Malawi Lake of Stars

Cover for Malawi Lake of Stars

Malawi Lake of Stars

Photography by Frank Johnston and text by Michael Mutisunge Phoya

In a completely new edition of Central Africana’s 1993 title on the subject, which proved a very popular account running to three printings, bestselling author and filmmaker Michael Mutisunge Phoya teams with photographer Frank Johnston to examine Lake Malawi in the detail sought by the curious visitor to its shores.

From the environmentally vital mwera so reviled by Livingstone to the still mysterious kungu fly, from the Lake’s place in evolutionary theory coupled with today’s fish conservation challenges, to its fast growing tourism appeals and facilities, Michael provides a riveting commentary on a huge inland sea loved in the memories of all who have have visited it.

About the authors…

Frank Johnston

Frank Johnston

Frank Johnston has lived in Malawi for more than forty years. An Irish citizen, he was educated in Ireland and then Manchester and Oxford Universities. He worked for the Cyprus Government as a tourism promotion adviser before arriving in Malawi in 1972, seconded by the British Government as part of its aid to Malawi. He worked for three years as a tourism adviser before becoming Director, and chief executive, of the intergovernmental body, the Southern African Tourism Council (SARTOC). In 1988 he established Central Africana Limited, which quickly became Malawi’s largest general book publishing house, specialising in titles of tourism, historical and cultural interest.

He is married to Argentinian medical doctor, Maria Ines Molina. Of his three children, Patrick has opted to remain in Malawi working in agro-processing and who, with wife Nicky, has produced three grandchildren, all at school in Malawi. Second son Mark flies out of Hong Kong for Cathy Pacific and his daughter Kara works for the UN in Southern Lebanon.

Michael Mutisunge Phoya

Michael Mutisunge Phoya

Lake of Stars presents Malawi’s remarkable lake as only the eye of a Malawian can portray it. In the past ten years, Michael Phoya has travelled the length and breadth of his beloved lake, the result of which is this book. Go on a Malawian journey with Michael and the country’s famed lake is always there, to provide the perfect backdrop.

Writer and filmmaker Michael Phoya was born in 1980. He has run an online magazine, worked as art director on Malawi’s first feature film, the multi-award winning Seasons of a Life, authored his initially self-published Walks of Life, now a best-selling Central Africana title, co-authored the definitive history of  Blantyre, Central Africa’s oldest city, soon to be published by Central Africana, and produced/directed Telling our Stories: Stonard Lungu, a tribute to one of Africa’s best musicians.

Reviews

Link to The Eye Malawi article online.