#Usisya

[sparedogrecords]

  Temwa is a fantastic development organisation from Bristol that work with food security, education, HIV prevention issues etc in the very remote Usisya area of the Nkhata bay region (not very far from where our studio is located). They asked us to come along and play some Malawian music for a royal visit to their Bristol office, and of course we couldn’t say no!

  Here’s me having a short chat with Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, talking about some of the musical talents that we’re lucky to work with in Malawi. We really hope he enjoys the Gasper Nali CD!

Spare Dog Records meets Prince Richard! was originally published on Spare Dog Records

[jonesy50]

Mwawuka (good morning) The end of another week here in Mzuzu with a few new experiences to report. It has rained for the first time since I have been here and boy did it rain, absolutely torrential. Bit like when it snows in uk and everything turns grey and slushy except here everything turns orange from the soil. I also experienced my first earth quake tremor which was a weird sensation, thankfully nothing serious. I took the team out for a meal to say thanks to the Indian restaurant A1. It was a good meal and evening and what started at around 8-10 people finished at around 18! Even at Malawi prices it became quite expensive!! And this week I even managed my first, albeit brief conversation in Tumbuku with someone outside of work, it has only taken me 5 weeks!! At the weekend I travelled to the remote village of Usisya where TEMWA undertake a lot of their work. Unfortunately I missed their annual dancing event which was disappointing, however the lodge and the tent I stayed in was directly on the beach with some lovely views. I had it to myself Friday and Saturday morning. I spent Saturday at a training session run by TEMWA for mentors of 10-18 year old children effected by HIV. It was interesting but unfortunately as it was in 3 languages (English, Chichewa and Tumbuku) a lot passed me by. On Sunday it was very much a day of relaxation ahead of the couple hour trip back to Mzuzu. A local fisherman stopped by our lodge and Bonnie and George bought a very large Catfish for 4000 kwachas (around £4). Dad - maybe your next boat project can be a hollowed out canoe?! Hopefully you can spot some flies in one of the photos which create an amazing site on the water. They do come ashore and I saw some local women catching them for tea. The trip home was an experience travelling in a 4x4 built to house probably 6 people which was actually loaded with around a dozen people all with bags and boxes while then having to travel through the mountains on very bumpy and steep roads. Thankfully we made it safe and sound. Now back to work.... Yewo (thank you)

[otakuyuusha]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaehCBuuFJM)