Some creatives in Blantyre on Friday interacted with Head of Cooperation for the French Embassy for South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi Jean Spiri.
During the engagement, creatives pitched ideas aimed at growing the creative sector.
The meeting, which attracted renowned artists such as Keturah, Chimwemwe Luwanda and ethno-musician Waliko Makhala, took place at Alliance Francaise de Blantyre.
For close to an hour and a half, the creatives opened up to the French Embassy on their potential but many lamented lack of funds to propel their works.
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Keturah, popularly known as Local Girl, called for support from the French Embassy through exchange programmes and opportunities for performances at festivals.
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“We, artists, work very hard but, to be honest, sometimes we need support,” the ‘Mlomo’ maker said.
Makhala said the creative sector had what it takes to contribute immensely to the development of the country.
He recalled that during the time when French Cultural Centre was operational, creatives from Malawi had opportunities of performing in France and other French-speaking countries as well as undergoing training as part of capacity building programme.
“The exchange programmes and trainings helped a lot, in terms of [helping us] build networks and even creating platforms for art to flourish,” he said.
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Spiri said Malawi had talent, having had a chance to watch performances of artists during Sounds of Malawi Acoustic sessions.
“It was a fruitful meeting and we have collected the ideas that the creatives pitched. We will look at them and see the way forward,” he said.
French Honorary Consul to Malawi Luc Deschamps said they would continue to work with creatives in the country by providing them with space at Alliance Francaise de Blantyre, among other things.
“We have the Sounds of Malawi Acoustic Session, for instance. We are open to working with all creatives out there. Let them bring out their ideas,” Deschamps said.
