Watch the Scottish Launch of Logos Open Culture’s latest publication, ‘Making Music in Malawi’
On 4 April 2022, Logos Open Culture’s latest publication Making Music in Malawi, written by Scotland-based Malawian scholar John Lwanda, was launched in Edinburgh, Scotland. The launch was hosted by the Scotland Malawi Partnership and we were thrilled to participate virtually.
Making Music in Malawi is a ground-breaking contribution to the historical and sociocultural significance of sounds. These make and remake Malawi. A culmination of many years of research, Lwanda covers a staggering range of indigenous and hybrid musical genres. It is a testament of Lwanda’s love of music. Dr Lwanda attended the event in Edinburgh, as he is primarily based in Scotland.
As the Scotland Malawi Partnership wrote,
Speaking from Zomba, Rev Prof Ken Ross who chaired the event (held both online and with participants gathered in-person in Edinburgh City Chambers), introduced Dr Lwanda as a “polymath”. Reviewer Ken Lipenga referred to Dr Lwanda’s book as: “…the closest that we have to an encyclopaedia of Malawian music” and Dr Lwanda as “possibly the top scholar of Malawian music”. Publisher, Muti Phoya praised John Lwanda’s “commitment to giving Malawian communities a voice…adding nuance…and one of the most driven scholars on Malawi”.
A medical doctor, writer, poet, researcher, social historian and music producer, John Lwanda spoke of and illustrated with musical extracts his deep relationship with and knowledge of music and friendship with leading musicians over the years. Musician, Davie Luhanga closed proceedings with an excellent live performance.
If you did not have a chance to tune in to the virtual launch, you can now watch a recording, courtesy of the Scotland Malawi Partnership:
Making Music in Malawi available for purchase
You can purchase copies of the book in Scotland at Pamtondo, 41 The Fairways, Bothwell, G71 8PB (lwanda2000@yahoo.co.uk). And in Malawi, visit your favourite bookshop, Chambo Market, at Four Seasons in Lilongwe, to pick up a copy.
