Celebrating Tamanda Namangale: Storyteller, Organizer, and Voice of a Generation
At this year’s TEDxBates College event themed “The Unasked Questions,” Malawian storyteller and youth leader Tamanda Namangale took the stage with a performance that reminded us of the power of words to heal, build, and transform communities.
In her piece, “Healing in Community,” Tamanda weaves poetry and memory into a reflection on what it means to live, heal, and belong across borders. Raised and educated across Malawi, Eswatini, and South Africa, and now deeply involved in youth civic engagement in Maine, USA, she embodies the spirit of global citizenship — grounded in African roots yet reaching across cultures and continents.
Through her work as a Youth Programs Coordinator, Legal Researcher, and Community Organizer, Tamanda has mentored young people in education and civic spaces, championed legal reform, and helped build inclusive communities that value every story. Her art is more than performance — it is an act of survival, a tool for justice, and a space for collective healing.
One line from her TEDx poem captured hearts across the room:
“I am glad to be from the land of Joyce Banda, Nthanda Manduwi, and Winnie Mandela…”
In those few words, Tamanda not only honored the women who paved the way for her — leaders, storytellers, and visionaries — but also affirmed the power of representation. She reminded us that African women have always been at the forefront of nurturing, rebuilding, and reimagining the world.
At the Ntha Foundation, we are deeply proud to see voices like Tamanda’s rising to global platforms — amplifying the values we hold dear: creativity as a catalyst for justice, storytelling as a tool for transformation, and community as the foundation for change.
✨ Tamanda’s message is clear: healing is not a solitary act. It happens when we listen to one another, when we hold space for each other’s stories, and when we treat community as both the question and the answer
Work With Us
Want to partner on or fund one of our programs / initiatives? We are always open to collaborations and partnerships. Contact our Founder; Ms. Nthanda Manduwi via contact@nthafoundation.org, or give us a call(direct or WhatsApp) on +265991850730.
To keep up with the work of the Ntha Foundation, our hubs under the Kwathu Kollective, our initiatives, and our projects, follow us on social media:
NTHA FOUNDATION SOCIAL MEDIA
KWATHU KOLLECTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA
