Kwathu Drama Group moves to advocate for gay rights in Malawi
One of the Malawi’s renowned vernacular theatre groups, Kwathu drama group says it is joining the band wagon campaigners advocating for equal rights by taking part in promoting rights of the minority groups in the country through performances.
Assistant director for the group Charles Mphoka said after a show at Zuc lodge in eastern region district of Balaka that the group is geared to fight for the rights of minority groups in the country to ensure that they are not perceived as inferior though they are a minority.
“We feel we can take part in making a change toward the thinking that the minority are inferior and sinful,” said Mphoka.
Kwathu drama group staged a play named A bambo a Junior (Junior’s father ), written by Eric Mabedi, the group’s director, in which Mphoka himself took the role of a bambo a Junior.
Mphoka played the part of Michael the husband, Linda Chatha as his wife and Donnex Kamwangala as Junior. Controversial Evance Mbewe played the part of Michael’s uncle while Enipher Chiwaya and Tamu Muwawa were Michael’s parents and Mussa Penu was the houseboy.
The three-hour play, introduces the theme at the very end, whereby a wealthy bambo a Junior discloses that he is gay, and never perform his marital duty as a husband, despite being married for some years.
Mphoka who directed the play in absence of director Eric Mabedi, said the central theme aims at accommodating everyone in society despite of what one’s belief.
“We are all sinners. Nobody should judge another and don’t take other people’s sins as bigger. We should treat each other equally,” said Mphoka, referring to sexual minority groups.
He also disclosed that he has written another production carrying similar message titled Mwala (stone), which he said will be out soon.
“We will start rehearsing the new play shortly, and Malawians should watch out for this other massive production” said Mphoka.
Gift Trapence, executive director for Centre for the Development of People (Cedep), a human rights organisation that works with vulnerable groups like men who have sex with men (MSM), watched the play.
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