SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF LITERARY STUDIES

TO : PROF. NICK TEMBO

FROM : DAMIANO BANDA

REG NO : EL/07/20

COURSE TITLE : RESEARCH METHODS

COURSE CODE : ENG 314

ASSIGN TITLE : RESEARCH PROPOSAL

DUE DATE : 19TH JANUARY, 2024

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A. Topic

Suffering and Trauma in Malawian Poetry

B. Working Title

Unmasking Silent Agony: Imagery and Trauma in Bright Molande’s Seasons

C. Background

Malawian literature has been shaped by the political history of Malawi. Since Malawi got
independence in 1964, writers have been writing on various issues surrounding lives of
Malawians. From 1964 to 1994, writers were busy writing stories and poems vindicating
suffering associated with the despotic reign of Dr. Hasting Kamuzu Banda which was marked by
detentions without trial, innocent killings and abuse of power (Kaunda, 306). The onset of
democracy in Malawi in 1994 flashed hope of end of suffering in the hearts of weary Malawians.
People expected a persistent season of freedom, peace and fairness. Ihonvbere reports that UDF
party promised to have a transparent and efficient government and to respect human rights (232).
However, the reign of Dr. Bakili Muluzi was also characterized by abuse of public funds, abuse
of human rights and corruption, and this made the dream of freedom, fairness and tranquility
fictional. It is within this context that Molande writes Seasons, an anthology which captures
succinctly the continuation of suffering and traumatic experiences associated with the reign of
Dr. Bakili Muluzi from 1994 to 2004.

Bright Molande’s Seasons is one of the anthological works which reflects the political history of
Malawi (Tembo 9). In the anthology, Molande uses poetry to capture illusions of hope, suffering
and trauma experienced by the people during the Muluzi era. People’s suffering results from
what political, economic, and institutional powers do to them, and, reciprocally, from how these
forms of power themselves influence responses to social problems. Chirambo observes that the
expectations of Malawians when they were turning the chapter of democracy were never met and
the promises that campaigners made ‘‘proved to be more about political rhetoric than the realities

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in the lives of ordinary Malawians’’ (54). Chikoja, writing about Molande’s poetry collection,
argues that drawing on his society and human existence, Molande has crafted poems that suggest
disillusions of post-independent freedoms, elusiveness of life in general and faint hope in
humanity (152). Therefore, Molande’s poems depict suffering, illusions of hope and trauma as
the daily song of the people during the reign of Dr. Bakili Muluzi in Malawi.

Although several scholars have written on several themes depicted in Molande’s Seasons, a lot
of emphasis has been directed on answering the question of ‘what’ nature. Throughout my
reading of both the primary text as well as the secondary texts, I observed that scholars were
leaning only on one side in their analyses of poems in the anthology. Several scholars such as
Nick Tembo, Janet Chikoja, Emmanuel Ngwira and Ken Junior Lipenga have examined the
thematic make-up of some selected poems in the anthology while neglecting the dominating
poetic styles which cut across the poems. No one has ventured to examine how Molande uses his
poetic competence to bring these themes to life. Therefore, this study, comes in to fill that gap,
focusing of examining Molande’s poetic competence. In this study I will examine how Molande
uses imagery and symbolism to capture suffering and memories of traumatic experiences
witnessed during the reign of Bakili Muluzi in poems such as ‘On Being Ordered to Bury
Memories’, ‘Mending Hearts Torn Apart’, ‘The Last of the Seasons’, ‘An African Tragedy’,
‘Strings of Poverty’, ‘Last Laughter’, ‘The Hollow Souls’, ‘Killing Game’, ‘The Year of Floods’
and ‘The Night Mother Spoke’. In this research I will argue that in the anthology titled Seasons,
Molande uses true to life evocative visual, auditory and kinesthetic images and symbols to
vividly express suffering and memories of traumatic experiences people faced in his community
during the reign of Dr. Bakili Muluzi.

D. Aims and Objectives

1. Aim

To demonstrate the power of imagery and symbolism in capturing life experiences in poetry
using selected poems in Bright Molande’s Seasons.

2. Objectives
a) To analyze how imagery and symbolism are used to succinctly capture suffering and
trauma in selected poems from Bright Molande’s Seasons.

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 b) To examine how recurring symbols and motifs contribute to the overall portrayal of
suffering and trauma in the selected poems.
c) To evaluate the effectiveness of Bright Molande’s use of imagery and symbolism
depicting the depth and complexity of suffering and trauma in the selected poems.
E. Statement of the problem

As stated by Osamania and Djafri, literature that depicts trauma started to flourish around the
1980s and 1990s yet approaches to traumatic fiction have been wide-ranging in terms of their
deepness and aims (242). From the time Molande published his anthology in 2010, several
scholars have been writing on several themes depicted in the poems while directing a lot of
emphasis on depicting several themes that come to life in the book. Throughout my reading of
both the primary text as well as the secondary texts, I observed that scholars were leaning only
on one side in their analytical approaches to Molande’s Seasons. In his study, Tembo examines
the conceptualization of trauma in the anthology. He advances that the anthology depicts
traumatic experiences that are locatable in Malawi’s post-independence regimes, specifically
during the reign of Dr. Bakili Muluzi (55). He argues that by describing traumatic experiences,
the poems provide a form of healing called scriptotherapy, such that Molande's poetry offers the
possibility of healing both to the author and his audience in the face of the structural violence
that has dogged Malawians since independence (51). His research focuses on illustrating how
poetry can help in healing trauma. It will contribute to my study by increasing my understanding
of trauma in poetry. However, my research diverts from this study because I will be examining
trauma and suffering in relation to images and symbols employed in the poems.

The relevance of my research is based on that fact that it will increase people’s understanding of
how imagery and trauma relate to each other. This can contribute to the field of literary studies
by unveiling fresh insight on how poets use imagery and symbolism to capture these issues.
Secondly, the study will also expose the power of artistic expression. This study will highlight
the power of artistic expression as a means of communication and catharsis. It will express how
poets can convey complex and deep personal experiences through literature, allowing readers to
appreciate and reflect on these issues. Lastly, studying Malawian literature is like studying
Malawian history. This study will portray how the anthology stands out as a postcolonial
literature, giving a substance of the Malawi from a historic point of view.

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F. Theoretical Framework

In this study I will mainly use psychoanalysis and postcolonial theory to unpack my ideas.
Psychoanalysis is literary theory inspired by Sigmund Freud who explored the unconscious
influences, desires and conflicts that shape literary texts (Castle 163). In Freudian
psychoanalysis, I will use the concept of the topography of the mind and repression to discuss
how trauma interacts with our subconscious. Repression occurs when a thought, memory or
feeling is too painful for an individual such that the person pushes it into the unconscious (Freud
48). This theory will assist me in uncovering hidden meaning beyond the various images that
represent trauma in the poems. The postcolonial theory will also be vital in relating the political
chicanery associated with Dr. Bakili Muluzi with the impacts of colonialism, particularly in
Malawi. Using concepts of the ‘comprador class’, this theory will illustrate how Dr. Muluzi, as
an educated elite, perpetuates values of the colonial power. The colonial values to be discussed
include oppression and abuse of human rights, among others.

G. Literature Review

Several scholars have taken different angles in addressing various issues emerging out of
Molande’s anthology. Much as I am writing about imagery and trauma in poetry, it is obvious
that other writers have approached aspects underlining this study differently. My focus in this
paper lies on examining the use of imagery and symbolism in the anthology. This section,
therefore, presents review of literature around the anthology as well as other works which
explore various aspects of my study, ranging from the concepts of imagery and trauma in poetry
and the historical context of the anthology. This will help me to take a proper direction in my
analysis of the selected poems. The literature review will also expose my gap on the topic of
trauma. It starts by giving all works around the anthology, followed by works that explore
conceptual and contextual backbone of my study.

Firstly, Tembo examines how theme of trauma is conceptualized in Bright Molande's Seasons.
He points out that traumatic events which are locatable in specific historical context, such as
Malawi’s post-independence regimes, can be seen as material incarnations of a repetitive trauma
that Malawians are struggling to recover from. He considers Seasons as a book that inscribes
scriptotherapy, such that he advaces that Molande's poetry offers the possibility of healing both
to the author and his audience (51). Tembo analyzes only five of Molande's poems, and thus his

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examination is not very comprehensive. My study takes another direction focusing on how
images and symbols used depict trauma and suffering in the anthology. However, the fact that
Tembo discusses issues of trauma and scriptotherapy provides a stepping stone for my study.

In addition, Chikoja also presents a different view of the text. She approaches Molande's Seasons
by hitting the themes of illusions of hope existence. Chikoja expounds how the anthology
exhibits the existential meaninglessness and disparity of life, during the era of Bakili Muluzi. She
expands absurdity of life, the allegory of seasons and the allusiveness of life. Chikoja presents a
portion that is very relevant to my study since she tackles absurdity of life which is highly
connected to the concept of suffering. However, the study, though comprehensive, does not
focus on examining the uses of poetic stylistic devices in the poems.

Furthermore, Tembo critically examines hope and despair in Bright Molande's Seasons. He
argues that Molande uses his poetry to tease out elements of hopelessness and despair in the era
of Muluzi, thereby giving us the impression that freedom in the reign of Muluzi was an illusion.
He observes in the poems, the high expectations Malawians had when they were opening the
chapter of democracy were not met, such that, whatever promises those campaigning to be voted
into power made proved to be more about political rhetoric than the realities in the lives of
ordinary Malawians. Just like the study by Chikoja, Tembo is not interested in appreciating
Molande's poetic competence. He does not focus on analyzing stylistic devices in the poems.
However, this study is so relevant to my study since it explores hopelessness and disparity which
have a good link to the concepts of trauma and suffering which I am exploring. It will assist me
understand clearly other poems as I analyze how the poet uses imagery and symbolism to capture
social suffering and memories of traumatic experiences in the anthology.

More to that, Lipenga presents a work titled “Lunatics and Intellectuals: Madness in Malawian
Poetry” in which he appreciates depiction of madness and disability in Malawian poetry
(Molande’s Seasons (2010), McBram’s Fragments (2005) and Moto’s Gazing at the Setting Sun
(1994)). Lipenga argues that in their work, the poets illustrate the Foucauldian identification of
madness as a subversive feature that challenges assumptions of reason in the society. It is worth
of notice that Lipenga analyzes only two of Molande’s poems, especially those that relate to the
concept of madness. He analyzes “Imprisonment of a Lunatic” (10-12) and “the Wise One from

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the Asylum” (23-24). The study of this scholar is not relevant to my study as it presents a ground
that does not relate to my topic.

In addition, Ngwira analyzes the concept of madness in Malawian literature. He also focusses on
madness just like Lipenga. However, his article extends further to that of Lipenga in that in
addition to poetry, he also analyzes short fiction and drama. In the paper, he discusses how
mental disability has been appropriated in Malawian poetry. He analyzes Bright Molande’s “The
Wise One from the Asylum” (2010), Moto’s “The Mad Man”, “Conversation with a Lunatic”
and “The Idiot’s Tale” (1994), and Chamasowa’s “Kalata ya ku Mental” (2012). This study only
analyzes one poem from the anthology I am focusing on. It also diverts greatly from what I am
tackling in Bright Molande’s Seasons.

Paudyal presents a critical grip of the concept of imagery in literary studies. He advances that
imagery is one of the techniques that poets use to make their expresasions more powerful (144).
He explores extensively types of imagery, its uses and its significance in literature. He further
appreciates imagery and its use in the process of teaching and learning (123). This article is very
useful to my study. Building on the information presented in this research, I will be able to fully
appreciate the Molande’s use of imagery in the anthology I am analyzing.

Cathy Caruth’s monumental work titled Unclaimed Experience stands out as one of the most
important work in the field of trauma today. Her work, having its basis on the Freudian
psychoanalysis, expands the understanding of trauma in literature through analysis of traumatic
experiences in literature. Caruth defines trauma as ‘an injury inflicted on a body’. She defines
trauma further as ‘the response to an unexpected or overwhelming violent event of events that
are not fully grasped as they occur , but return later in repeated flashbacks, nightmares, and other
repetitive phenomena’ (91). This book provide a deeper understanding of trauma in my study. It
will support my conceptualization of trauma throughout my discourse.

In addition, Kaunda discusses Malawi's transition from the one-party system of government to
multi-party system of government witnessed in 1994. He argues that the UDF regime was
characterized by highly levels of corruption, economic decline, underdevelopment, and selfish
leaders. He argues that people expected multi-party governance to be based on accountability,
transparency, responsiveness and respect for the law. However, these principles did not appear to
guide the UDF government and this fueled peoples' suffering, dimming their hope. This study

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examines exhaustively vices under the UDF regime which might have prompted Bright Molande
to write his anthology. This study will be very useful to my study since by giving a historical
view of the reign of Muluzi, I will be able to make connections between what Kaunda says and
what is being depicted in the poems.

Furthermore, in his article, Ihonvbere presents a panoramic view of Malawi's transition from the
MCP despotic government to the UDF democratic government. He starts by presenting
dictatorial elements associated with Banda's regime and then presents the good things that
Muluzi ventured in as forms of change. Basically, Ihonvbere depicts the reign of Bakili Muluzi
as a fulfillment of democracy. This article is not useful to my study. Although it presents a
historical view of Malawi's transition from dictatorship to democracy, it does not expose any
forms of ill-treatments experienced by the ordinary people during the reign of Muluzi over
Malawians. Therefore, this article leans towards the opposite of my focus in the study of social
suffering and traumatic experiences depicted in Bright Molande's Seasons.

Lastly, Banik and Chinsinga present the historical journey of Malawi politically from the reign
of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda to the onset of democracy under Bakili Muluzi in 1994.
Basically, the book presents the reign of Banda as totalitarian regime which was highly
associated with innocent killings, detentions without trial and high levels of injustice. Banik and
Chinsinga examine the democratic reigns from 1994 to 2014. Basically, they argue that the
democratic regimes were also marked by some elements of dictatorship. Therefore, the reign of
Muluzi, which was the first democratic government in Malawi also continued some elements of
Banda's dictatorship. This book presents a good historical background information for
understanding Molande's poetry hence it is very useful to my study.

This literature review illustrates that although several writers have ventured in examining
trauma, there is still enough material I can write about in the anthology. Different scholars have
analyzed trauma without relating it clearly with images and symbols used. I will therefore exploit
this chance by focusing my study on examining how Bright Molande uses imagery and
symbolism to vividly express suffering and inscribe memories of traumatic experiences people
faced during the reign of Dr. Baliki Muluzi in Malawi.

G. Methods and Methodology

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a). This study will involve desk research.

b). The internet will be widely used, for accessing both the primary and secondary sources.

c). The library will also be used to access other secondary materials.

d). The novels will be the main texts, that will drive this study.

e). Consultations with the English department lecturers will also influence on the necessary
sources to use for the research.

H. Scope and Limitations

This study will explore suffering and traumatic experienced depicted in Bright Molande’s
Seasons as witnessed in Malawi during the reign of Dr. Bakili Muluzi from 1994 to 2004. I will
examine how images and symbols used in the anthology help in depicting suffering and trauma. I
will explore images and symbols that run across the selected poems and the image of the reign of
Dr. Muluzi that they paint. Basically, my focus will be examining how imagery, symbolism,
suffering and trauma interact with each other in the book.

My study remains focused to poems which talk about the reign of Bakili. Muluzi. It will nether
discuss elements of trauma during the era of Dr. Hasting Kamuzu Banda (from 1964 – 1994) nor
other democratic regimes that followed Muluzi. This study also remains focused on poems from
Molande’s anthology. Therefore, it will not explore other texts which talk about the reign of Dr.
Muluzi apart from the anthology.

I. Significance of the study

a. This study will increase people’s understanding of how imagery and trauma relate with
each other. This will contribute to the field of literary studies by unveiling fresh insight
on how poets use imagery and symbolism to capture these issues.
b. It will expose the power of artistic expression. This study will highlight the power of
artistic expression as a means of communication and catharsis. It will express how poets
can convey complex and deep personal experiences through literature, allowing readers
to appreciate and reflect on these issues.

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 c. This study will appreciate how Malawian literature reflects Malawian history. It will
portray how the anthology stands out as a postcolonial literature, giving a substance of
the Malawi as a nation from a historic point of view
J. Study structure

The paper will be organized as follows:

Introduction

a. The background of suffering and trauma in Malawian context.

b. Reviewing literature of various scholars around Bright Molande’s Seasons
c. Discussing the theoretical framework to be used in examining imagery and trauma in the
anthology.

Body

This will have three sections as illustrated in the objectives

a. analyzing how imagery and symbolism are used to succinctly capture suffering and
trauma in selected poems
- evocative visual, auditory and kinesthetic images and symbols which depict suffering
and trauma evidenced during the era of Dr. Bakili Muluzi in Malawi
- the government’s response to the complaints of the people
b. recurring symbols and motifs in the anthology
- contribution of recurrent images and symbols to the overall portrayal of suffering and
trauma in the selected poems
- the image of the reign of Dr. Bakili Muluzi painted by images and symbols in the
anthology
c. evaluating the effectiveness of Bright Molande’s use of imagery and symbolism
depicting the depth and complexity of suffering and trauma in the selected poems.
- Exploration of other forms of suffering experienced during the reign of Dr. Bakili
Muluzi which are not expressed in the poems

Conclusion

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This part will contain final comments on peoples’ experiences during the reign of Dr. Bakili
Muluzi as depicted in Bright Molande’s anthology.

K. Research Timetable

This timetable will help me in planning and organizing my work for the long essay

DATE ACTIVITY
15th December, 2023 - 19 Selection of topic and submission of research proposal
January, 2024
20th January – 26th February, Waiting for feedback from the Department of Literary
2024 Studies
26th February – 10 March, Searching for additional literature on my working title
2024
11th March – 31st March, Reading the addition literature
2024
1st April – 30th April, 2024 Beginning writing the long essay

1st May – 10th May, 2024 Submission of the introduction of the long essay

11th May – 31 May, 2024 Waiting for feedback from my supervisor

1st June – 30th June, 2024 Submission of the first section of the long essay

1st July – 31st July, 2024 Waiting for feedback from my supervisor while writing the
second section of the long essay
1st August – 31st August, Submission of the second section of the long essay
2024
1st September – 30th Waiting for feedback from my supervisor while writing the
September, 2024 third section
1st October – 31st October, Submission of the third section of the long essay
2024
1st November – 30th Waiting for feedback from my supervisor while writing the
November, 2024 conclusion
1st December – 30th Submission of the conclusion of the long essay

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 December, 2024.
01st January - 30th January Waiting for feedback from the supervisor
2025
1st February – 28th February Submission of the first draft of the long essay
2025
01st March – 30th March, Waiting for the feedback
2025
1st April – 30th April, 2025 Submission of the final copy of the long essay

L. Budget

These are some of the costs for the research proposal

Items Justification Estimated Price

Mobile Bundle For easy access to the K 25,000
secondary materials on the
internet
Printing costs For all the corrections and K20,000
submission of my work
Stationery (pens, To write and mark important K20,000
highlighters and papers) aspects of my research
Total K65,000

M. Works Cited

Primary sources

Molande, B. Seasons. Zomba: Chancellor College Publications, 2010. Print.

Secondary sources

Banik, D. & Chinsinga, B. Political Transition and Inclusive Development in Malawi. London:
Routledge, (2016). Print.

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Caruth, C. Unclaimed Experience: Trauma, Narrative, and History. Baltimore: The John
Hopkins Press, 1996. Print.
Castle, G. The Blackwell Guide to Literary Theory. Blackwell Publishing: Oxford, 2007. Print.
Chamasowa, H. “Kalata ya ku Mental.” In M’badwo Ukubwerawo (Audio CD). Blantyre: MIJ.
2012.
Chikoja, J. P. "Hopes and illusions of existence: the poetic voice in Bright Molande's Seasons."
Journal of Humanities (Zomba) (2014): 151-169. Print.

Chirambo, R. M. “Democracy as a limiting factor for politicized cultural populism in Malawi”.

Africa Spectrum, 2009a. 44(2), 77-94. Web.
Freud, S. Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. Ed. James
Strachey. 24 vols. London: Hogarth, 1953-74. Web.
Ihonvbere, J. O. ''From Despotism to Democracy: The Rise of Multiparty Politics in Malawi."
Third World Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Jun., 1997), 225. Print.
Kaunda, J. M. "The Transition to a Multiparty System and Consolidation of Democracy in
Malawi." Luglio-Settembre (1998): 425-448. Print.

Lipenga, K. J. “Lunatics and Intellectuals: Madness in Malawian Poetry.” Scrutiny2: Issues in

English Studies in Southern Africa 24, no. 2–3: 1–14, 2019. Print.
McBrams, J. Fragments: New Poetry from Malawi. Blantyre: Media 360, 2005. Print.
Moto, F. Gazing at the Setting Sun. Domasi: FEGS Publications International, 1994. Print.
Ngwira, E. “Lost in Narrative: Representation of Mental Disability in Selected Literary Texts.”
Nordic Journal of African Studies, (2021), vol. 30: 1-16.
Osamnia, S. & Djafri, Y. “Trauma Survival and the Use of Scriptotherapy as a Medium of
Healing in Susan Abulhawa The Blue Between Sky and Water (2015) and Sapphire’s
Precious (1996).” Ultralang Journal, (2020), vol: 02. 02: 241-260.
Paudyal, H. S. “The Use of Imagery and its Significance in Literary Studies.” The Outlook:
Journal of English Studies (2023), vol.14: 114-127.
Tembo, N. M. "Beyond the dark veil: Hope and Dispair in Molande's Seasons." Journal of
poetry therapy (2012): 9-21. Print.
Tembo, N. M. "Traumatic Memory and ‘Scriptotherapy’ in Malawian Poetry: The case of Bright
Molannde's Seasons." English Academy Review: Southern African Journal of English
Studies (2014): 51-65. Print.

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