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 specializing in Theatre for Development, Edutainment, Digital Media, Development Communication, Participatory Research Methodologies, Disability Theatre, and Arts-Based Activism.
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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.
List of Figures
Contributors
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Zindaba Chisiza
PART I
Theatre and Social Change
2 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 Mjumira
4 Performing Living Knowledge: An Interrogation of the Impact of Short-Term
Arts Training on a Disadvantaged Community in Rural Malawi
Jane Plastow
5 Brother2Brother: The Development of an Arts-Based Gender-Transformative
Programme at the University of Malawi
Zindaba Chisiza
6 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. Dzanja
8 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. Dzanja
Snapshots
9 The Evolution of Grassroots Womens 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 Phiri
10 Interactive Theatre for Justice (ITJ) in Malawi
Ryan Borcherding and Fiona Morrell
11 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 Veitch
PART II
Media and Social Change
12 Tuning in to Change: Radio Drama as a Catalyst for Empowerment and Civic
Engagement in Malawi
Mtisunge Isabel Kamlongera
13 Using Participatory Strategies to Develop a Culturally Appropriate Mental
Health Intervention for Pregnant Adolescents in Malawi
Wezi Mhango-Chisiza
14 Using Edutainment and Digital Tools to Improve Mental Health Literacy
among University Students in Malawi
Gloria Chirwa, Joe Nyali, and Sandra Jumbe
15 The Dzaleka Art Project: Bringing Visibility and Changing Attitudes
through a Community-Based Documentation Project in a Malawian Refugee Camp
Lisa Gilman
16 Digital Uprising: An Auto-Ethnographic Account of the Gandhi Must Fall
Movement in Malawi
Mkotama Katenga-Kaunda
17 From Theatre to Film: An Interactive Integrated Community Project to
Addressing Social Determinants of HIV and AIDS
Sharifa Abdulla and Rodger K. Phiri
Snapshots
18 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 Mlanga
20 The Evolution of the Zathu Project in Malawi: A Reflection
Talimba Chisala Bandawe
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.
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