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Theatre and Media for Social Change in Malawi examines contemporary participatory theatre and media as instruments for social transformation across multiple domains, including education, prisoner rehabilitation, gender equality, mental health support and climate action.
This book explores contemporary Malawian practices combining research-based, NGO-led and community-driven theatre and media initiatives for social change. It embraces a broad definition of theatre-including development theatre, participatory art, community and prison theatre, street performances, folk media and dance-alongside various media formats from edutainment to digital platforms. Contributors analyse applications across health, gender, education, environment, community development, migration, disaster response and governance through scholarly articles, case studies and reflections, all examining how these creative approaches drive social transformation in Malawian communities.
This collection will particularly appeal to students and researchers in Theatre and Media Studies, especially those specialising in Theatre for Development, Edutainment, Digital Media, Development Communication, Participatory Research Methodologies, Disability Theatre and Arts-Based Activism.
List of contents
List of Figures Contributors Acknowledgements 1 Introduction
Zindaba Chisiza PART I Theatre and Social Change2
A Decade of Renewed French Drama Festivals in Malawi: Theatre for Literacy and Skills Development
Beaton Galafa, Mtende W. Nthara and Yamikani Masina 3
Tracing Theatre Practices in Chichiri Prison: Consequences and Contradictions
Effie Makepeace and Mphundu Mjumira4 Performing Living Knowledge: An Interrogation of the Impact of Short-Term Arts Training on a Disadvantaged Community in Rural Malawi
Jane Plastow5 Brother2Brother: The Development of an Arts-Based Gender-Transformative Programme at the University of Malawi
Zindaba Chisiza6 Fostering Mental Health Dialogue through Participatory Performance in Mangochi, Malawi
Yamikani Ndasauka, Jimmy Kainja, and Esther Harawa 7 Using Arts-Based Tools to Discuss Sexual Reproductive Health with Street-Connected Children
Roselyn M. Dzanja8 Acting on Accountability: Towards a Youth-Led Arts-Based Model for Good Financial Governance in Northern Malawi
Zindaba Chisiza, Uchizi C. Munyenyembe, and Roselyn M. DzanjaSnapshots9 The Evolution of Grassroots Women's Theatre and Research Group: Khamalathu Arts in Blantyre
Effie Makepeace and Khamalathu Arts: Chrissy Sitenala (Chair), Felistas Kamloni (Secretary), Gloria Njiwa (Treasurer), Esmie Breaker, Laina Saizi, Chrissie Magalasi, Chrisy Sinyanyalo, Rhoda Malefula, Gladys Theniford and Prisca Phiri10 Interactive Theatre for Justice (ITJ) in Malawi
Ryan Borcherding and Fiona Morrell11 Talk about
Tsetse: Enabling Public Engagement through an Arts-Science Collaboration
Bwanalori Mwalima, Walt Adamson, Gary Chilinga, John Alufandika, Lumbani Pete, Janelisa Musaya, Karen Veitch, Alan Richardson, Hannah Bialic, Paige Webber, Fredrick Nixon Jumah, Annette MacLeod, and Nicola VeitchPART IIMedia and Social Change 12 Tuning in to Change: Radio Drama as a Catalyst for Empowerment and Civic Engagement in Malawi
Mtisunge Isabel Kamlongera13 Using Participatory Strategies to Develop a Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Intervention for Pregnant Adolescents in Malawi
Wezi Mhango-Chisiza14 Using Edutainment and Digital Tools to Improve Mental Health Literacy among University Students in Malawi
Gloria Chirwa, Joe Nyali, and Sandra Jumbe15 The Dzaleka Art Project: Bringing Visibility and Changing Attitudes through a Community-Based Documentation Project in a Malawian Refugee Camp
Lisa Gilman16 Digital Uprising: An Auto-Ethnographic Account of the Gandhi Must Fall Movement in Malawi
Mkotama Katenga-Kaunda17 From Theatre to Film: An Interactive Integrated Community Project to Addressing Social Determinants of HIV and AIDS
Sharifa Abdulla and Rodger K. Phiri Snapshots18 Navigating Socio-Political Discourses through Youth Led Arts Projects: Insights from Zalero News Project
Macpherson Ndalama 19 The Beauty in the Underbelly of Waste
Getrude Gugu Mlanga20 The Evolution of the
Zathu Project in Malawi: A Reflection
Talimba Chisala Bandawe
About the author
Zindaba Chisiza is a Malawian academic, Theatre for Development practitioner and theatre maker. He is Associate Professor of Drama in the School of Arts, Communication and Design at the University of Malawi.
