Soap Operas

Soap Operas  |  Radio Magazines  |  Debates  |  Short Programs and Jingles

Zimachitika: These Things Happen

Begun in 1997, our longest-running radio soap opera for food security and rural development is called Zimachitika, a popular Chichewa phrase that means “such is life” or “these things happen.” Set in the imaginary village of Mbonekera, each episode revolves around a traditional proverb and often a song.

The Zimachitika characters include well-loved personalities like the grandmother Gogo, the cruel gossip Nabanda the HIV-positive community activitist Zione, and the hardworking young girl Ndaona. They represent typical village types: gossips, troublemakers, peacemakers, tricksters and respected elders. In and around the village, characters animate common barriers to improvement and provide role models for overcoming them. The storylines interweave messages like agroforestry, irrigation, crop diversification, family health, HIV/AIDS prevention and gender messages with the characters’ daily lives.    

Zimachitika has won numerous awards, including The Commonwealth Award on Action Against HIV/AIDS and was voted the number one radio drama in Malawi four years in a row. 

This program, part of the Rural Development Communications Campaign, is currently funded by the European Union (EU). 

Ndife Amodzi: We Are One

Ndife Amodzi, which means, “We are one and the same,” first aired in 2006 and focuses on interreligious dialogue between Muslims and Christians in Malawi. Each of the 26 Ndife Amodzi drama shows illustrates key messages that are focused on dialogue, understanding and tolerance among Christians and Muslims. Each also includes audience quizzes to create learning incentives and encourage feedback. Ndife Amodzi is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Tiiltonse: We Are Together

Tilitonse, the weekly soap opera meaning “We are together,” (the traditional audience “response” in Malawi to the storyteller’s chant call for audience participation) was one of Story Workshop’s most popular radio dramas. Airing from 1999-2003, it focused on civic education, with stories told through the eyes of Mayinga the driver, whose travels placed him in different rural and urban communities throughout Malawi.

Through the storylines, Tilitonse addressed issues related to human rights, exploitation and abuse of children, domestic violence, fair labour practices, property grabbing, gender equity, crime, community policing, corruption, abuse of power, the conduct of health service providers as well as other civil servants, quality education, consumer rights, access to justice, democratic participation, good governance and the rule of law. 

Tisazunze Ana: Don't Hurt Children

Tisazunze Ana, which means “Child Labour” illustrated the devastating effects of Malawi’s common practice of child labour. This issue is especially important, in the context of HIV-AIDS, which orphans thousands of children, leaving them vulnerable to the abuse of adult family and community members..  

The primary message for children was to resist the temptation to leave school for the promise of supposed easy wealth. The message to the community was to define child abuse and to educate Malawians that child abuse is not a private matter, but an immoral and criminal activity.

The message to lawmakers and law enforcers focused on closing the gap between the constitution and the penal code. The message to government advocated strongly for more responsiveness in breaking the silence on child abuse. This project was funded by UNICEF.

Padiwa Sasewera: Don't Lay Under a Trap

This popular drama, meaning “Don’t lay under a trap,” addressed family planning issues through a storyline developed to bring forward and counter the belief that a Malawian’s value is tied to the number of children in his or her family.

The story hero, Maluwa, faced adversity and challenges from his community over his choice to have a small family. Listeners also followed and sympathized with Nankhoma, Maluwa’s sister-in-law who faced problems raising her 7 children and then had to deal with her lazy and spiteful husband Zuze, who eventually served her with a divorce. Luckily, the village women rallied around her in a show of mobilization and support. Family planning issues like vasectomy, tubal ligation and other forms of birth control were addressed throughout the show.      

18 episodes of Padiwa Sasewera were broadcast. PATH and Engender Health sponsored this program.