Smith Likongwe

Living Playscripts Smith Likongwe

LIVING PLAYSCRIPTS- ATRILOGY, Bakili's Wit, The Tragedy of Bingu, Amai's Turn. A book containing a Malawian Trilogy of the lives and times of three of the Presidents. These are Dr Bakili Muluzi, Professor Bingu wa Mutharika and Dr Joyce Banda. A book of plays not just history applying poetic license with hard facts and true life personalities blended with a few fictitious but symbolic characters to drive the plots. Public figures should embrace the reality that their actions are bound to scrutiny. They leave legacies through their successes or failures. BAKILI'S WIT takes us from 1968 at Msinja Court where Elson Bakili Muluzi worked as Court Clerk, the missing 6 pounds and 10, his rise in the MCP and his role as freedom fighter as well as his life as President for Malawi. THE TRAGEDY OF BINGU is modelled on traditional Aristotlean tragedy with Bingu as the tragic hero. He was born as Brightson Webster Ryson Thom, lived as Bingu wa Mutharika and died as Daniel Phiri. The play is his rise to the presidency through the UDF, the birth of the DPP, the economic gains, the visionary leadership and the making of a dictator. Bingu was celebrated hero who died a villain. AMAI'S TURN depicts the rise of Dr Joyce Banda from the attempts of others to usurp powers unconstitutionally up to the end of her short term in office.