Of Wigs and Malawian Lawyers

Tutu · Member

Of Wigs and Malawian Lawyers

Karma Sutra · Member

Thats a good point i have always found that funny as well. I always thought they shouldn't ditch the wigs but should have BIG Afro ones instead. COOOOOL MAN!!!!!!

ice · Newbie

Karma Sutra wrote:

Thats a good point i have always found that funny as well. I always thought they shouldn't ditch the wigs but should have BIG Afro ones instead. COOOOOL MAN!!!!!!

Karma,your sense of humour sends me off!!! You are so easy!!! Are you for real???

Liquid · Newbie

Let us not forget where all these things originated from. We were colonised by white men and we still trying to adopt their ways , dotn you think its a little too late to start nit picking on what we see to be the faults in our country, think about it.One.

Date: Jan 15, 2006

Liquid wrote:

Let us not forget where all these things originated from. We were colonised by white men and we still trying to adopt their ways , dotn you think its a little too late to start nit picking on what we see to be the faults in our country, think about it.One.

Maybe. But some things reeeally stick out, they've gotta go.

PS: Good idea Karma Sutra!

CHIDIKHODIKHO · Newbie

Liquid wrote:

Let us not forget where all these things originated from. We were colonised by white men and we still trying to adopt their ways , dotn you think its a little too late to start nit picking on what we see to be the faults in our country, think about it.One.

To me I always feel sorry with this syndrome of us Malawians here at home and wherever we are of underating ourselves. We easily give in and we always think that we are not the best. Let me tell you this, someone here in Malawi has started a line of clothing very nice and this a design that its original but you know what is happening people are shying away from buying saying aah zopanga ku Malawi izi but the same people would rather buy something coming from South Africa or Europe or America but chasokedwa ku Chirimba ndi AMalawi. So let us beat these azungu by coming up with our own original ideas after all wig or not if a lawyer is lousy he/she can even fail to protect munthu woba sweet mmodzi.

-- Edited by CHIDIKHODIKHO at 14:02, 2006-01-16

TJ · Member

CHIDIKHODIKHO wrote:

To me I always feel sorry with this syndrome of us Malawians here at home and wherever we are of underating ourselves. We easily give in and we always think that we are not the best. Let me tell you this, someone here in Malawi has started a line of clothing very nice and this a design that its original but you know what is happening people are shying away from buying saying aah zopanga ku Malawi izi but the same people would rather buy something coming from South Africa or Europe or America but chasokedwa ku Chirimba ndi AMalawi. So let us beat these azungu by coming up with our own original ideas after all wig or not if a lawyer is lousy he/she can even fail to protect munthu woba sweet mmodzi. -- Edited by CHIDIKHODIKHO at 14:02, 2006-01-16

The Malawian judicial system is centred around the British System and to change and the costumes and rituals are adopted from the same. These wigs are not worn only by Malawian lawmen but black British lawyers and those in other countries as well. We should not get read of the wigs symbolic function simply because the US did so. Take a check, have you ever considered that Black, ginger, brown haired white men and women wear this white wig too. It does not mean they are aspiring to be white haired. Should we ditch the wig and remain with the gowns.

Should we be talking about ditching graduating gowns and caps as well. What about suits they are also a symbol of our former white masters as well aren't they. The colonialists did a lot of bad stuff and we will never really be compensated enough even if they tried but some of these symbols are now part of our heritage.

I agree with you though that people look to buying imported things rather than home made which is a worrying trend. I think with proper promotion of local goods you will find that people will change their buying habits. There was the buy Malawian campaign sometime ago in the late 80s I think, that seemed to work but you can also look at the success of local Malawian music.

Tutu · Member

Those wigs are just ugly and make our learned men look even more ugly. And I tend to wonder what purpose they really serve other than making our lawyers look stupid and pleasing our former masters that they still have us by the nuts. I strongly believe that getting rid of the wigs will make most of our young lawyers happy and I do not foresee how this simple change would affect the intergrity of our laws.

Be open minded and move on from the colonial fixation

TJ · Member

Tutu wrote:

Those wigs are just ugly and make our learned men look even more ugly. And I tend to wonder what purpose they really serve other than making our lawyers look stupid and pleasing our former masters that they still have us by the nuts. I strongly believe that getting rid of the wigs will make most of our young lawyers happy and I do not foresee how this simple change would affect the intergrity of our laws. Be open minded and move on from the colonial fixation

I could be missing something here..is the key to young Malawian lawyers' happiness really in the wig? I think reward and recognition again could be the cause of unhapiness if they have said they are unhappy, that is. Tutu if you are a member of the law flaternity and feel strongly about this wig thing than I suggest you table this for discussion at a Law Society meeting. But just out of interest have you considered that the wig itself to be a motivation for others to study law.

While we are on the subject what do you think about Malawian mayors official regalia?

game · Guru

if you suggest that wigs should be chucked away brace yourself for the whole system to change,because malawi did not invent the judicial system,democracy,unless if you want the courts to go back in the hands of traditional authorities and chiefs.you are calling for the whole system to be scrapped off then suggest a better system which did not come from the colonialists.

dont you people find it like a providential blessing that the british government and its people have helped our judicial system and our democracy to be a little transparent and influence alot of malawians to really recognise their freedom,inspite of the mixture of motives and the persistence of exploitative practices,i for one think this was one honourable gesture by the british.

we have to understand that everything has its beginning,there has to be a trace of britishiism in our system for it to function,Tutu,i understand you are appealing for open mindedness,please bring forth a suggetion that would replace the wigs for a truly malawi tradition,maybe you want our judges to wear dashikis,kimonos,nyandas,or ngoni traditional dresses.i know that malawi has its tradition but remember that we cant easily function without foreign influence.

firstbendman · Senior Member

game wrote:

...maybe you want our judges to wear dashikis,kimonos,nyandas,or ngoni traditional dresses.i know that malawi has its tradition but remember that we cant easily function without foreign influence.

May be nyada and chigoba cha nyau, so that they can look intimidating. And the one who suggested afro, I think that wasnt a bad idea.

Date: Jan 17, 2006

Game, the issue is about the relevance of the lawyers wig in modern Malawi, stretching it to include the relevance of all things British is a bit extreme don’t you think? A sense of proportion is in order here…

Speaking of proportion, absolute comparison between things like the wig & graduating gowns is flawed, I would have thought the difference between the items is pretty clear; those wigs are just dumb, glaringly so. They are more reflective of our colonial past than they are of our legal system.

On wigs as a motivational symbol for aspiring lawyers, it’s the extremely low university intake that keeps law courses (or should I say “THE law course”) full in Malawi, forget about motivation! Besides, I doubt the wigs are an important contributor (if at all) to whatever motivation exists.

Finally, you have to admit the wigs look much more natural on Caucasians (ie “black, ginger, brown haired white men and women”) than they do on people of African origin. Tutu called them ugly; I couldn’t agree more. Those wigs are horrible!

PS: The mayors regalia is OK for ceremonial purposes, I can stand that.

firstbendman wrote:

...May be nyada and chigoba cha nyau, so that they can look intimidating. And the one who suggested afro, I think that wasnt a bad idea.

Zinyau za ma afro! I'd love to see that!

-- Edited by awmygawd at 01:19, 2006-01-18

firstbendman · Senior Member

If the wigs are for intimidation purposes, then they embellish the sitiuation in case of Malawian judges. Ndiwoopsya ndi kale.

And its time we should adopt customs and systems which suit our situation. We can copy the framework and precise it to our ideal situation. Although, am a fanatic of democracy, I feel its too expensive for a country like MW. The government lose alot of money to support it (money which could help with other developments). ie. I dont see why should one be paid money for character assassination. I would suggest kupepesa or withdrawing the statement as a proper punishment.

I remember in Botwana, they have their own system. Trifling issues like kukangana chifukwa cha azimayi or kuba tating'onoting'ono, they are dealt by local courts. I know pple will say even back home, mfumu zimaweluza milandu, but what makes Botwana's scenario interesting is the punishment. If you are found guilty in these local courts, amakumenya ndi shamboko ku nsana. It depends ndikulakwa kwake, but you can get up to 21 thrashes.

I would imagine, if this system was in Mw, almost every malawian will have extra layers of hard fresh on their back. Chinsana cha Gwanda bwezi chili chowuma ngati mwala. Bwenzi tikuvala special design shirts. The more youre guilty the more money you will spend on these 'special shirts'.

Its not too late for this system. Thats a big motivation to be a judge.

-- Edited by firstbendman at 04:43, 2006-01-18

abre les ojos · Guru

Considering that the wigs are just aesthetic. Like the gowns. Do they affect the legal process in any way? I mean, shouldn't we be arguing about improving Malalwi's legal process - to clear that awful backlog of cases in jail waiting to be tried for years - than arguing about a fukcing wig.

It wouldn't or shouldn't make a difference what they wear as long as it doesn't impinge on the legal process (which it doesn't as far as I'm concerned).

Unfortunately the idea of "democracy" to Malawi didn't exactly mean much in terms of the amount of people incarcerated (the reasons are less politcal now). But there are by far more people in jail waiting to be tried than ever before in Malawi. The argument all boils down to one thing. Cost. It seems democracy is hardly affordable. Let's be honest, things ran a little smoothly in Banda's time, as long as you shut up and put up with it.

Back to the wigs - It doesn't matter...

game · Guru

Game, the issue is about the relevance of the lawyers wig in modern Malawi, stretching it to include the relevance of all things British is a bit extreme don’t you think? A sense of proportion is in order here…

awmygawd.

i think tutu raised a good point,but i also think malawi as an independent state hasnt done much to change from colonial influenced system to its own.if you ask about the relevance of the lawyers wig in modern malawi then you must also ask the relevance of the british style parliament in modern malawi.watch it in session you will notice that they go through the same procedure as the house of commons,the wig symbolises the british culture and malawi being a one time colony of this empire embraced its culture as well,thats the relevance.so if we get rid of it make sure we put something with a malawi identity.

Date: Jan 18, 2006

Improving the legal system certainly is worthy of more attention, but where’s is the harm in tweaking a few of its smaller, readily fixable aspects along the way? How long would it take to resolve the wigs issue if a real life attempt to do so was made? I’m guessing a single vote by the Malawi law society (or whoever) would take care of it. As for the inefficiencies in the legal process, I don’t even want to think about it!

Of course the wigs do not (or should not) affect the legal process in any significant way, but that is not the point. They are aesthetic, true, but they were never meant as idle ornaments. They are symbols (which is fine, every social, cultural & professional grouping has its own; academics & gowns, rappers & bling, etc).

Once upon a time, the wig was just another symbol adopted by the legal profession; who would have any problems with that? Unfortunately, symbols can take on a life of their own and that completely changes what they stand for. I think its fine for the wigs to be worn in Britain (even by none white folk) because the lawyers wig has retained its original meaning there.

There is so much in Malawi today that could be considered symbolic of Malawi’s up and down relationship with Britain over the centuries e.g. the fact we are conversing in English. I know that history cannot be edited to our taste and should be fully embraced as “our heritage”, but surely there is more to Malawi than Nyasaland? I don’t mind the occasional Nyasaland related historic symbol, but the lawyers wig takes the cake.