Favour Umar: author, musician and entrepreneur

At just 25 years old, musician and author Favour Umar has already achieved the remarkable feat of publishing two books.

Her first publication, Hope in My Singleness, released in 2021, serves as a motivational beacon, urging readers to prioritise personal growth before diving into relationships prematurely.

Inspired by her own family’s struggles, particularly her siblings’ challenges with early pregnancies and school drop outs, Favour’s upbringing was chaotic, fuelling her determination to break the cycle.

She was raised by her aunt’s who looked after 14 children.

The catalyst for penning her experiences came from Emmanuel Lipenga, who stumbled upon her social media posts and encouraged her to share her story with the world through a book, to inspire future generation.

“This book resonates with the youth as it emphasizes the significance of staying focused on individual development rather than succumbing to societal pressures,” she said.

Initially targeting students as her primary audience, Favour’s message extends to everyone, given the issue of school dropouts from teenage pregnancies fueled is rooted in real-life narratives.

In 2021 after its publication, the book gained traction, selling 205 copies and leaving an impressive mark on those who sought guidance and inspiration from her journey.

In her second stint, she’s released another book Best in the Worst, hitting shelves in 2023.

Favour delves into how people stay strong during tough times.

She explained, “My readers and God inspire me daily to write. The idea for this book came up while I was sharing on social media, again, Emmanuel Lipenga from noticed and encouraged me to turn those ideas into a book for future generations.”

Best in the Worst talks about the challenges we all face, but ultimately conquer.

It shares inspiring stories from people such as Faith Mussa, Thoko Suya, Josh Carne and Tariana, showing how they overcame tough times.

Favour added, “The book covers tough topics such as mental health struggles, thoughts of giving up, sickness, academic setbacks and broken relationships. It’s meant to give hope and support to anyone facing hard times.”

She admitted it wasn’t easy to publish these books as she faced financial struggles in paying editors, publishers, printers and book launches.

She also doubted her potential, stemming from immaturity, but she’s thankful she made it.

Beyond her literary pursuits, Favour is an entrepreneur, running her own company called God’s Favour and Glory Company.

She specialises in graphic design, products creation, including calendars such as posters, billboards, T-shirts, magazines, newsletters, carpets and doormats.

Favour outsources labour when work piles up to positively impact workers’ families, communities and the nation.

She is also a gospel artist who shares hope through her music.

Her journey with music began during her time at Chipasula Secondary School and continued through her university years.

She explained, “Initially, I sang without any plans of recording my own songs. It was the positive feedback from listeners that encouraged me to start recording.”

It was a member of her church who recognised the spiritual aspect of her singing which led her to believe it was a calling from the Holy Spirit.

This realization marked a turning point, prompting her to record her songs for a wider audience.

In December 2022, she released her debut single inspired by Isaiah 53 from the Bible.

The song reflects on the sorrows endured by Christ and the gift of life He offers, making it particularly poignant during the Christmas season.

Looking ahead, she’s determined to use her talents to spread the good news as she is a believer.

She draws inspiration from Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, the late pastor Myles Munroe, Pastor Joel Osteen and media personality Oprah Winfrey,.

Her ultimate role models are her parents and her sister Ruth Ndiwo Banda

Favour aspires to become a top author, captivating readers with  stories that offer hope to the hopeless rather than mere entertainment.

She wants her content to resonate with people’s experiences, allowing them to relate to the characters and themes in her stories.

Her goal is to showcase Malawian stories in a way that appeals to international readers.

Favour’s advice to young women is to ignore negativity and focus on their talents.

She believes everyone has a talent that should be nurtured.

“People who spread negativity should be avoided, as they can slow down your progress. Instead, focus on utilising your strengths and avoid forcing matters,” she said.

In challenging times, she encourages women to find ways to earn a living, whether through entrepreneurship or employment.

She shared her own experience, recalling how she sold water in plastic bags at Tsoka Market in Lilongwe during her third year at Polytechnic in 2018.

Despite facing criticism, she turned a profit of K80 000 from an initial capital of K300.

“It’s all about mindset. Living beyond our means leads to financial trouble. It’s important to be humble and content with what we have,” she said.

Favour advises on the importance of prioritising art education in shools to nurture talented individuals and refine their skills.

She noted, “There’s a lack of training in creative fields at primary and secondary levels. No one taught me how to write; I pursued it out of passion.”

She also urges early mentorship in creative careers.

“One of my lasting legacies would be the impact of my writings on someone’s life. Positive feedback from readers motivates me to continue pursing my goals,” she reflected.

The author attributes her success to God’s favour, hard work, perseverance, patience and support from others.

She expresses gratitude to individuals and companies such as Caremore Company, Mondayz Photography, Amaryllis Hotel and K and Kay Restaurant for their sponsorship and support in achieving her goals.

The musician was born on November 22 1998.

Her father is from Mozambique, but settled in Mangochi where he met with her mother.

Life wasn’t easy during her early years, especially with financial challenges and being part of a large household while attending Mchesi Primary School.

However, her aunt’s financial situation improved when she was selected to attend Chipasula Secondary School, followed by Malawi University of Business and Applied Science in 2016.

Professionally, she has gained experience working with various companies such as Nali Group of Companies, Nutrition Wellness Centre, Caremore and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority.

She comes from Mangochi in Mbela Village, Traditonal Authoriy Katuli.

Favour enjoys spending her free time appreciating nature and embarking on adventures.

In addition, she finds joy in designing, writing, baking, music, creating and taking walks to clear her mind