By Frank Phiri, contributor:
Standard Bank rose to the occasion on Independence Day when it brought a feast of poetry, performed by four renowned poets namely Phindu Zae, Q Malewezi, Nyamalikiti Nthiwatiwa and Wanga.
The four poets took turns to mesmerise an online audience on Saturday evening on the bank’s Facebook page.
The bank’s head of marketing Tamanda Ng’ombe said they organised the event to commemorate Malawi’s 60th Independence Day by engaging renowned poets to share their poems.
“We just thought we could give people an Independence Day treat through poetry in an evening that embraced hope, healing, unity and identity,” Ng’ombe said.
The online poetry performance attracted many poetry fans, who applauded the poets for their exceptional acts.
“The performance was just incredible; a big thumbs up for Phindu,” Billy Banda, who watched the show, said.
Another patron Fatsani Chione also gave a critical acclaim.
“A wonderful performance from Phindu. I loved it,” Chione said.
Samuel Chiwaka also wrote on his Facebook page that he enjoyed the poetry session, singling out a performance from Nyamalikiti.
“Personally I am not a poetry fan but if it’s involving Nyamalikiti Nthiwatiwa, I stop whatever I am doing as his poetry is a unique medium open to interpretation that allows people to bring their own insights and experiences to bear on the poem,” he said.
Chiwaka described Nyamalikiti as “the best poet of our time”.
“He tackles issues of life, death, love, grief and more to connect personally with the reader. His work can be acclaimed because it is universal…He combines beautiful writing with deep thoughts, often incorporating imagery, symbolism, metaphor and, of course, creative use of meter to create singular works,” he said.
Q, who recently performed in Blantyre at the Kabula Diaries, was also outstanding on the night, offering a number of poems.
Themed ‘Unity in Verse’, the commemorative poetry fiesta was curated by Kweza Arts..
