Theatre lovers will this Saturday relive the legend of Mbona the rainmaker on theatre stage at Apollo Auditorium in Blantyre. Malawian artist Robert Magasa will bring to life the Mbona story in a solo-dance theatre performance. In an interview yesterday, he said the performance is inspired by the need to reawaken the legacy of Mbona for modern audiences.
“His[Mbona’s] story speaks powerfully to culture, spirituality, leadership and environmental consciousness. At a time many young people are disconnected from indigenous narratives, I felt it was necessary to present this heritage through performance in a way that is engaging and relevant,” Magasa said. He said the performance communicates cultural pride, spiritual awareness and environmental responsibility.
Magasa added that it will also highlight how traditional belief systems emphasise harmony among people and nature. He said expressive arts are fundamental to Malawi’s storytelling tradition and knowledge transmission. “Theatre, dance and music allow history and values to be experienced rather than simply remembered.
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When addressing environmental issues, art makes the message culturally grounded and emotionally impactful, ensuring it resonates across generations,” said Magasa. Commenting on the upcoming performance, culture enthusiast Eleanor Phiri said it is important for artists to revisit stories from the past and retell them for the younger generation to learn something. “If you observe closely, not many young people know about the story of Mbona and other stories from our rich past.
It is artists’ duty to retell these stories in an entertaining and educative manner,” she said. According to author Eve Chikabadwa, Mbona is referred to as the Black Jesus of Malawi. He is a religious figure among the Mang’anja clan of Southern Malawi and is believed to have possessed rainmaking powers. The story of Mbona is also captured in a play titled The Rainmaker by Steve Chimombo.
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