Mzuni to honour Q Malewezi
Mzuzu University (Mzuni) will on Friday award honorary doctorates to two outstanding individuals who have made a significant contribution to the cultural and social development of Malawi.
The two recipients are Qabaniso Malewezi, a poet trading under the name Q Malewezi, in the field of creative arts and Anna Msowoya-Keys in the field of social entrepreneurship.
In a statement, Mzuni vice-chancellor Robert Ridley said the two were selected for demonstrating rare talents in their fields.
“Mr. Qabaniso Malewezi is a well-known poet with a passion for the arts, especially in poetry and spoken word. Mr. Malewezi’s first anthropology [The Road Taken] has been incorporated into several creative writing courses and in 2012 he was a recipient of the Poetry Association of Malawi Award for best performance poet.
“In addition to Mr. Malewezi’s impressive cumulative artistic work and influential performances, he is an up-and-coming entrepreneur promoting the creative and performing arts in Malawi,” said Ridley.
“Msowoya-Keys has been centrally involved in the founding of Kwithu Women’s Group, a community-based organisation, Mzuzu International Academy and Kwithu Kitchen, a women-owned food processing cooperative based in Mzuzu,” he said.
The two will receive the badge of excellence from Mzuni Chancellor, President Peter Mutharika, who will preside over the 17th University Congregation on Friday.
In an interview, Malewezi expressed gratitude for the honour, more especially because it is coming from a local university.
“I am greatly honoured for the honorary doctorate degree, especially that it has come while I am still young.
Malewezi’s poetry anthology, The Road Taken, is used for learning in various tertiary institutions.
