Who Are These Strangers?

Mulanje and Loundu, Malawi

Mulanje is one of the most beautiful places that I have seen in Malawi. I’ve visited Lake Malawi, which is beautiful, but this area with the famous Mount Mulanje was just breath taking. This region is the home of the tea plantations, so please imagine a green carpet (tea bushes) extending from the road up to the base of the mountains. The tea plants give off various shades of green depending on how the sun reflects back from the majestic slopes. In the distance you can see the tea pickers gathering the harvest with their baskets and tea leave clippers.

We passed the tea factory the employs a lot of Malawians; every morning at the research headquarters for breakfast and during the day we drink the popular Chombe tea, which is grown in Mulanje. When I return to Mulanje I plan to hike up the mountain – I have an entire year to get in shape for that.

Me (front row, sitting) with villagers from Mambuka where we interviewed a traditonal healer

Today’s business included interviewing two traditional healers. This is exciting because these are healers from rural villages. Once we were at the main entrance of the village we had to walk about a quarter of a mile to reach our first respondent in Mabuka Village. We met the chief of the village, who is a woman, and per protocol we greeted the village chief and explained to her the purpose of our visit. She was very kind, gracious, and welcoming. I was curious about how she became the chief of the village, and I was told she inherited the position from her uncle. This was surprising to me as we often assume that positions are inherited from parents, but not in this case.

The traditional healer who we met was very warm and open, and the interview went well. We met his wife and a few of his children. The village was very peaceful and serene. The children are running about playing, and they are always very curious when visitors are present.

We then went off to Loundu Village to meet another traditional healer. He welcomed us and invited us to enter his house. He was very gracious and permitted us take photos of his traditional medicine collection, which included herbs, leaves, dried roots, and tree bark. I don’t have names of these medicines but some of the names in Chichewa might come out in the interviews. As we waited outside while the interview was conducted in his house, the children gathered looking as if to ask – “who are these strangers?” The scenic views were spectacular, and there was a wonderful sense of calm and peace in the village.

Edna (GAIA coordinator), me, Edgar, and the Chief woman of the village (left to right) with beautiful village children. 

I am grateful to Alice who is a GAIA regional director, and Edna who is a GAIA village coordinator, for arranging the interviews. Their assistance in this process is what makes our international research efforts successful!