Table Of ContentFFOOLLKKLLOORREE, GGEENNDDEERR, AANNDD
AIDS IN MALAWI
GGEENNDDEERR AANNDD CCUULLTTUURRAALL SSTTUUDDIIEESS IINN
AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA
Series Editor:: OyeronkeOyewumi , Stony Brook University
Series Advisers:
Adeleke Adeeko, Ohio State University
N’Dri Assié-Lumumba, Cornell University
Ayo Coly, Dartmouth College
Carolyn Cooper, University of Western Indies, Mona
Godwin Murunga, University of Nairobi
Filomina SteADY, Wellesley College
This book series spotlights the experiences of Africans on the continent and in
its multiple and multilayered diasporas. Its objective is to make available publica-
tions that focus on people of African descent wherever they are located, targetingg
innovative research that derives questions, concepts, and theories from historical
and contemporary experiences. The broad scope of the series includes genderrr
scholarship as well as studies that engage with culture in all its complexities.
From a variety of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary orienta-
tions, these studies engage current debates, address urgent questions, and open
up new perspectives in African knowledge production.
PUBLISHED BY PALGRAVE:
Spatial Literacy: Contemporary Asante Women’s Place-making
by Epifania Akosua Amoo-Adare
Folklore, Gender, and AIDS in Malawi: No Secret Under the Sun
by Anika Wilson
FFOOLLKKLLOORREE, GGEENNDDEERR, AANNDD
AIDS IN MALAWI
NO SECRET UNDER THE SUN
AAnika W ilson
FOLKLORE,GENDER, ANDAIDSINMALAWI
Copyright © Anika Wilson, 2013.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2013 978-1-137-32244-9
All rights reserved.
First published in 2013 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN®
in the United States—a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC,
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world,
this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited,
registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills,
Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies
and has companies and representatives throughout the world.
Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States,
the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.
ISBN 978-1-349-45837-0 ISBN 978-1-137-32245-6 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9781137322456
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the
Library of Congress.
A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library.
Design by Newgen Knowledge Works (P) Ltd., Chennai, India.
First edition: November 2013
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
TTo my mothher MMary JJean HHollllandd WWiillson,
who bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and
endures all things for the love of her children
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CCOONNTTEENNTTSS
AAcknowledgments ix
1. Introduction 1
2. Advice Is Good Medicine: Marriage, Advice, and the
Comforts of Home 33
3. Funny, Yet Sorrowful: Narratives of
Empowerment and Empathy in Woman Against
Woman Struggles 65
4. “Nobody Fears AIDS, M phutsiiis More Fire”: Disease
Rumors in the Age of AIDS Treatment 91
5. Mgoneko: Magical Rape, Media Panic, and
Gender-Based Violence 119
Conclusion 163
Notes 167
References 173
Index 185
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For those of you who took time to sit down with a stranger and
share your words and your worlds, my sincere thanks go out to
yyou. Without the gracious women and men I met in Malawi who wel-
comed me so warmly this book would not have been possible. For you
and for those who assisted me in my research in a professional capacity
(though I cannot call all your names here) this book draws togetherr
yyoouurr vvooiicceess ooff wwiissddoomm;; iitt iiss aallssoo yyoouurr bbooookk.. FFoorr mmyy ddeeaarr ffrriieenndd aanndd
research assistant, Catherine Simkonda, I cannot imagine workingg
with a kinder, more brilliant, more wonderful person. I thank God
for you and for the opportunity to meet so many delightful people
in so many different place in this endeavor. I have truly been blessed
beyond my wildest imaginings.
This book was written in part during my years as a graduate
student at the University of Pennsylvania Folklore and Folklife
Program and also as junior faculty at the University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee. While there are many colleagues and friends whose
support, advice, and feedback have contributed to my research
and writing, I want especially to thank friends from my writingg
groups: Cindy Byrd, Linda Lee, Veronica Aplenc, Beth Spillman,
Tami Williams, Ellen Amster, Shelleen Greene, and Nan Kim.
I give special thanks to Dana Hercbergs who never fails to show
enthusiasm and interest even the most nascent and half-formed
ideas. I’m glad you’re my friend. I want to express my gratitude to
my advisors from the University of Pennsylvania, David Hufford,
Dan Ben-Amos, and Lee Cassanelli who guided me through my
doctoral work even when my program had been banished to a
turret. You taught me to appreciate ways of knowing that others
ignore. Susan Watkins made so much of my research possible by
inviting me to be a graduate researcher in Malawi; your openness
