Malawi Writers Union to present Religious Awards

Genre : Awards lists
Principal country concerned : Column : Literature
Release/publication date : 2015
Published on : 21/05/2015
Source : http://www.times.mw/malawi-writers-union-to-present-religious-awards/ 21 May 2015


Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) has brought Religious Awards whose presentation will be held this coming Saturday at Alendo Hotel in Blantyre.



Mawu President Sambalikagwa Mvona confirmed the development yesterday saying Mawu with funding from the Daniel Greenup Foundation from USA will be presenting the awards to the winners of the Religious Essay competition.



"We called for the entries into the competition which has been running for almost seven months for the contestants. Now we are ready with the results," said Mvona adding that the competition attracted about 30 entries.



The Mawu President said the contestants had to write scripts answering the apologetic question: 'Did Jesus Christ really resurrect?'



"Two accomplished judges well versed in apologetics and Christian literature, Reverend Father Preciano Muyakha of St. Montfort Catholic Parish (CI) and Reverend Vincent Chirwa of the Blantyre Baptist Church went through the entries," explained Mvona.



He said that the contest was organised for three folds to strengthen the Religious Writers' Desk within Mawu, to find materials for their forthcoming Religious Anthology as well as make a contribution to the Christian Church in the country.



"We believe many Christian faithful do not know why they are called Christians and in unveiling the root cause of their faith – the triumphant resurrection of Jesus, they will be able to understand and deepen their faith, and hence understand why they are called Christians," said Mvona.



The Mawu leader also observed that the Church in Malawi has reached a mature stage and hence Malawian Christians need to have their Malawian identity by among other things blending their own Christian text and literature such as hymns and other texts that is enriched with "our cultural norms that can go well with our melodies."



"All these are to complement the Holy Bible which for more than 2,000 years has never changed its tune or unique status," said Mvona.



He said as Mawu they would want to widen their net in all the areas as they endeavour to build writers that can go all the way and compete on the international platform.



Mvona could not disclose the amount of money that will be given to the winners but he said six writers will be decorated on the day.



"We cannot disclose the prizes now but all what people should know is that there will be cash and book prizes including Bibles to the winners and all those who entered the contest are encouraged to attend the function as the sponsors have also something to splash even to those who will not be among the winners," he said.



He said the Religious Awards are only a preamble to test the waters as this will be annual awards and that this will be bigger next year.



Apart from the awards, Mvona said there will also be gospel choirs within Blantyre, who will perform and that the event will be graced by Apostle Timothy Khoviwa, who is the Special Advisor to the President on Religious Affairs.



Mawu has already presented Legendary and FMB/Short Story Awards and is set to also present the Peer Gynt Award.

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