Two creatives from Malawi were among the 12 entrepreneurs alongside those from South Africa and Lesotho, who recently attended the BIG 2024, Europe’s largest business and investment forum.
The 12 made it to the platform having successfully presented their creative industry businesses to potential investors during the Creation Africa event in South Africa.
Malawi was represented at the forum by creatives – Terry Made, a fashion designer and Kwacha Creative Studios, a production and distribution company that is led by filmmakers Chimwemwe Mkwezalamba and partner Rafik Seleman.
Terry Made described his France tour as an eye opener in that it accorded him an opportunity with fellow entrepreneurs a chance to network, meet industry leaders as well as visit various places.
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“We had time even to visit fashion houses to learn how they are operating. It was such a great outing with full of lessons,” the Blantyre-based fashion designer said.
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Chimwemwe, who was among the first recipients of MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), represented Kwacha Creatives and also described the trip to France as an amazing experience and eye opener.
“We were invited to attend the Big event, Europe’s largest business investment gathering but we also had an opportunity to visit some of the largest businesses in the creative sector such as Coco Channel and production studios like Federation Studios, the production company that produced the hit Italian series Gomorra,” she said.
The filmmaker said this was a top experience because it has opened up opportunities for them like co-productions and collaborations.
“It is good to know that there are opportunities out there for us, big investments are available to creative companies,” Chimwemwe said.
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She said the future of film is beautiful and that it has the power to positively transform “our mindsets create employment and boost our economy”.
“Sometimes when things get hard, you doubt that but when opportunities like these come, you are reminded to keep going,” Chimwemwe said.
Apart from the Malawian creatives, the other entreprenuers that attended the event in France include Ananta Design Studio, Giya and LSJ Clothing from South Africa and SourceCode Motion Pictures from Lesotho.
The Creation Africa programme initiative was funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and is designed to foster creative entrepreneurship in Africa.
The programme aims to equip talent with the skills, mentorship and seed funding needed to scale up their businesses and connect with international investors.
French Ambassador to South Africa, David Martinon, told TimesLive recently that “these entrepreneurs represent the future of Africa’s creative industry”.
