaker Gift ‘Sukez’ Sukali and music producer KBG.

Young has brought out a character which has interested a lot of people. I am sure many out there wish if they could spend a moment with him to have a closer insight on how he views the world, what gets him going and probably learn about the mojo that gets him going in such a unique way.

I should admit that I am one of those who had been dying for a moment with the US envoy. His ties to the Malawian creative industry have been the most intriguing factor to me thus far.

Luckily for me, the day of fulfillment finally arrived on Wednesday when the Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to the Nation Publications Limited head office in Blantyre. There he was, in full form. The enigma that I had been longing to unbundle.

His appearance is not different from the presentations in the images we see around. And true to my thinking, his passion on topical issues is moving. Even more is affinity to arts. After a formal debrief on random issues bordering on governance, economy and health, Young showed his boyish grin when it was put to him it was now time to talk arts.

During that interaction, he exuded a deeper understanding of the arts industry both here in Malawi and beyond. He displayed unparalleled optimism on how much the local creative industry can become if we can get one or two things right. Above all he oozed a profound passion for art.

Just like last year, Young has once again collaborated with local artists such as Suffix, KBG and Maggie Kadrum to bring another Christmas carol. This time they have done a remake of a song titled 12 Days of Christmas, though in a local version. The song is expected to drop in the coming days, according to him.

When I asked him his motivation, his response spoke everything about how he views life and arts.

“The motivation in part is to have a little fun. In the mix of economic hard times, people need to smile and laugh and that is the point of entertainment. You can find joy even in the midst of hard times,” he said.

Young may just be what the creative industry needs at the moment. I hope the industry posts more gains as a result of his unwavering support. May you live long Young!