For a better part of 2012, poetry lovers in Lilongwe used to converge at one place on Sunday afternoons for poem performances. The Pillow Talk, as the sessions were called, was the initiative that fast proved to be a breeding ground for up-and-coming as well as budding English poets in the country.
Sadly, it died a natural death, a development that was a cause for worry for both the poets and poetry admirers.
The following year, the founder Qabaniso Malewezi, teamed up with a number of poets in the capital city to form Living Room Poetry Club (LRPC).
The club has grown into one big item, making Lilongwe arguably the capital of English poetry in Malawi.
"When we started Living Room Poetry Club, the concept was straightforward; poets committing themselves to a day where they should share their poetry. A couple of guys from Blantyre came, and realised that it all takes commitment if you want your city or town to develop a poetic culture. The rest follows.
"We hoped that other people will be inspired and do the same for themselves and not necessarily for us to go and set it up. That would not create ownership. For us, all we hoped for was for people to see what we are doing. And here we are, Mibawa Poetry was born out of that inspiration and if you go to Mibawa, the vibe is different from Living Room," said Q.
So every Wednesday, the club members, who number over 30, gather for open mic sessions, sharing their innermost thoughts. It does not matter, if there are few people making up the audience, because their motive has been achieved at the end of the day.
Close to two years of holding shows and still counting, has the club achieved what the founders envisioned then?
"It's more than that. To be meeting every Wednesday except Christmas, for three years is not a joke. Whether it is four or five poets to have that solidarity that it does not matter how many people are there as it is not about how many people come to see us but holding that space no matter how long, is the biggest achievement. We did not have huge expectations from people but creating a platform where poets interact and share their thoughts. As long as we meet on Wednesday, we are good," he said.
As one way of firming up the creative industry, the poets have held two separate events that have sprouted from their meetings. These two successful events in the capital, have raised the bar for Malawi poetry mainly, English. The events showcased the poets' diverse poetic voices through what they called DiverCity I and II.
The standards were high. The poets were excellent and the messages were loud and clear, captivating to both the poets and fans. And the recitals by the members proved one thing, Malawi's standards of English poetry are on the right track.
"First was DiverCity I in 2013 with a follow up in 2014. DiverCity III is in the offing and will take place in 2015. We just want to get our acts together and off we go. And then there is an anthology from the poetry club. All the poems are ready, what is remaining is editing and lay out. Through DiverCity I and II we have raised enough funds to self publish and we are very excited," he said beaming with a smile.
But Q feels there is more that poets in the country can do to create a better Malawi poetically.
"What has been achieved is commendable. But we need to create poetry platforms starting from lower level up. We therefore hope to get to tertiary institutions and secondary schools to have poetry clubs just like we have football and netball teams. If we start at that level, I think in the next five to ten years, Malawi will be such an amazing hub of poetry," he said.
It is undisputable that LVPC has and continues to create the next generation poets while lifting Malawi arts to greater heights.
One of such is Trinity Chikoleka Maliro, a rapper but now is more of a poet.
She is one of regulars for the Wednesday sessions and has improved with each passing week.
"I wasn't a poet before until I started going to Living Room just to have fun.  Slowly, I realised the poetic side of me. Well, poetry is like an outlet for me, at Living Room I can express my emotions through poetry without the fear of being judged. Living Room sessions feel like home for me.
"I am a rapper 'and a poet' because I simply am blessed to be a complete artist, Living Room just gives me a place to do what I do, "she said.
Poetry lover Marcus Muhariwa hailed the club for building a team that is able to amaze the audience.
"The impression has been that poets in this case from LRPC have taken a bold step by captivating an audience in English just like Benedicto Okomatani does it in Chichewa. The legend builds a picture for you through his words. If you are at an English poetry fest, you close your eyes you see Okomatani doing the same piece in Chichewa.
"Honestly, creativity in English poetry is better than in Chichewa where there is too much imitation, as everybody wants to do it like late Obrien Nazombe, Okomaatani among the many heavyweights we have in Chichewa poetry. With English poets, everybody is doing it in his or her way. They all are different styles," explained Muhariwa.
He added: "Lilongwe is the pacesetter in this case LVPC while Blantyre followed suit. If anybody wants to come up with a similar idea anywhere else, they need to borrow a leaf. The poets have taken it beyond by coming up with different events.
"But then, if we look at what Q has achieved, his presence has helped the club to be where it is now. There's this Q element in all this success, but of course, now people know a number of poets in Lilongwe through the club."
However, Muhariwa believes there is need for change in focus so that English poetry should be for all.
"We have problems though there is this element that spoken word is just for the elite or those that speak good English. I don't know if it's their doing or it's natural but poets need to try to be recognised as poets for all and not for those in towns. It would be good if the poets can hold a show anywhere, in Kasungu for example and all those that understand English would trek there," he explained.