NEWS ITEMS OF 2005

23 December: In 2005 there were three publications in the field of Malawi cultural heritage; two studies and an exhibition catalogue. Elias Mandala wrote a timely study on the social history of food in the Lower Shire Valley (The End of Chidyerano. A history of food and everyday life in Malawi, 1860-2004). He concludes there were two great famines in the last 150 years (1862-63, 1923) causing structural social change. Serious droughts coincided with desastrous political circumstances. More frequent is seasonal hunger in the months preceding the new harvest. This timespan has grown over the years. Food scarcity has lead to less collective eating habits

The German anthropologist Peter Probst describes in his Kalumbas Fest. Lokalität, Geschichte und Rituelle Praxis in Malawi the coninuing popularity of the nyau masked dancing in contemporary rural Malawi. At the same time the traditional rain cults are less likely to survive the  process of modernization and globalization. On the cover are pictures by the Canadian photographer Douglas Curran. These and other photos are published in his exhibition catalogue The Elephant Has Four Hearts: Nyau Masks and Ritual (Presentation House, Vancouver: 2005).

In 2006 Leslie Zubieta's study of the meaning of the rock art at Chencherere in the context van Chewa girls initiation. Her M.A. thesis at the University of Witwatersrand on the topic was awarded the 2005 Thesis Award by the African Studies Centre in Leiden and will be published by them.

 

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22 December: The Hogeschool Arnhem-Nijmegen has donated 800 euro to the foundation's study fund.  Mlambe Foundation is very grateful to the HAN as such contributions are critical for continuity of the study fund.

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10 December: Dr. Wim van Zanten, etnomusicologist at Leiden University, has made unique musical recordings in southern Malawi in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They include, amongst other things, maize pounding songs and recordings of traditional musical instruments that are now extremely rare. Mlambe Foundation will, in collaboration with dr. van Zanten and possible third parties, ensure the accessibility of this unique collection and will make selected recordings available on CD.

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25 November: Upon the recommendation of the International Jury for the Third Proclamation, UNESCO  has proclaimed the Malawi Vimbuza and Gule wamkulu (nyau) dances as Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.  The latter is shared with Zambia and Mozambique. With this act the uniqueness and value of Malawi heritage is internationally recognized. This will be a boost to Malawian cultural identity. A webcast of the proclamation is available online. The Malawi proclamation starts at the 57th minute. Earlier this year, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention postponed inclusion of Malawi's Chongoni rock art on the World Heritage list, while recommending improvements in the management structure. This rock art contains nyau depictions

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24 November: The Foundation has established a separate study fund for support of Malawian students in the field of cultural heritage research and conservation. The first to receive assistance is Francis Masiye for completion of his MA studies on the nyau masked dancing. In order to increase our capacity to assist students new contributions to the fund are much appreciated. - more information

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21 November: At the symposium organized in honour of Mr. J.A. Welling for his retirement as chairman of the board of Visio more than 3000 euro was collected. The Foundation extends its gratitude to all donors.

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September: The Dutch Consulate in Malawi has pledged 10,000 euro for the construction of the exhibition room, arts and crafts shop and the ablution block of Tisunge! Lower Shire Heritage Centre. The Foundation is very grateful for this generous donation.

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31 Augustus: On the occasion of his 77^th birthday,  the board appointed Prof. dr. J.M. Schoffeleers s.m.m. honorary chairman of Mlambe Foundation, in recognition of his life-time contribution to the public appreciation, and thus conservation, of Malawi cultural heritage by means of his research, publications and teachings at universities, and other institutions, in Malawi and the Netherlands. The director lauded Prof. Schoffeleers' thematic, geographical, disciplinary and educational versatility. Schoffeleers' work comprises the study of rain cults, healing, rock paintings, political history and oral literature, to name but a few. For the board, Schoffeleers' proactivity in the dissemination of this knowledge was of prime importance. His relentless efforts, in this respect, have greatly improved appreciation for Malawi cultural heritage in university, church and public domains. Prof. Schoffeleers was overwhelmed and delighted with his appointment and the concomitant certificate.