Cecilia (song)
Date: 1980s
Region: Africa
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Music
Artist: Simon and Garfunkel (both b. 1941)
Confronting Bodies: Malawi Censorship Board
Dates of Action: 1980's?
Location: Malawi
Description of Artwork: The song Cecilia by the US recording artists Simon and Garfunkel.
The 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. The lyrics "Cecilia/I'm down on my knees/I'm begging you please to come home" [especially caused either consternation or delight]. 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: Human Rights Watch/Africa Watch, "Where Silence Rules, The Suppression of Dissent in Malawi," October 1990, Pg. 72