Musician Malala invited to France
Blantyre–based acoustic musician Malala real name James Kuchilala has been invited to France by Association Bongo to attend an inter-cultural recording and music residency.
Malala, who has one album to his credit titled Tsogolo confirmed the development yesterday, saying the inter-cultural recording and music residency will run from September 16 to September 26, 2015.
“I am excited to be invited to this inter-cultural recording and music residency, these are the opportunities that as artists we dream of, this will give me time to show what music Malawi has, it’s also a platform which will give me a chance to network with other artists,” said Malala.
The acoustic musician however, has said the Association Bongo will only cater for accommodation and food for the duration and that he needs to make arrangements for his transport.
“At the moment we are working on the transport arrangements with my manager Tawonga Nkhonjera but if there are well-wishers out there who can assist us then the better. I will be going there not as Malala but as a musician from Malawi,” said the soft-spoken singer and guitarist.
He said Association Bongo came in contact with him having listened to his music which he uploaded in different online platforms.
Malala also said he is happy with the response he has received from Malawians since he released his debut album Tsogolo and has promised to do more.
Nkhonjera said they were happy with the opportunity which has come up for Malala but he said they still need support from well wishers as regards transport and insurance.
“We have been working with companies like General Alliance who have assisted us greatly as regards insurance in our previous projects and we hope they will help us again but then other companies can also assist us in raising money for his air tickets to and from France. This is a platform which will help expose his music and raise the country’s flag,” he said.
According to a letter of invitation dated August 24, 2015, Malala will attend the inter-cultural recording and music residency at their recording studio located in Route de Montbrun.
The Association says in the letter that their aim is to bring musicians from different cultures together for cultural and musical exchange and to promote cross border network building between international musical communities.
“The participation of Malala in this project is of great importance for our association and the culture of our region of France,” says Association Bongo President Gaia Miato.
Miato says they will be arranging studio time, concerts and radio broadcasts and interviews as well as cultural visits and meetings with musicians from all over Europe throughout the visit.
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