Growing up, Chisomo Kawaga faced many challenges, including being underestimated due to stereotypical thinking.
The Lilongwe-based professional storyteller, cinematographer and video editor said female creatives continue to be stereotyped despite their potential.
“Girls and women are underestimated. Early on in my journey, I was frustrated and angry at the world, questioning why women are not taken seriously.
“But over time, I learned to channel that frustration into motivation. Now, I expect people to underestimate me and use it as fuel to exceed their expectations,” she says.
Chisomo adds that the experience has shaped her into a resilient, determined and confident individual.
The 27-year-old says it has also taught her the value of persistence and self-belief.
Chisomo is a creative director at Eluby Consulting.
She is one of the country’s successful storytellers who has defied the odds of gender barriers to excel in the art.
Over the years, Chisomo has participated in filmmaking, producing film, television and documentary projects on both the local and international scenes.
These noteworthy productions include
DStv/MultiChoice projects such as Mpali Season 6 and 7, which is televised on Zambezi Magic and My Horror Love Story.
Chisomo has also contributed to Wild Hope Series (HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, USA).
She was part of international conservation series two episodes Guano Gold which was filmed in Mozambique where she served as the director of photography and drone operator.
And also Rhino Ops, shot in South Africa, where Chisomo worked as a camera assistant.
Locally, Chisomo has been part of the crew for the popular Malawian Film Fatsani: A Tale of Survival which was directed by reknowend film producers Gift ‘Sukez’ Sukali and Hastings ‘Hago’ Golosi of HD Plus Creations.
She was also the editor of Kulemela, the first Malawian show on ONE Zed and the online editor for PaMango Lodge, the first Malawian show to air on Zambezi Magic.
For a long time, Malawi’s landscape of storytelling has been dominated by males.
Chisomo says she took a challenge to dare the industry and become a professional.
“To be honest, I had no initial interest in filmmaking and I wasn’t even sure what direction my life would take. Everything changed when I got my first job as an editor. At the time, some of my colleagues used to shoot short films on weekends purely for learning and experimentation.
“Being around that environment and seeing what it took to bring a story to life sparked something in me. That’s where my interest in film truly began,” she says.
Since then, Chisomo has been in film for over five years, growing from an editor into a cinematographer, drone operator, storyteller and building a career she never saw coming, but wouldn’t imagine living without.
Later on, she began exploring online education where she learned editing, cinematography and filmmaking techniques.
From there, Chisomo actively sought opportunities to grow herself by joining programmes such as the MultiChoice Talent Factory and Talent’s Durban.
Thereafter, she was welcomed into a community of wildlife filmmakers under Africa Refocused, a collaboration between Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) with National Geographic Society.
She says: “These experiences allowed me to meet and learn from filmmakers and creatives from around the world, each of whom contributed to shaping the filmmaker I am today.”
Chisomo is passionate about producing and telling stories that explore human experiences, culture, nature and social impact.
This includes documentaries, feature films, TV series and short films that shine a light on real-life challenges, triumphs and the environment around us.
“I am particularly drawn to stories that combine visual beauty with meaningful narratives, stories that educate, inspire and create empathy. I choose these types of stories because I believe film is a powerful tool to raise awareness, preserve culture and influence positive change,” she says.
She adds that as a story teller, she enjoys telling stories that connect people, evoke emotion and bring real human experiences to life.
“I love how a story, whether told through film, documentary, or visual media can inspire change, create empathy and give voice to those whose stories might otherwise go unheard,”| she beams.
Some of Chisomo’s highest moments in storytelling include working on the Wild Hope series, where she captured the raw beauty and challenges of wildlife conservation in Africa.
These experiences allowed her to see the tangible impact of stories and how they can reach audiences, spark conversations and even inspire action,” she says.
Chisomo went to Mudi Private School and Macey Williams Girls Secondary School before enrolling for Information Technology (IT) Support Systems studies at St. John Paul Institute of IT and Leadership.
She is committed to taking her career as far as it can go, creating impactful films and content that reach global audiences while telling stories that matter.
“My goal is to continue producing work that inspires, educates and drives change, whether through documentaries, feature films, or innovative storytelling formats. I also aim to mentor and collaborate with emerging filmmakers, helping to grow the industry in Malawi and across Africa,” Chisomo adds.
So far, her journey has been one of exploration, curiosity and learning.
From discovering filmmaking by chance, to training with MultiChoice Talent Factory, Talents Durban and NEWF, each step has been an opportunity to grow creatively and technically for her.
The journey has taught Chisomo resilience, adaptability and the power of storytelling to connect people and ideas across borders.
She comes from a close-knit family as the first born and has a little sister.
They are Yao tribe and Chisomo was raised by her grandparents.
She challenges girls who aspire to be storytellers to trust their voice and start creating, even if no one believes in them.
“Every story you tell has power, keep learning, stay persistent and never let anyone’s doubt stop you from sharing your perspective with the world,” she advises.
Apart from storytelling, Chisomo is a certified scuba diver with an interest in exploring underwater environments.
She is also passionate about learning free diving as it allows her to connect even more closely with nature and the aquatic world.
