As my wife and I strolled toward the gate to bid farewell to our visitor last Sunday evening, we stumbled upon a scene that was both amusing and oddly serene. There, bathed in the soft glow of the night, sat our guard, thoroughly engrossed in his supper. A steady rhythm of cool, mellow tunes pulsed from a device, perched about a foot high and just two meters away. With each bite, he seemed to sway ever so slightly to the beat, savoring both his meal and the music in perfect harmony.”You seem to be enjoying your music,” my wife remarked with a playful smile, her voice cutting through the evening air.”Yes, Madam,” he responded quickly, his face lighting up. “This is Mbayani Heaven Door Choir. I really enjoy their music.””But what is this device you’re playing the music from?” my wife asked, curiosity dancing in her voice.”Ndi bulutufu imeneyi, Madam,” he replied confidently, referring to the device using a word that was a corruption of Bluetooth.When pressed further about the source of the music, he explained with a casual nod, “It was dumped onto a memory card, which I just slotted into the device.”I first came across the term Bluetooth at a telecommunications conference in Trieste, Italy, back in 2000. There, I learned that it referred to a wireless technology that enabled seamless connections between one device and multiple others—essentially a smart and efficient way of creating a network without the clutter of cables.I could not say for sure whether our guard understood Bluetooth in the technical sense I had learned, but it was clear he used the term as the name of his device—much like how people refer to certain gadgets as CD players, loudspeakers, or even laptop computers. To him, Bluetooth was not just a technology; it was a tangible, prized possession—one that brought him both music and joy.Electronic devices of all shapes and sizes have flooded Malawi, and the average Malawian delights in owning—not just one, but as many as possible. We embrace them with enthusiasm, often without fully grasping the intricate science behind their workings. But that has never been a barrier. In Malawi, we thrive on improvisation. Give us a gadget, and we will figure it out—usually without so much as a glance at the operations manual. Trial and error is our way, and more often than not, it works!In his thought-provoking publication “The Capitalist Nigger”, Chika Onyeani laments Africans’ deep admiration for musical equipment—while producing none of it. “It has been shown,” he provocatively writes, “that Black people spend more money on purchasing musical equipment than any other group. But do we produce any of these products? The answer is a resounding NO! Do we even have a factory owned by a Black person where these musical products are assembled? The answer is a resounding NO!”If the answers to Chika Onyeani’s questions were affirmative, Africa—and Malawi in particular—would likely be in a different position today. A robust local electronics manufacturing industry would not only meet the extensive demand for gadgets but also foster a deeper understanding of the technologies involved. This would empower consumers to use precise electronic terminology, such as Bluetooth, and enhance their overall technological literacy.Establishing local manufacturing and distribution of electronic gadgets in Africa could yield multiple benefits, including reduced prices and enhanced safety. By producing devices domestically, production costs would decrease, leading to more affordable prices for consumers. This affordability would make electronic gadgets accessible to a broader segment of the population, potentially reducing the incentive for theft. Consequently, this could contribute to a safer environment by decreasing crimes such as burglary and robbery.Establishing local manufacturing of electronic gadgets in Malawi could significantly reduce dependence on foreign imports, conserving valuable foreign exchange reserves. This would allow these funds to be allocated toward essential imports that cannot be produced domestically, such as fuel.Malawi currently lacks domestic oil reserves and relies entirely on imports to meet its fuel needs. This heavy reliance on imported fuel strains foreign exchange reserves and contributes to economic vulnerability, which could be eased by foreign exchange reserves resulting from local manufacturing of electronic gadgets.
Developing biofuel capabilities could offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel imports. Malawi has explored biofuel production, particularly ethanol, as a means to reduce dependence on imported fuels and stimulate economic growth. In the past, the Government has collaborated with local and international companies to try and expand biofuel production, aiming to stabilize fuel prices and save forex, but these efforts have largely fallen by the wayside.