Storyteller, writer Nancy Phiri no more
The creative industry was Thursday morning dealt a heavy blow following the death of veteran storyteller and writer Nancy Phiri.
Phiri died Thursday morning at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre after a short illness.
According to her husband, the late Phiri, a well-known librarian who served National Library Service (NLS) and headed Blantyre branch for years before she retired, will be laid to rest today in Chiradzulu District.
Phiri also published stories in Werengani Series produced by National Library Service.
As a writer and storyteller, Phiri participated in several initiatives and also once headed Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) Women’s Desk.
The veteran writer was also until her death part of the counselling programme (Pakhonde) on Times Radio which she used to co-host with Dyson Gonthi and Gift Petani.
Phiri also served Times Television’s ‘Ana Ife’ programme where she used to tell stories to children.
The writer also contributed to Writers Corner on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.
Mawu President Chikumbutso Ndaferankhande said Thursday she was shocked with Phiri’s death.
“It is a blow to the creative industry and Mawu. Her strength was in storytelling and she was very passionate about it. She inspired a lot of budding writers and was always available during meetings. She will be missed greatly,” Ndaferankhande said.
Born on November 11 1957, Phiri came from Ntonda Village, Traditional Authority Mpama, in Chiradzulu District.
