After a successful launch in Zomba recently, University of Malawi (Unima) Associate Professor in the Department of Literary Studies Asante Mtenje is bringing her debut poetry book, Forms of Slaughter and Other Poems, to Lilongwe.
The launch in Lilongwe will take place at De Oasis in Area 43 on January 11, 2025.
Mtenje said yesterday that she decided to hold another launch in Lilongwe as part of promoting the poetry collection and, at the same time, showcasing the beauty and power of poetry.
During the launch, Mtenje will also read some of the poems from the book, the foreword of which was written by Timwa Lipenga.
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Mtenje said Forms of Slaughter and Other Poems was written over several years and she is pleased to finally have it on the market.
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“These poems touch on a range of Malawian social issues that preoccupy me as an individual, a writer and an academic. It is a culmination of my thoughts on gender-based violence, the politics of memory, history, love for family, etc.,” she said.
She explained that some of the poems in the book are based on her observations of certain chapters of Malawi’s socio-political history as well as observations of 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.
The book Forms of Slaughter and Other Poems was published by Pan African Publishers.
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“I write both poetry and short fiction, and each one of them has its place and time in my rhythm as a writer,” she added.
