In the fall of 2008, Andrew Finn Magill (cultural studies ’09) began a personal project (watch video) to fuse two of his passions — music and public health. After meeting with Irving Hoffman, the director of UNC Projects-Malawi, Magill connected with Malawian singer-songwriter Peter Mawanga and started “Mau a Malawi: Stories of AIDS.”
Now, almost three years later, “Stories of AIDS” has inspired an entire series of projects, one of the most notable being a large-scale performance piece that will incorporate song, dance and dramatic monologue as well as documentary footage from Malawi. The show will take place at Memorial Hall on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. Admittance to the show is free, but donations are welcome.
Another large component of the “Stories of AIDS” project includes a documentary, ”If My Eyes Could Sing,” filmed and produced by Jon Haas (dramatic art ’09). Both Haas and Magill emphasize “the message of this music is hope not defeat. Reinvigoration not resignation. Life not death.”
For more information, visit www.storiesofaids.com.
[Story and video by Mary Lide Parker ’10]
