‘Malawi creative industry has potential to grow’
One of the brains behind Choices, a soap that screens on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) television and Zambezi Magic, Ashukile Mwakisulu has said the country has talent which needs to be supported.
Mwakisulu said the creative industry has shown its potential citing the recent success of actress Joyce Mhango Chavula.
Mhango Chavula triumphed in the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCAs) with her film Lilongwe voted Best Movie – Southern Africa.
I think artists just need to keep on working hard and producing the best as well as understanding the corporate world,” said Mwakisulu, who also starred in Shemu Joyah’s movie The Last Fishing Boat.
He added:
“The corporate world needs to come in as partners and assist in different ways. The creative industry is big business.”
Mwakisulu said while the creative industry is crying for support from the corporate world, artists also have to strive for quality.
“Joyce Mhango Chavula has just started the journey, she is an award winner but now she has to continue working and get better, she should not be complacent. But the key word is quality and that is what artists need to stick to,” he said.
Mwakisulu also said that it was high time the creative industry started targeting the global audience.
“We need to learn to produce works that should target the world. Again we need to re-adjust and starting appealing to global firms for partnerships,” he said.
Mwakisulu said they were making progress with Choices on Zambezi Magic and that they were now able to appeal to people in Southern Africa.
“When we were starting Choices we knew we would have it on this platform but we thank God our story won the hearts of Zambezi Magic. At the moment we have brought in more actors including Ian Simbota and poet Joseph Sande,” he said.
Mwakisulu said the story in Choices focuses on what happens on the ground as regards relationships.
Mwakisulu also said that they were flexible with the story and welcomed stories from people which he said they could run for a period.
He then hailed Zambezi Magic for setting up a platform for Southern Africa to showcase its talent having noticed a gap on DStv.
“At the moment we are not rushing into benefits but we know sooner or later things will be perfect but the good thing is to lay the foundation and win the hearts so we are working hard,” said Ashukile, who also stars in the soap.
Several people from Southern Africa have expressed concern with the dominance of other countries particularly West Africa which dominates channels such as Africa Magic.
Recently Zambezi Magic Content Executive Kwangu Liwewe said they wanted more content from Southern Africa ranging from music, poetry and movies stressing that they want artists to tell stories from their countries.
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