Storytelling Day celebrated in Malawi's capital
25 April 2019
“At the National Library we don't just deal with books and journals, we also preserve intangible cultural heritage, which we want to showcase”
— Gray Nyali, National Librarian and CEO for Malawi National Library Service
On 12 April our partners at the Malawi National Library Service hosted a special event to celebrate World Storytelling Day. The event not only featured traditional Malawi folktales, but also songs from local guitarist Jaco Jana and a dance from our friends at Music Crossroads Malawi.
Gray Nyali, National Librarian and CEO for Malawi National Library Service, says he is proud to have hosted the successful event. “At the National Library we don't just deal with books and journals, we also preserve intangible cultural heritage, which we want to showcase”, he says.
Storytelling is a key element of cultural expression, and World Storytelling Day is a prompt for people around the world to remember and share their own unique traditions of storytelling.
Gray Nyali, National Librarian and CEO for Malawi National Library Service, says he is proud to have hosted the successful event. “At the National Library we don't just deal with books and journals, we also preserve intangible cultural heritage, which we want to showcase”, he says.
Storytelling is a key element of cultural expression, and World Storytelling Day is a prompt for people around the world to remember and share their own unique traditions of storytelling.
But for the National Library Service, celebrating traditional Malawian storytelling is a weekly occurrence – since 2015 they have been running storytelling sessions with local performers, to the delight of hundreds of children who often travel great distances to take part.
Ivy Luhanga, Principle Secretary for the Ministry of Civic Education, Culture and Development, says that the work the library has done to bring traditional folktales to local children has been part of a concerted effort to preserve and promote important aspects of Malawi’s rich culture. “The cultural sector and the Ministry are working hand in hand with the National Library Service to ensure storytelling is promoted and preserved for posterity, which is a part of our national policy.”
Want to hear more? Check out this news story at Nyasa Times.
Ivy Luhanga, Principle Secretary for the Ministry of Civic Education, Culture and Development, says that the work the library has done to bring traditional folktales to local children has been part of a concerted effort to preserve and promote important aspects of Malawi’s rich culture. “The cultural sector and the Ministry are working hand in hand with the National Library Service to ensure storytelling is promoted and preserved for posterity, which is a part of our national policy.”
Want to hear more? Check out this news story at Nyasa Times.
A group of young dancers perform in the library.
A singer is accompanied by a guitarist. Storytelling Day included many artforms, not just folktales.
A young dancer enjoys herself.
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