By Jimmy Chazama: Nyasa Streamz says theatre needs to be utilised as therapy in combating mental health. Director of Nyasa Streamz, Boniface Kaunda, acknowledges Malawi’s strength in music but observes that there is potential in other art disciplines such as theatre, which needs to be elevated and used for addressing mental health. Kaunda stressed the significance of theatre in reducing suicide cases , urging greater participation of young people.
“We need to take drama seriously in educating youths through theatre. Theatre has the power to reduce suicide cases in Malawi,” he said. The remarks come as Nyasa Streamz last Saturday organised an event that brought on board the theatre community at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe.
The Youth Against Suicide competition, according to Kaunda, is a step towards Nyasa Streamz’ goal of fostering empathy, sparking dialogue and supporting a community that prioritises mental health. Focusing on mental health issues among youths, two groups participated in the competition, tackling topics such as depression, trauma, drug abuse, anxiety and addiction in their performances. Mental health practitioner, Beatrice Mwase, praised the initiative, highlighting the impact of theatre on awareness.
“Theatre is a powerful weapon for awareness and it makes it easier to convey complex mental health issues in an engaging way, rather than simply telling someone about it,” Mwase said. During the contest, James Phiri triumphed as the best actor. Phiri said he was happy to participate in the competition and emphasised the role of drama in igniting conversations.
“Through our performances, people who attended the competition saw the power of theatre in mental health awareness,” he said..
