DO NOT DESPISE THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Diaries with Oliver

I fondly remember my college days when I was pursuing my T2 certificate at a renowned college in Malawi. During this time, I met a friend named Lipenga Yamikani, and we instantly connected over our shared love for art. Yamikani excelled at drawing and playing the guitar, while I was passionate about rapping, writing stories, and poetry. Initially, we were all a bit reserved, but by the second half of the first year, we had gotten to know each other's personalities, making school life fun and exciting. College was a time of self-discovery for many of us, and it was there that I honed my talents in music and writing.

One day, I heard Yamikani playing his guitar outside his hostel. The rhythm and melody were so captivating that they inspired me to write a verse. Approaching him was daunting at first because our social circles were quite different. However, the beauty of art is that it brings people together. I told him I had written a verse to his tune, and he suggested we try it out. It turned out to be a perfect match. We practiced several times and performed the song during assembly one Monday morning. Our peers loved it, and soon it became a regular feature at SCOM gatherings and Café evenings. Those little moments at college made music an integral part of my life, and I still look forward to collaborating with Yamikani again someday.

In my final year of college, we were reallocated, and Yamikani and I ended up in the same room. This made me happy because I knew we would create more music together, and we did. I also discovered that he was incredibly talented at drawing. He was the best artist at our school, yet remained humble. As the Chief Editor of our journalism club, I often asked him to illustrate my stories and poems. Our six-member team, including the talented Limbani Gama, produced diverse and unique articles that our fellow students loved. It’s wonderful that we still collaborate on projects today.

Back then, I wrote because I loved it and was passionate about it. That passion hasn't faded; in fact, it has only grown stronger. Writing has had an unimaginable impact on my life. It landed me my first job with a non-governmental organization in Malawi and helped me assist others with their writing. Even during my toughest times, writing has been a constant source of solace and opportunity. When a friend once asked me, 

"Bro, what is the one thing that can keep you awake all night and get you out of bed early, even when you have everything you desire?"

My answer was simple: writing.

"DO NOT DESPISE THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS"