In 2009, musician Andrew Finn Magill received a prestigious Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship to spend eleven months in Malawi, collaborating with Malawian music icon Peter Mawanga on what became the groundbreaking album, Mawu a Malawi: Stories of AIDS.

The project began as a year-long collaboration over Skype, where Andrew and Peter meticulously planned how to combine music with powerful storytelling. Upon arriving in Malawi in 2010, Andrew worked with the UNC Malawi Project to collect narratives from Malawians affected by HIV. Together, Andrew and Peter selected ten individuals whose stories served as the foundation of the album. Using real quotes from their interviews, the duo co-wrote lyrics and composed music to capture the essence of each person’s journey.

With more than 25 guest musicians from both Malawi and the U.S., including singers “cast” to represent each storyteller, Mawu a Malawi is a deeply personal and collaborative album. It aims to spark a fresh, positive dialogue about HIV while also serving as a fundraiser for vulnerable children in Malawi.

Released on October 12, 2011, this album is a powerful testament to the transformative power of music and storytelling, bringing awareness and hope to a global audience.