Storyteller. Son. Hip Hop Artist.
“I felt threatened and escaped to Malawi.”
Trésor: “My family had a dream to see me become a successful politician, doctor or manager of a big company – they weren’t so happy to see me become a musician. They tried to stop me from following my dreams, but when they heard about me on the radio, and saw me on TV and my name in magazines, they were proud and started to support me. I broke the rules and became the first professional musician and poet in the history of my family.
My real name is Trésor Nzengu Mpauni but I am well known as Menes La Plume. I am a slam poet, spoken word artist, and musician. I left Democratic Republic of Congo for Malawi when I was 25. Poetry and music helped me break down the boundaries in Malawi. I managed to become one of the important names in Malawi’s music and poetry scene by being invited to every important event. I organize a music festival called Tumaini Festival to promote arts in the country and currently I am also recording an album. Performing music and writing poetry is my life, these are the only things that make me feel important and useful to the world- as I consider myself as a voice of the voiceless. I always believe that one day I will make a lot of changes through writing and music.“
“Performing music and writing poetry is my life, these are the only things that make me feel important and useful to the world- as I consider myself as a voice of the voiceless.” (c) Trésor Nzengu Mpauni
Born in Lubumbashi in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Trésor began writing poetry and music as a child. His family sent him to university and he was doing well, writing poetry and working as a journalist and part-time musician. He had started to become known for his music and even had a couple of videos playing on local television. Everything changed when he performed a song about peace at a local concert. The song was perceived to be anti-government and he started to be followed. Concerned for his safety, he moved to another city in the DRC but he was soon recognized, felt in danger, and fled. In 2008 he arrived in Malawi.
Refugees. Ordinary people living through extraordinary times. Share their stories.
Malawi currently hosts more than 20,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, most of whom reside in Dzaleka refugee camp, located about 30 kilometers from Lilongwe. UNHCR, together with its partners, support the government of Malawi to ensure that refugees are safe and have the possibility to go to primary school and learn new skills.
Refugee camps are meant to be short term solutions to provide humanitarian assistance and protection but, due to protracted conflicts, refugees sometimes spend years in camps with few opportunities to become self-reliant or use their skills to contribute to their communities. UNHCR has established a policy that sets out alternatives to camps so that whenever possible refugees have the possibility to live with greater dignity, independence and normality as members of the community, either from the beginning of displacement or as soon as possible thereafter.
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