Fourteen acts including afro-jazz singer, songwriter, bassist and guitarist Maggie Kadrum are set to fly the country’s flag at the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Festival in New Delhi in India from February 2 to 18 2024.
Organised by Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Culture and External Affairs, Surajkund Festival, is the world’s largest crafts fair.
This annual event celebrates lesser known folk traditions and cultural heritage of India with the aid of fine and performing artists invited from all over the world.
The festival was first held in 1987 and is renowned for its ability to attract lovers of arts and crafts from all over the world.
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In 2015, the festival was attended by 1.2 million people, of whom 160,000 were foreigners.
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Director of Arts in the Department of Arts in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Humphrey Mpondaminga, said yesterday that this is a huge platform for Malawi to market creative products that artists will be exhibiting.
“Malawi first participated at the festival in 2020; it is huge and, so, it gives us a chance to penetrate the international market and at the same time showcase our culture since the visual artists are also being accompanied by musicians and dancers coming from Tabwera, Mtendere and Malawi National Dance troupes,” Mpondaminga said.
He said the 14 acts to showcase talents through crafts, fashion, folk music and dance have been carefully selected to represent Malawi through the befitting art genres and that the organisers have pledged to meet costs for, among other things, flights.
“We also have Maggie Kadrum, a talented musician who sings and writes her own songs in Tumbuka, her native language and English. Through her lyrics and melodies, Maggie preserves Malawi’s cultural heritage and showcases the power of diversity,” Mpondaminga said of the artist, who in December launched her debut album titled Nkhwiza.
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Some of the visual artists who will make the trip include Lawrence Daka, who is the director of Dingilo Arts and Crafts, which produces crafted beadwork and African traditional jewelry.
A long-time member of Visual Arts Association of Malawi (Vaam), Daka has participated in several art exhibitions both local and international.
The other artist set to showcase her work at the festival is Regina Mlambe, who is also a French teacher at Likuni Boys Secondary School in Lilongwe.
Mlambe, through her Art Regina, promotes waste recycling for better environment through creation of jewelry, artificial fruits, vegetables, wall hangings and ornaments from discarded plastic bottles, thin plastics, ashes, office papers and glass bottles, among others.
“I am excited to be part of the delegation going to India. Departure is January 31 2024. I am happy that I will be showcasing my art from waste resources,” the artist, who is passionate about upcycling, said.
Rajab Misesa of Aburaj Fashion Brand is part of the delegation
