Mara

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

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about

Upset by the inaccessibility of information to rural Malawian women, Mara founded her non-profit "The Paradiso Project" in 2000, which now provides care, support, and income-generating activities to hundreds of women and children. Her fiery persistence earned her a seat on the National AIDS Commission's Board of Directors and she is regularly asked to speak on behalf of women, Malawi's HIV-positive community, and tuberculosis patients at conferences and lectures literally all around the world. "There has to be a voice, someone to fight for them. I talk to people and things change." -Mara Kumbweza Banda

lyrics

Mvera mvera mverawe!/Listen, Listen, Listen closely!

I was born a fighter and I've been fighting since
For women who never had a voice
I've lectured 'round the work, on AIDS and how it spreads
To women cause we never had a choice

It brings me to tears, God it breaks my heart
They chased me from church, chased away
And so many just like me, women who must know
I'll fight for these mothers every day

Akaitana amayi Mara
Abale simunkaamvera nkomwe inu kalero
Remember when Mother Mara was calling
Some of you hardly paid attention to mother Mara

The elders of my village, they made me a chief
And I've made my life caring for them
Caring for the orphans, of women now deceased
At the grassroots, underneath their stem

A passion of knowing, knowing ho to change
The problems which spread this HIV
This is my mission, my calling, and my cry
That one generation will be free

What happens to the woman who doesn't get to know?
Every single woman should watch her child grow
Then what about the child too young to understand?
Why his mother couldn't raise this boy into a man?

I know this will change, I see it with my eyes
People living healthy and living out their lives
And we will grow together a country loud and free
Fighting for all of those who fight for Malawi

One generation will be free.
This generation will be free.

credits

from Mau a Malawi: Stories of AIDS, released October 12, 2011
Siobhan Quinn: English lead vocal
Peter Mawanga: Chichewa lead & backing vocals and nylon-string guitar
Andrew Finn Magill: steel-string guitar
Alfred Sitolo: bass
Dryson Mwimba: drums
Grant Scheuring: electric guitar

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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