Ezra

from Mau a Malawi: Stories of AIDS by Peter Mawanga & Andrew Finn Magill

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about

Eza is a nutritionist with Senga Bay-based non-profit "Nyumba ya Thanzi" (House of Good Health). Spending his own money on transport and phone credit, Ezra often visits men of the Bay's nine villages to communicate the importance of sexual responsibility and childcare. This story is one of the more tragic ones, which Ezra says inspires him to do even more. "There isn't any situation that I've said 'this is too much.' I have devoted that I will help the community." - Ezra

lyrics

The others told me, Ezra you have to come
A child's been defiled by her father and she's numb
Her father and she's numb
Her father and she's numb

I went to the father and asked him was this true
He said "yes" a man said "do this and the virus will leave you"
This virus will leave you
This virus will leave you

Village elder: Kodi mwamulakwilanji inu ho mwamulakwinlenji?
Village responds: Mwamulaula mwanayu

The fisherman told him "I can pay you for that cloth
The one you wiped her down with, there is money in that blood"
Money in that blood
Money in that blood

A herbalist waits, it's that cloth that he wants
And you can be a rich man and this virus no longer haunts
This virus no longer haunts
It no longer haunts

I went with the mother straight to the police
We locked him away, may these girls now have peace
These girls now have peace
These girls now have peace

I live to tell them, these fathers who know nothing
of a virus that they spread, I won't sleep 'til I've done something
No sleep til I've done something
No sleep til I've done something

Poor and desperate are these fishermen I see
How to make them value... life and not money?
Life and not money
Life and not money

Translation from Chichewa:
Call: Why have you destroyed this child?
Response: You have defiled this child
Call: You have given this child the virus
Response: You have defiled this child

credits

from Mau a Malawi: Stories of AIDS, released October 12, 2011
Andrew Finn Magill: English lead vocal, steel-string guitar and violins
Peter Mawanga" Chichewa vocals, djembes, and chisekesi

license

about

Andrew Finn Magill Asheville, North Carolina

For twenty years violinist/fiddler and composer Andrew Finn Magill has been pursuing parallel careers in traditional Irish music, Brazilian choro, jazz and American fiddle and he has performed with everyone from grammy-nominees Trio Brasileiro to Rising Appalachia. ... more