Mzati Nkolokosa

Biography

I am a doctoral researcher in Linguistics at the University of Essex. I am finalising my thesis titled Cinyaja speakers perspectives on mental health: a cognitive linguistic approach. The study has three specific objectives. First, to investigate the knowledge of mental health which is richly encoded in Cinyanja. Second, to understand Cinyanja lexicon, idioms, metaphors and experiences of mental disorders. Third, to contribute to epistemic pluralism in Global Mental Health. My broader aim is to develop an appropriate theoretical framework for understanding complex bodies of knowledge encoded in the Cinyanja language. I have, therefore, applied the Umunthu framework. I have examined the lexicology of Umunthu from a Cinyanja speakers perspective. This approach contrasts with previous studies in which Malawian researchers relied on Ubuntu, the South African Zulu speakers perspective on humanity that is associated with ubuntu ngumuntu ngabuntu or I am because you are. The differences between Ubuntu and Umunthu are deeply philosophical. Umunthu is about the individual and his or her ability to generate wealth. It is within Umunthu that my study has investigated perspectives on mental health. I am looking forward to submitting my thesis for examination and engaging in further research postdoc. The institution of Umunthu has attracted my attention to development economics. Umunthu perspectives on wealth and the relationship between wealth generation and mental health have prepared me for a future in which I would like to investigate the question of extreme poverty in Malawi. Development economists ask the questions: Why are some countries so rich and others so poor? What factors have determined which countries prosper? I would like to ask, why is Malawi poor? My PhD study shows that Umunthu could be a country-specific characteristic that determines Malawis economic fate. I am enjoying the final stages of my doctoral research and looking forward to exciting postdoc years in which I will conduct more ground-breaking research.

Qualifications

• BA in Journalism University of Malawi (2003)

• MA in Literature University of Malawi (2014)

Thesis