For Tamandani Mervis Kamuyanja of Malawi, meeting Pope Francis in Rome and being listened to by him was extremely important. Throughout the week-long Pre-Synodal meeting, with animators and among colleagues, she felt she could express herself without fear of being judged.

Pope at Pre-Synodal Meeting: Commits the Church to listening to young people, “no one excluded”

A youth leader from Malawi, Tamandani Kamuyanja praised Pope Francis for taking time to listen to them

“In his opening remarks, the Pope was like, you know what, I want you [the youth] to express your views freely. I want you to be open; say it out, do not be afraid. So I think this was one of the most important things that made the [Pre- Synodal preparatory meeting for young people] a success,” the youth leader from Malawi said.

“If the Pope can hear us, we [young people in Africa] should not be afraid. We should be able to express our views freely,” she said.

National YCW Coordinator

Tamandani is a young agricultural extension worker employed by the Government of Malawi. She is also a student of Agriculture at Malawi’s Mzuzu University.

“I am proud to be an extension worker. I work with farmers. I interpret agricultural policies to them and give [farmers] agricultural advice on livestock, crops and all that,” Tamandani explained.

She is the current National Volunteer Coordinator for Young Christian Workers (YCW) in Malawi.

Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment

The purpose of the Pre-Synodal meeting, held in in Rome on 19-24 March, was to provide the opportunity for young people to produce a document that expresses their views. The document’s recommendations will be presented to Bishops expected for the Synod meeting in the Vatican, during the month of October 2018.

The Bishops are scheduled to deliberate over the theme: “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.”
Young people of Africa seek practical solutions

Tamandani was one of the 300 young people from around the world who took part in the just-ended Pre-Synodal meeting. Speaking to Vatican News, Tamandani said her experience in Rome had shown her that by and large, the challenges of young people were the same the world over.

“We are affected by the same kind of challenges,” she said. She added, however, that most of the challenges faced by young people of Africa require practical and concrete solutions. She cited the problem of unemployment on the continent.

Tamandani says that the Church can play a significant role by creating tertiary institutions that impart skills training. She thinks the Church could also come up with programmes and initiatives such as the provision of farm inputs to attract young persons into farming for a livelihood.

Young women can do more than just sweep and decorate

Asked about specific challenges young women of Africa face in the Church, Tamandani was quick to say Africa’s young women want to do more than just sweep, mop, and decorate the parish Church.
“I think that needs to stop…It’s not just our role to sweep the Church and mop… no!” While appreciating what the Church is doing, Tamandani believes that more can still be done to put to better use, the skills and talents of young women.

Her vision of the Church of tomorrow?

I visualise “a Church where young people will be leaders; where young people can express their views without being judged, and yes, a Church where young people can share the gospel with others regardless of where they come from. We dream of a better Church!,“ Tamandani said.

Neptune Productions spokesperson, Joshua Malango, said yesterday that Dear Pen Pal is ready and set for premiere next month.
“Everything is ready about the movie and we are seeking partners to work with us in the movie premiere as sponsors or to market their products,” Malango said.
A poster from Neptune Productions indicates that the film, which was written by Suya and stars, among others, musicians George Misinde and Annie Matumbi (real name Chiyanjano Muheziwa) and Tapiwa Gwaza, will premiere at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on March 30 2018.
The film will then screen again on March 31 at the same venue.
On the night of March 31, the film will premiere in Blantyre at The Underground, formerly M-Theatre, before showing again at the same venue on April 1.
Malango said the film was shot in 2016.
“We were to premiere the film last year but Flora Suya was in United States of America where she was invited for a film production and so we had to shift the date,” Malango said.
He said the film basically talks about two people, who are Pen Pals, who agreed not to exchange pictures to make their first meeting exciting.
“The long awaited day finally came, so the whole story starts from here. It’s an exciting film which people will love,” Malango said.
Suya, who is also the brains behind Spouses and Workmates, a soap that screens on Times Television, is among the few female filmmakers who are making positive steps.
Suya debuted with My Mother’s Story which in 2016 received an award at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in USA.
Another female film maker and actress Joyce Mhango Chavula recently also came out to announce that she has finished working on her new film Nyasaland.
Suya has starred in award winning movies The Last Fishing Boat and Seasons of a Life by Shemu Joyah.
She has also starred in a Zambian film Chenda .
Suya recently expressed optimism that people will love Dear Pen Pal as well as the story.

The former Alleluya Band member has been unwell with eye and liver problems.
The fundraising show, which will see musicians both gospel and secular sharing the stage, will be held at Mlambe Hall in Balaka on March 4 2018.
Musicians Union of Malawi (Mum) coordinator of the welfare committee, Princess Chitsulo, said they felt it wise to support their colleague, who urgently needs medical treatment.
“Isaac Liotcha urgently needs medical treatment and, so, we, as Mum welfare committee, thought of doing something to raise funds; hence, organising the show. We are targeting to raise K3.5 million and all we are saying is let people save the date and be part of this show,” Chitsulo said yesterday.
She said, as a welfare committee, they were looking at raising enough money to assist fellow musicians.
Some of the artists billed to perform at this fund-raiser include Chitsulo, King James Phiri, Michael Kasito, Eliza Mponya, Steve Wazisomo Muliya, Sam Smack, Atoht Manje, Henry Masamba, Hezekiah Wachiwiri, Alleluya Band, Enot Mbandambanda and Neligo Women Choir.
“We have a rich line-up of artists and, as I said, we are calling upon people to patronise the show so that they can support Isaac Liotcha,” she said.
Due to illness, Liotcha has not been active on stage.
The Balaka-based musician said yesterday that he has been to several hospitals in the country seeking medical treatment but has failed in some instances because of finances.
“I am thankful to Mum welfare committee for putting up a show to raise funds so that I can go for medical treatment. There is an improvement at the moment,” Liotcha said.
He said he would like to get back to the stage once he gets better but cannot do so now.
Liotcha said, apart from the eyes and liver problems, there were other complications, including loss of blood, that need urgent attention.

“All I can tell fellow artists is that let us not give up, let us keep on fighting; it is a huge task but God is on our side and we will surely win this battle. It costs a lot to put together a song and is discouraging that pirates want to benefit where they did not sow,” Ethel said.
Recently, Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) came out to engage the Judiciary, police and artists to bring awareness on the Copyright Act of 2016 which has provisions for stiffer penalties.
“There is more to be done and, to minimise cases of piracy, artists themselves should hold hands although we have Cosoma and other stakeholders. As the owners of the work, we need to be in the forefront, unite and speak with one voice; otherwise, if we do not do this, we will continue to suffer,” the singer said.
Ethel, who started with secular music before turning gospel, said it has been a long journey to be where she is today.
“It has not been easy. There have been lots of challenges but God has been there to fight my battles,” she said.
Ethel said music was no longer the same as sales have completely gone down on the market.
She said, with online music sales, the situation is changing.
“There are some musicians who depend on selling their albums and do not hold live performances while others do both. So, those who only depend on sales have really been affected,” she said.
The gospel singer said it is high time people realised that there are musicians who solely rely on music for their living and, due to piracy, their families are affected as well.
“Musicians have family members who look up to them and, so, pirating our music means killing not only the music but the families as well. People should promote our artists by buying original works,” the musician appealed.
Ethel is set to release three albums later this year, having stayed for close to seven years.
“It’s been close to seven years without releasing an album. It’s not that I was afraid of piracy or I run out of ideas but I believe in God’s plans. God’s plans are the best; hence, coming out now,” she said.
The ‘Ndiumboni’ star on February 6 dropped the song ‘Ndili Pa Mzere’ which, she indicated, is the title track of one of the albums.
“The video for ‘Ndili pa Mzere’ is already out and people can buy it on www.apmcstore.com. This is the first album and it was produced by Joseph Tembo at Groove Magic. Putting the song out is part of promotion,” Ethel said.
The other albums are Timuyimbile Yahweh produced by OBK and Ndinu Woyera, a worship album which was produced by her son Peter.
“The landscape has changed now and we, as musicians, also need to change to be at par with our colleagues but without running away from our identity. These three albums are all different and I should say that the other album is targeting the international platform,” the songstress said.
With the three albums set to come out, Ethel has 14 albums in total.
Her other albums are Amen Yesu Wandimasula, Yesu Amayankha, Sindilindekha, Hossanah, Ndiumboni, Ambuye Wazatheka Bwanji, Ndinu Nokha, Zabwino Zonse and Chete.
Ethel’s husband, who doubles as manager, said the three albums will be on the market by next month or April.
“As Spectrum Communications, which distributes music for different artists, we are making sure that we have the three albums of Ethel on the market in good time but, again, we want to give people a good product,” she said.

Peter Mawanga is in United States of America (USA) where he is holding shows with USA artist Andrew Finn Magill.
Mawanga said on Friday that he left two weeks ago for USA for a tour dubbed African Fiddle Fusion.
It is not the first time for Mawanga to perform in USA as, last year, he also made a tour with his Amaravi Movement alongside Faith Mussa.
“I am performing a duet with Andrew Finn Magill. Andrew and I will also be writing new songs during this tour,” Mawanga said.
The shows were expected to start on Saturday at Capon Bridge— to run up to March 4 2018.
Other places Mawanga and Magill are expected to perform at include Washington DC and Philadelphia.
It is not the first time for Mawanga and Magill to work together as their relationship can be traced to 2011.
In 2009, Magill received a Fulbright- Fellowship to co-write and co-produce an album with Mawanga that musically captures 10 experiences of HIV and Aids through songs in Malawi.


The album is titled Mau A Malawi: Stories of Aids and was released in 2011.
The ‘Amakhala Ku Blantyre’ composer said it is always a pleasure for him to perform in USA as he flies Malawi’s flag.
A self-proclaimed ‘Voice of the Voiceless’, Mawanga has used musicto speak for the under-privileged.
Fusing the rock outfit of drums-bass-guitar with the traditional sounds of Malawi’s marimba, thumb piano, and percussion, Mawanga said his music is Afro-vibes.
“My music is modern African sound that is intrinsically Malawian,” said the singer and guitarist.