New Book Release: Arts for Development, Masculinities and Gender in Malawi

The University of Malawi proudly celebrates the publication of a new book by Dr Zindaba Chisiza, Associate Professor in the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies from the School of Arts, Communication and Design, titled Arts for Development, Masculinities and Gender in Malawi.

This book is mainly based on the activities of an arts-based project entitled “Brother2Brother: A Creative Gender Transformative Programme for Young Men in Malawi”, which ran from August 2018 to June 2019. The project used arts-based educational workshops, theatre, radio drama, and film, alongside outreach activities, to interrogate identities, gender equality, sexuality, and gender violence.

The study demonstrates how arts-based methodologies facilitated critical thinking among the core participants and wider groups of young people on conceptualisations of masculinity, social norms, gender violence, and sexual and reproductive health in Malawi. Ultimately, the book showcases how creative practice can promote the construction of alternative positive masculinities among young African men and facilitate dialogue among young people to create more gender-equitable societies.

Dr Chisiza explained that he was thrilled to announce the publication of his monograph, Arts for Development, Masculinities and Gender in Malawi, noting that the work is the culmination of years of research and collaboration with young people at University of Malawi.

“It is a significant milestone, a global first for Malawi. As the first comprehensive monograph examining arts for development, masculinities, and gender within the Malawian context, it represents an important contribution to the global academic landscape,” said Dr Chisiza.

He further stated that the publication is a testament to the fact that research emerging from the University of Malawi is truly world-class.

“It underscores our commitment to generating original, high-impact scholarship that addresses critical social issues. I cannot wait for the academic community worldwide to engage with it.”

The book has been published by Palgrave Macmillan, and is available on all major online bookselling websites.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-20351-9