US embassy cable - 05LILONGWE598

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000598 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/PD, ECA/PE/V/G/A, ECA/PE/V/P 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, SCUL, KSEP, MI, IIP, HIV/AIDS 
SUBJECT: USING CULTURE TO COMBAT HIV/AIDS 
 
1. Summary:  Using a $6,000 travel grant, Public Affairs 
invited Dr. Jack Allison to return to Malawi June 3 to 
participate in a three-week speaker program entitled "Using 
Music to Combat HIV/AIDS."  Dr. Allison served as a PCV from 
1966-68 and became famous in Malawi for using music to 
deliver health messages.  His 1968 song "Ufa wa Mtedza" 
(Peanut Flour) talked about the importance of putting 
protein in childrens' diets, and remains one of the most 
popular Chichewa language songs ever recorded.  Dr. Allison 
returned to Malawi in 1994 and, teaming up with local 
artists, composed and recorded seven HIV-themed songs, which 
still receive airplay. The purpose of this program was to 
have Dr. Alison work with community-based music groups to 
write songs that focus on current HIV/AIDS messages, 
primarily behavioral change. The program helping achieve the 
key mission goal of combating HIV and AIDS, the 
festival reinforced the cordial relationship already 
existing between the USG mission and its Malawi partners in 
the area of HIV and AIDS.  End Summary. 
 
2. Activity dates: June 3 - June 22 
 
3. Result/Impact: Jack Allison's long history with Malawi, 
along with his ability to compose and perform songs on 
important health themes in Chichewa, makes him a unique 
goodwill ambassador here.  The program was focused on three 
large rural centers, rather than Malawi's major cities, but 
media coverage was able to spread the message to a national 
audience.  While this may seem to be "retail" public 
diplomacy, Dr. Allison's work with Peace Corps Volunteers, 
local HIV community groups and bands will continue to pay 
dividends long after the program is over. 
 
4. Theme: Using Music to Combat HIV/AIDS 
 
5. Activities:  Dr Allison worked with local bands and 
communities in two lakeshore districts of Nkhata Bay and 
Mangochi which are the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS pandemic with 
HIV prevalence rate of over twenty percent.  The music and 
drama groups addressed current HIV/AIDS themes, including 
preventing transmission, property grabbing from widows, de- 
stigmatization, keeping girls in school, as well as male 
behavior change and men's responsibility in stopping the 
pandemic. 
 
6. In Nkhata Bay, Dr. Allison worked with the National Aids 
Commission (NAC), which funded Health Education Band and 
several local groups.  The three-day program concluded with 
a performance in Nkhata Bay attended by traditional chiefs, 
members of the District Assembly, the District Aids 
Commissioner and the Principal Secretary for Sports Youth 
and Culture.  A crowd of over 2,000 people attended the 
concert, which featured Dr. Allison and all the local 
musical and drama groups he worked with during the prior 
three days. 
 
7. In Mangochi, Dr. Allison spent four days working with 
musical groups from Monkey Bay District and in the area 
surrounding Malawi Children's Village, concluding with 
another daylong performance.  Public Affairs in 
collaboration with Malawi Children's Village (MCV) and 
Mangochi District Assembly organized a music festival, which 
attracted over 1500 people. The theme of the festival was 
"Using music to combat HIV/AIDS" at MCV in Mangochi. Dr. 
Allison, who was guest speaker, teamed up with local artists 
to disseminate HIV/AIDS messages through songs. 
 
8. Dr. Allison also worked with Peace Corps Malawi. Together 
with the Peace Corps Mission Director and Public Affairs 
Officer, he attended a daylong program of HIV themed 
performances organized by a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nkande 
Village, Mchinji.  Drama and musical groups from the 
surrounding area performed HIV-themed songs and skits along 
with Dr. Allison, who spoke to the audience in Chichewa on 
HIV issues and sang some of his own songs to an audience of 
nearly 500 villagers from the surrounding area.  He also led 
a workshop for thirty-seven current Peace Corps Volunteers 
working in the areas of health, education, and environment 
in rural villages of Malawi entitled "Using the Arts in 
HIV/AIDS Education."  The workshop helped current Volunteers 
explore ways of using music, puppetry, dance, murals, 
posters, drama, and other arts to reach over 20,000 
Malawians in villages where they serve with the message of 
HIV/AIDS education. 
 
9. Throughout Allison's visit, radio MBC played his music, 
especially the hit `Ufa wa Mtedza' in musical programs and 
presenters kept saying Allison was back in the country.  The 
"Daily Times" and "Chronicle" newspapers published articles 
covering Dr. Allison's tour. 
GILMOUR