Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecilia" banned in Malawi
- Artist/Author/Producer: Simon and Garfunkel
- Confronting Bodies: Malawi Censorship Board
- Dates of action: 1980's?
- Location: Malawi
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- Description of the Art Work
- The song "Cecilia" by the US recording artists Simon and
Garfunkel.
- Description of incident
- "...The reason for the ban is that Cecilia is also the name of
President Banda's "Official Hostess" or mistress, Tamanda Kadzamira. The
banning apparently coincided with a somewhat rocky phase in their
relationship---"Cecilia/I'm down on my knees/ I'm begging you please to
come home." Malwians apparently took to singing bowdlerized versions and
even humming the tune was guaranteed to raise a smile...."
- Results of incident
- "...Ms. Kadzamira has since preferred to be known in public by her
middle name of Tamanda...."
Source: uman Rights Watch/Africa Watch, "Where Silence Rules, The Suppression of
Dissent in Malawi," October 1990, Pg. 72
