Oct
06
2022

Malawi Cross Party Group, feat. Address From Leading Malawian Artist

UK time 18:00 – 19:00 Malawi time 19:00 – 20:00
Location Scottish Parliament / Zoom.

This was a hybrid meeting, taking place in the Fairfax Somerville Room, Committee Room 2, T4.40 of the Scottish Parliament, with a digital option for participation.

Please read the minutes of the previous CPG here.

The leading Malawian artist and creator of Trafalgar Square fourth plinth statue ‘Antelope’, Samson Kambalu, was joined by his Scottish wife Susan, to address the CPG. Samson and Susan are longstanding friends of the Scotland Malawi Partnership.

The meeting also included the Group’s formal AGM with the (re-)election of the following positions:

  • Co-Convenors (currently held by Liam McArthur MSP, Alexander Stewart MSP and Alasdair Allan MSP)
  • Co-Vice Convenors (currently held by Sarah Boyack MSP and Mark Ruskell MSP)
  • Secretary (currently held by David Hope-Jones, CEO of the Scotland Malawi Partnership)

Those attending the meeting in-person were able to view the ‘Ghost Antelope’ statue which is currently on display in the Scottish Parliament (sponsored by the SMP and Orbis Expeditions).

Agenda - Click here

This will be a hybrid meeting taking place in Fairfax Somerville Room, Committee Room 2, T4.40 of the Scottish Parliament, with a digital option for participation

  • 6pm: Welcome, apologies and minutes of last meeting - Dr Alasdair Allan MSP
    - Including special welcome to visiting Medical Students from Dundee University, soon to travel to Malawi for their medical electives
  • 6.05pm: AGM of the CPG, including (re-)election of the following positions:
    - Co-Convenors (currently held by Liam McArthur MSP, Alexander Stewart MSP and Dr Alasdair Allan MSP)
    - Co-Vice Convenors (currently held by Sarah Boyack MSP and Mark Ruskell MSP)
    - Secretary (currently held by David Hope-Jones, CEO of the Scotland Malawi Partnership)
  • 6.10pm Conversation with Malawian artist Prof Samson Kambalu and his Scottish wife Susan Kambalu
    - c15 minute conversation facilitated by David Hope-Jones, discussing Prof Kambalu’s statue of John Chilembwe and John Chorley (‘Antelope’) which has recently been installed on the fourth plinth of Trafalgar Square
    - c15 minute Q&A
  • 6.40pm Updates from individuals about their links with Malawi
    - We will have time for those, especially in the room, to be able to share short updates about their links with Malawi.
  • 6.55pm AOB, thanks from Chair and date of next meeting - Dr Alasdair Allan MSP
  • 7pm Networking over Malawi Gin and Tonics!
  • 7.30pm End

Artist Samson Kambalu meets with Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP. Credit: Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament. 04 August 2022.