Abstract

This chapter examines the evolution of the colour red from being an instrument of the academic freedom struggle in Malawi to becoming its prominent symbol, encapsulating meanings beyond the confines of the University of Malawi corridors. In 2011, the University&s;s Academic Staff Union members engaged in a sit-in and demonstrations to protest against the summoning of a fellow lecturer by the Inspector General of Police to explain content he had delivered in class, specifically after he had compared the economic problems in Malawi to the Arab Spring. As the lecturers continued their protest, calling for an apology from the Inspector General and assurances of academic freedom, red became an essential part of the protest. The chapter argues that shades of meaning generated by the colour red during the standoff reflect how arbitrary signifiers accumulate layers of meaning with time. The chapter draws from Derrida&s;s concepts of la différance and the supplement to explore how the meaning of red evolved and how additional meanings were attached to the colour red. It also engages with various studies on colour, symbolism, and protest, such as research by Moletsane and Lolwana, to underscore how colour has been an integral text in social protest.

Original language	en
Pages (from-to)	238-251
Publication status	Published - 2024