Malawi has a very special brand of
music video that I haven't seen anywhere else in the world.
It is quite common for churches to
raise funds through producing their own music video DVDs featuring
Malawian gospel music with chitenje-clad women dancing and singing.
I had the privilege of accidentally
winding up in one such video.
Driving through Nkhotakota boma
(trading centre), I saw a row full of women singing and dancing
beside the petrol station. Curious as to what was happening, I got
out of the car to go check it out.
I stood with the crowd of spectators
and asked them what is happening. They point to a man holding a video
camera akin to the one my Dad used 20 years ago when filming our
birthday parties. They explain that the Anglican church is putting
together a music video DVD as a fundraiser.
The women finish up their song and the
videographer spots me and waves hello. I greet him in the Malawian
tradition, shaking his hand and asking him if he has woken up well.
He then asks me if I care to join the women for the next song. I
admit that I am a bad dancer and decline.
As I watch the women practice their
moves for the next song I have two thoughts:
- This dance does not look too difficult
- How often does a mzungu get chance to be in a Malawian music video?! This is once in a lifetime stuff.
I tell the videographer that I can give
it a try after all and he ushers me to join the row of women. True to
Malawian reputation, the women are warm and welcoming and show me the
moves, tie a matching chitenje around my waist and give me a
handkerchief which is used to emphasize arm movements in the dancing.
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We start filming and I try to keep up
with the dance moves and look serious. The randomness of ending up in
a Malawian gospel music video in Nkhotakota really tickles my sense
of humour and I find myself smiling broadly as I stumble through the
moves. I must have looked incredibly silly, but after the filming the
women embrace me and tell me their names anyways.
I promise to buy their video when it is
released and am happy for the adventure.
You never know what a day in Malawi
will hold!
