Paul's Malawi Photo Collection 1

Malawi 2004 - 2007

 
 
 
 

Illustrations

Gulewamkulu (The first 3 photos appear in "Chewa Culture and Mua")

Gulewamkulu means ‘The big dance'. Traditionally, the dancers are a secret village group of men who literally embody the spirits of the ancestors, who can intercede in daily life for good or ill. They perform at major life events such as funerals. In modern times the performance aspect has come to the fore and dancers dress up in more modern costume, collecting small monetary offerings thrown at their feet as they dance at village events.

Masked and colourful dancers perform for a village crowd.

  
 


five young africans covered in mud join in the vallage dancing.

  
 

A crowd of Malawi men watch a masked man dance the Gulewamkulu.

  
 


Malawian children and adults by the river.
Bathtime at the river

 

  
 

Tsabango Youth Club Building

Doreen Mbandera, the District Youth Officer had managed to raise funds to start building a youth centre in a large rural village some 7kms from Lilongwe, the capital. The building project ran out of money and was unfinished and left to decay. We managed to get funding from the E.U. to complete the building to relatively good standards along with some entertainment and computer equipment. Young people formed the management committee for the building and future management of the Building. They also worked on the building project, digging materials, latrines etc, breaking the old floor and cleaning the finished building.


Cleaning the new youth club building.

 

  
 


Preparing the Youth Centre

 

  
 


Cleaning the floor

 

  
 


More cleaning

 

  
 


Young people preparing for the official opening

 

  
 


A job well done.

 

  
 


The Big Moment

 

  
 


The Opening

 

  
 


The village gathers for the opening

 

  
 


Time to clelbrate

 

 
 


Girls love to dance and feel free

 

  
 


They also love to drum – when allowed.

 

  
 


Show your passion and your moves.

 

  
 


Sports Day

 

  
 


Children dance in their new youth club.

 

 
 


The girls race

 

  
 


Skipping – look at the girl jumping in the audience!