Wati Nungu to launch 'Shadows in the Dark' poetry album in Lilongwe

Malawi has seen creativity evolve over the years, from traditional praise and entertainment dances to more intricate and daring arts such as spoken word poetry.

Nungu during one of his stage performances

Malawi: One of Malawi's rising spoken word poets, Watipaso Nungu, will release his first poetry album, Shadows in the Dark, on October 7th, this year in Lilongwe.

In his album, the young artist shares stories about the journey one takes in search of healing, a journey he believes many people go through but few are able to discuss.

Malawi has seen creativity evolve over the years, from traditional praise and entertainment dances to more intricate and daring arts such as spoken word poetry.

Nungu, who also released an Extended Playlist titled Lost Roots in 2019, is one of Malawi's young artists who use their creativity to expose different truths and spark important conversations.

Nungu expressed his excitement about his upcoming album to the AfricaBrief.

“What inspired the album is that I was going through a season where I was searching for healing, and it kind of felt like I might never find that healing. Hence Shadows in the Dark, because, practically, you can't find shadows in the dark. So the album encapsulates the journey of searching for answers and healing and I hope someone somewhere out there will find my journey helpful for themselves,” narrated Nungu.

Nungu says he finds his art quite relevant when it comes to addressing important issues of national concern now that he has discovered the fundamental role that creative works play in this country.

"I strongly believe my poetry is significant for Malawi because it deals with core issues. Both the conversations we seem ready to have and those we aren't ready to have yet. Mental health, for example, is a topic that should equally be discussed among the elderly community, realising that depression isn't just for young people. Or conversations that represent young people in impact areas; where young people don't always have to be involved in politics to drive positive change.  Overall, my poetry deals with the human first, so that the human can impact the community of Malawi," he said.

When it comes to his vision for Malawi, the young artist says he hopes to see it make the same progress that Zambia and Rwanda have. He emphasises his confidence in the country's capabilities, stating that Malawi has everything it takes to accommodate young creative voices in decision-making areas.

In the spirit of commemorating his creative milestones as a still-thriving artist, Nungu believes it is important to look back at historical events that depict poetry as a timeless art form.

He said: “From the beginning of time, poetry has always been a tool. A powerful for that matter. Back in the day, poets would be tasked with writing pieces for war which would sometimes be used as songs to hype warriors up for war. Poets wrote about the Renaissance and the many revolutionaries that have happened across time. Some poets were even murdered because of this. So yes, poetry must be used as a tool. This is a revolutionary tool.”

Nungu went on to say that he crafted the poems in his soon-to-be-released album in a way that appeals to a wide range of age groups.

Nungu's poetry album launch, which will take place at the Bingu Wa Mutharika International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, is expected to include other well-known poets in the country, including Q Malawezi, Phindu Zaie Banda, and musicians Kelvin sings, Praise Umali, among others.