University of Malawi (Unima) Associate Professor in the Department of Literary Studies Asante Mtenje will on Sunday launch her debut poetry book titled Forms of Slaughter and Other Poems at African Heritage in Zomba.
Some of the activities set to take place during the launch of the book published by Pan African Publishers include poetry readings by renowned writers such as Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga, Yajanani Banda, Grace Sharra, Alfred Msadala, Winfred Mkochi, Mashallo Samillo and Wezi Msukwa Panje.
During the launch, Mtenje, who is also set to read some of the poems from the collection, said there will also be music by Sir Owen Chirwa and a conversation about the book with Timwa Lipenga, who wrote the foreword for the book.
She said she was happy to finally put on the market Forms of Slaughter and Other Poems, a collection of poems that she has written over the years.
“These poems touch on a range of Malawian social issues that pre-occupy me as an individual, a writer, and as an academic. It is a culmination of my thoughts on gender-based violence, politics of memory, history, love for family etc.,” she said.
Mtenje added that some of the poems in the book are based on her observations on certain chapters of Malawi’s socio-political history as well as observations on women’s lived experiences.
“Others are based on my own lived experience as a woman in Malawi. Some of these poems are 13 years old; others are less than a year old. It has been a dream of mine to get the book published,” she said.
Mtenje described poems as an art discipline that gives her a challenge that she finds fascinating and that it allows her to expand her horizon in terms of imagination.
Mtenje also loaded poetry saying there is an urgency that it provides that she felt the issues she was writing about could only be conveyed through it.
“I write both poetry and short fiction and each one of them has their place and time in my rhythm as a writer,” she said.
The other launch for the book is expected to be held in Lilongwe on December 28 2024.
