MW, German cultural diplomacy at play

German-Malawi cultural ties have been running for a long time. The two countries’ exchanges, especially through theatre are evident.

Groups such as Nanzikambe have toured Germany, and German groups such as Theatre Konstanz have been to the Nanzikambe Open Space several times.

Exchange visits for actors have also marked the arts scene.

In July this year, five German actors from the group Fraulein Wunder Ag Verena Lobert, Vanessa Lutz, Marleen Wolter, Malte Pfeiffer and musician Steffi Krah came to Malawi. That was the beginning of research works that would culminate into a joint production with the Malawi group, Solomonic Peacocks.

The two groups visited Malawian places of interest: Chingwe’s Hole in Zomba, Mawila in Liwonde, Dziwe la Nkhalamba in Mulanje and Mbona’s Khuluvi Shrine in Nsanje. The German actors left in August, before Solomonic actors MacArthur Matukuta, Talent Phoya, Regina Kaiya and Jimmy Maole were joined by Ben Mankhamba to go to Germany where they also toured several places of interest before producing the script for their joint production.

The end product was the play Msonkhano.de/begegnungen.mw, which was premiered in Blantyre’s German twin city, Hannover.

The play was also taken to German cities of Cologne and Franfurt, before the final performance which was scheduled for last night in Berlin.

It will be brought to Malawi during the Blantyre Arts Festival, which is scheduled to run from October 2 to 5, before it is taken to Lilongwe, Zomba and Mzuzu.

Chargé d’affaires at the embassy, Oliver Kumbabe and Trade and Investment counsellor Faith Kazembe-Mwalubunju who watched the Hannover performance, hailed the work as another tie in Malawi-German culture.

“The performance is one of our diplomatic activities to promote cultural diplomacy. It is one way of linking our cultural relationships to the grassroots level,” said Kazembe-Mwalubunju.

While not delving into a literary critique of the play, Kubambe appreciated the creativity and innovation of the artists in presenting the cross cultural issues that transpire when people from two different worlds meet.

“In such circumstances, there are stereotypes, prejudices, conceptions and misconceptions that are influenced by various factors. The artists dramatise this kind of cultural interaction in the best way possible and have been able in their own way to present the extremes of cultural and traditional expectations. Malawian folklore has been used creatively and euphemistically to drive the various messages home,” said Kubambe.

According to Kazembe-Mwalubunju, the audience appreciated that the messages in the play were clear.

“It is clear in the play that development aid should not come with unreasonable conditionality; accountability is important; the need to understand and appreciate one another across cultures, and the common goal for human unity and prosperity,” she said.

Solomonic director MacArthur Matukuta was equally impressed with the play’s reception.

“It has been fantastic. The audience was amazed with our energy on stage…some expressed surprise, saying they didn’t expect good artists and stories from countries such as Malawi. The collaboration is great and people in Germany are looking for more collaboration because they want to see the other side of theatre,” said Matukuta.

On her part, Wolter said being part of the project is a chance to inspire female actors in Malawi and Germany. The German group features only one male actor, Malte.

“This is a chance to inspire each other and as a female artist, there is a lot I have learned from the project,” said Wolter. n