Luca Sage

I just came across this negative that hasn't really seen the light of day. Well, it has, when I shot it, but you hopefully know what I mean. It's been tucked away in my studio storeroom, one of those images that didn't make the cut the first time round but on second viewing it deserves a chance.

Malawi is a great country with fantastic people. Though economically it has one of the lowest GDP's in the World, it might well lay stake to having the highest Gross National Happiness (GNH). Malawi doesn't manufacture very much but one of the items that it does actually produce itself is the infamous 'Chibuku Shake Shake'. It's an opaque kind of beer, quite mild and very drinkable. A mix of Sorghum and Maize, Chibuku has to be shaken before you open the carton to mix up the 'sludge'. It really is a good taste but then again I don't really drink beer, more of a Gin man myself, so you better not trust my judgement on the fineries of beer. The carton's used to have a great design on them, like the cardboard milk cartons from the 80's but now unfortunately they have changed to plastic bottles. Not great for the environment, nor for the eye. 

Chibuku Bar, Malwai, 2006

This image was taken the morning after Arsenal had beaten Villarreal to go through to the Champions League Final in 2006. I'd gone to another town to watch the match and almost died on the way back when my seat less minibus careered off the dirt road and down a ditch. Amazingly for me and everybody else involved the driver managed to steer it back onto the road. Apart from a few cuts and bruises we were all okay. Luckily the woman who was travelling with a 50litre container of petrol decided to get off the bus after this, made me feel a little safer, not much but a little. I digress, on my return to the village I noticed this bar with beautiful morning light coming through the entrance. Simple places, full of Chibuku laughter and the odd scuffle here and there, but generally good humoured with a great vibe. If you ever travel to Malawi, be sure to sample some of the 'Shake Shake' goodness.