Mary Waya is a Malawian netball legend, she played in Malawi's National team, the Queens, for over 25 years and is currently the Director of Netball at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Mary started playing international-level netball at age 14, and played in more than 200 representative matches for Malawi. She competed in two World Netball Championships, three Commonwealth Games and two World Netball Series. This episode contains a letter from Mary Waya to athletes, the episode also features a commentary by Lerato Honde. For more information about the Mary Waya Foundation and Netball Academy visit www.marywayafoundation.com . The music in this episode is produced by The Dream Manifest, sound effects from www.zapslat.com

Chimwemwe is a partially deaf Malawian woman and the current miss deaf Africa for 2019/2020. She is also an advocacy member for the Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD). For the last episode of the "Letters to my Body" sub-series, we have a letter from Chimwemwe Kamkwamba, she speaks about her experiences as a partially deaf woman in Malawi. This episode also features a commentary by Alinafe Malonje. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest, sound effects from www.zapslat.com

Stella Nkhonya Chisangwala was diagnosed with polio at the age of 7, she has physical disabilities and walks with crutches and calipers. She is also the founder and National Coordinator of a Disability Rights Organisation called WAG-Disability Rights. Patricia Moya is a 26 year old woman with a certificate in Rural and Community Development. Patricia also has physical disabilities and walks with crutches. This episode features a conversation between Ucizi Manda, Alinafe Malonje and Lerato Honde. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and sound effects from www.zapslat.com

Chikondi Kanjadza is 24 years old and the current Ms. Albinism Malawi. This episode features her letter to her body as well as conversations with other women with albinism: Tumeliwa Mphepo, Emmie Chiumia and Pamela Juma. The women speak about their experiences as women with albinism in Malawi and their relationships with their bodies. This episode also contains a dialogue between Lerato Honde and Alinafe Malonje. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest, sound effects from www.zapslat.com.

Professor Address Malata is the Vice Chancellor of Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), the first woman to hold a position of Vice Chancellor at a Public University in Malawi and the first to hold this position for the nursing/midwifery professions in Africa. She was the Vice President of the International Confederation of Midwives, becoming the first Midwife in Africa to hold this position. She was also the director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Inter-professional Education and Collaborative Practice at Kamuzu College of Nursing. This episode features her letter to Nurses and Midwives as well as a commentary from Lerato Honde.  Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP. Sound effects in this episode from www.zapslat.com

Eva Chikabadwa is a malawian artist, sculptor and ceramist. She is also an arts lecturer at the Malawian University of Science and Technology. Her art reflects Malawian culture and current affairs. This episode is the last installment of the Letters from Creatives sub-series and features Eva's Letter to the Girl Holding the Paintbrush. This episode includes a conversation between Lerato Honde and Eva on creativity and the arts in Malawi, as well as a commentary from Lerato Honde. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP, sound effects from www.zapslat.com.

Ekari Mbvundula is a seasoned writer of over 15 short stories, which have been published both online and in print. She is known for heading the Story Ink Africa Storytelling Sessions, where up and coming writers from around Malawi read their stories to a live audience. Ekari has won numerous awards and was recently nominated for the 2020 Nommo Awards for African Speculative Fiction in the Short Fiction Category. Ekari’s story “Montague’s Last” is available on Amazon. This episode features Ekari’s letter to the girl holding the pen and a commentary from Alinafe Malonje. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP, sound effects from www.zapsplat.com.

Lily Banda is a dancer, musician and actor. She has released several studio projects including Black Kiss and African Winter. Lily has acted in productions such as 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' and in the second season of 'Deep State' on Fox TV. Lily is a 2 time Afrima Award Nominee. In her letter she writes an affirmation to a girl living behind the facade of all her accolades. This is Lily's letter to the girl in front of the camera. The episode includes a commentary by Lerato Honde and a conversation between Lerato and Lily on what it is to be a young female actor and artist in Malawi. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP. Sound effects from www.zapslat.com

Maria Thundu is one of Malawi's most sought after photographers. Maria captures the energy of the moment and the essence of the subject at hand. Her letter is an affirmation to the woman behind the camera, the woman who doesn't always want to be the centre of attention. This is Maria's letter to the girl behind the camera. The episode includes a dialogue between Lerato Honde and Alinafe Malonje who discuss the arts industry in Malawi. This episode was recorded at Zaluso Arts, which is based in Area 47, Sector 3. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP. Sound effects from www.zapslat.com

Hazel Mak is an award winning recording artist, based in Malawi and the UK. She is known for her sensual vocals, catchy Afro house and RnB songs that represent the modern empowered African woman. Hazel has represented Malawi on a number of international platforms, being the first Malawian to win the All Africa Music Awards (the Afrima) in 2018.  This episode features a letter from Hazel Mak to her music and a commentary by Lerato Honde and Alinafe Malonje. Music in this episode is produced by the Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP. Background audio includes music by Hazel Mak and sound effects from www.zapslat.com

Justice Anastasia Msosa started her career in 1975 as a State Advocate, then moved on to work as a Legal Aid Advocate for 13 years. She was appointed Judge of the High Court in 1992, making her the first female judge in Malawi. In 1997, she was appointed a Supreme Court Judge and became Chief Justice in 2013. She also served as Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission for the first ever Parliamentary and Presidential Elections in the country. This episode features a letter from Justice Anastasia Msosa to the Road not Taken and a commentary by Alinafe Malonje. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP. Sound effects from www.zapslat.com.

Rose Chibambo was the founder of the Women's League, a wing of the Nyasaland African Congress which fought against British Colonial Rule and opposed the creation of the Central African Federation. Rose was Malawi's first female Cabinet Minister after Malawi's independence. This episode of Letters includes a letter from Lomuthi Mgomezulu, Rose Chibambo's grand niece and a conversation between Alinafe Malonje and Lerato Honde on Rose Chibambo's impact. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP. Sound effects from www.zapslat.com. Audio of Rose Chibambo from the Cultural & Museum Centre Karonga.

Rose Chibambo was the founder of the Women's League, a wing of the Nyasaland African Congress which fought against British Colonial Rule and opposed the creation of the Central African Federation. Rose was Malawi's first female Cabinet Minister after Malawi's independence.  The pilot episode of Letters includes a letter from Timwa Lipenga, the author of Rose Chibambo's biography and a conversation between Alinafe Malonje and Lerato Honde on Rose Chibambo's impact. Music in this episode produced by The Dream Manifest and MadebyKAP. Sound effects from www.zapslat.com. Audio of Rose Chibambo from the Cultural & Museum Centre Karonga.

Letters is a podcast that aims to tell the stories of African women. Each episode shares a different open letter written by a different woman. Season 1 will feature women who have each had an impact on Malawi in their own way, these include Justice Anastasia Msosa, Maria Thundu, Timwa Lipenga, and more. The podcast is produced by Wona Collective, based in Lilongwe, Malawi. Season 1 of Letters premieres on the 13th of July 2020. Watch this space.