{{Short description|Malawian novelist, poet and playwright (1954–2024)}} '''Willie T. Zingani''' (14 March 1954 – 31 August 2024) was a Malawian novelist, poet, playwright and journalist.
==Life and career== Zingani was the son of the late Rev. Maxwell Zingani, a primary school teacher and voluntary Anglican priest. After leaving school he was awarded a scholarship to study journalism at the Africa Literature Centre in Zambia. He later attended a Publishing and Public Relations course at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom.<ref name=MN>[http://mwnation.com/willie-zingani-a-writer-of-all-ages/ "Willie Zingani: A Writer of All Ages"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418223145/https://mwnation.com/willie-zingani-a-writer-of-all-ages/ |date=2023-04-18 }}. The Nation (Malawian newspaper) article, 18 April 2014; accessed 4 Aug 2017.</ref>
He began his career in journalism in 1982, working as a features writer for the Malawi News newspaper, but for a time was put in prison by the regime of President [[Hastings Banda|Hastings Kamuzu Banda]] because of an article he had allegedly written. Before leaving the newspaper he had risen to the post of editor.
Under the government of President [[Bakili Muluzi]] he got a job in the Ministry of Information where, after a year of editing the Government weekly news he helped the President research his book ''Democracy With a Price''. After this he served as Deputy Presidential Press Secretary, then as Presidential Press Secretary until 2004.
After a period of unemployment he briefly became editor of [[the Guardian]] newspaper and in 2009-10 worked in the office of Vice President [[Joyce Banda]]. From 2010 until his retirement in 2014 he was corporate services manager at the Limbe Leaf tobacco company. He was the brother of [[Barnaba Zingani]], who is himself a published author in both Chichewa and English.
Zingani died in [[Lilongwe]] on 31 August 2024, at the age of 70.<ref>[https://malawidailytelegraph.com/2024/08/journalist-willie-zingani-dies/Journalist Willie Zingani dies]</ref><ref>[https://www.247malawi.com/former-president-dr-bakili-muluzi-mourns-the-passing-of-former-press-secretary-willie-zingani/Former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi mourns the passing of former press secretary Willie Zingani]</ref> He was survived by six children.
==Publications== Willie Zingani has written 6 short novels or story collections in the [[Chewa language|Chichewa]] language and two in English. These are: *{{lang|ny|Ndaziona ine}} "I have Seen Troubles" *{{lang|ny|Madzi Akatayika}} "When Water is Spilt" (1984) *{{lang|ny|Njala Bwana}} "Hunger, Sir!" (1984) *{{lang|ny|Nkhondo Simanga Mudzi}} "War Doesn't make a Country" *{{lang|ny|Idzani Muone}} "Come and See" *{{lang|ny|Khwangwala Opusa ndi nkhani zina}} "The Stupid Crow and other tales" *''The Phone Booth'' *''The Preacher and the Joker'' (1988)
One of his books, {{lang|ny|Madzi Akataika}}, was turned into a play, which was directed by Willie Zingani.<ref name=MN /> He has also had poems published in anthologies in various countries.
Two of Zingani's novels, {{lang|ny|Madzi Akatayika}} and {{lang|ny|Njala Bwana}}, were discussed in a work by Professor [[Francis Moto]] in 2001,<ref>Moto, Francis. 2001. ''Trends in Malawian Literature'', Zomba, Chancellor College Publications.</ref> which has itself been the subject of a detailed critique by Professor [[Harri Englund]] of Cambridge University defending Zingani.<ref>Englund, Harri (2004). "Gender Relations in African-Language Literature: Interpretative Politics and Possibilities". ''African Sociological Review'' 8.1. (Available on the Internet.)</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/557edb36e4b0c3993dee95d1/t/5730f244c2ea515cf2bfdb9b/1462825565916/Zingane,+Idzani+Muone+.pdf {{lang|ny|Idzani muone}} ("Come and see")] Full text of Chichewa novel in pdf form.
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zingani, Willie}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:2024 deaths]] [[Category:Malawian writers|Short story writers]] [[Category:Malawian journalists]] [[Category:Malawian poets]] [[Category:Chewa-language writers]]