It was a night of laughter, love and political reflection for hundreds of patrons who flooded the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Saturday night as poet Qabaniso Malewezi  launched his latest offering, Son of a Preacher’s Son.

The show, which attracted high-profile figures, including Vice-President Saulos Chilima and Minister of Tourism Vera Kantukule, kept patrons entertained from the first act by supporting artist Rebecca Chavula, recited her poem titled NyaNhlane, which tackles issues on humanity and the Tumbuka culture.

Rebecca’s poem sent the patrons into stitches and as she left the stage, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources student Mbumba Banda took over with her Chichewa poem also focusing on humanity and culture.

Artists such as Raphael Sitima, Phindu Banda, Paul Kachala and Sindi Nyasulu also showcased their talent before Q Malewezi took to the stage.

His poem We Have Created the World We Have tackled the country’s challenges such as gender imbalances.

He recited in part: “I have ever heard many saying Joyce Banda is the first woman president we have had, who has destroyed future women as presidents, but I’ve never heard people saying  the country has been ruled by male presidents since independence, yet we still live in absolute poverty, we have created the world we have…”

Malewezi also bemoaned the deprivation of many women in society by offering them opportunities in exchange of favours such as sex even if they are qualified to take up such  opportunities on merit.

He described such acts as inhumane and expressed the need for Malawians to reflect on their humanity and spiritual lives to transfer the world that they have created.

One of the patrons Aisha Ngalare described the show as exciting and thought-provoking.

She also urged Malewezi to take his show to other parts of the country as it oozes the wisdom this country needs to embrace to improve from its current situation.

She said: “Malewezi is just reminding us that we are living in a cursed generation, which is behind all the problems we face as a country.

“At the same time, he is warning us that we have the opportunity to change and improve our status quo.”

Various cultural music performances also spiced up the show that was massively supported by the corporate world, including Standard Bank plc, which donated K15 million to Malewezi ahead of the launch.

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