Veteran writer shares life-long wisdom at 70
By Sam Banda Jnr:
Seasoned writer Alfred Msadala on Sunday took advantage of her 70th birthday celebration to call upon writers and poets in the country to pen for the soul and not focus on competition.
He said competition will always be there but it should not be the real deal for a writer or poet and thus urged them to focus.
“Strive to be creative; competition should not be the yardstick. Believe in yourself and be unique and most importantly tell that beautiful story,” he said.
Msadala, who is Pen Malawi President, said writers, poets and creatives in general need to unite and step up with gatherings in order to share ideas.
“My muse always tells me to write and this is what creatives need to do. In this word of technology, we do not need to stop writing, let us keep writing,” he said.
Earlier on, he invited some members from Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) to appreciate some of his poems engraved in the walls at his residence in Blantyre.
Msadala also cut a birthday cake which was sponsored by Temwani Mgunda, Brenda Louis and Immulanie Makande as writers for Acin publishers.
“I would like to thank Mawu for giving me a treat during my 70th birthday, the likes of Shadreck Chikoti, Stanley Onjezani Kenani and others,” the Malangano author said.
Several other renowned writers including Ken Lipenga also joined the country’s literary community in celebrating Msadala’s 70th birthday describing him as an Oracle-in-chief of Malawian literature.
“A practitioner in his own right and a devoted custodian of its memory, through his own work and his continuing commitment to remembering the writers, books and moments that have shaped our literary history, he helps keep that history alive for the generations coming after us,” Lipenga wrote on his Facebook page.
Mashallo Samillo said they felt it wise to celebrate Msadala’s 70th birthday saying he is a writer in the league of the likes of late David Rubadiri, Benedicto Wokomatani Malunga and Professor Steve Chimombo.
“We need to celebrate our legends and so, we just thought of coming down and be part of his 70th birthday and at the same time learn from him,” Samillo said.
The celebration saw poets including Jacinta Chisi, Luckier Chikopa, Rhoda Zulu and Alfonso the Mpangi take time out to recite their works.
