Nsanje Rise Up to use art to tackle challenges
economic rights
Nsanje Rise Up—a grouping of people from Nsanje District which in 2017 presented a petition to the government on challenges facing the Lower Shire has decided to use arts to discuss the issues.
The grouping has since indicated that they will be holding a festival on Mother’s Day, ‘October 15’ where there will be a showcase of arts and culture as well as sports and blended with discussions on different issues.
“There has been no concrete feedback since we presented a petition only the road which was built during the time of the late Bingu wa Mutharika is the only thing government honoured us with. Nsanje District is rich in among others, cultural issues but it has been left ignored,” Eric Trinta, who spearheads Nyamithambo Arts Palace, said yesterday.
He said they decided to come up with another festival so as to show the best of what Nsanje District and Lower Shire in general is made of in terms of arts.
“There have been other activities that have been organised over the years but they have been political. With this festival, there will be no politics, the community will be responsible for driving it with support from other stakeholders such as Nyamithambo,” Trinta said.
He said through the platform, they wanted Nsanje and Lower Shire to know their rights.
“This is why we say arts is important. We want to use this event to make people understand their economic rights and what they have been robbed of over the years. We have for instance, non-governmental organisations penetrating communities but do not engage them fully,” Trinta said.
He also said the festival will have a discussion on the issue of the abandoned in-land port.
“Politicians need to be told what is right and what is wrong. There is actually no development in Nsanje District and Lower Shire. So, we are looking into a lot of areas, you talk of education, land, tourism and arts,” Trinta said.
The festival, according to Trinta, will be held at Nsanje Youth Centre where there will be performances from, among others, Jay Maga, Mr Peter, Thimfu and Fat K.
“We have the Mbona shrines but how much is the district benefiting and how much is it losing out? We will be doing this every year,” he said.
With the government saying recently that festivals should avoid duplication of dates but also be innovative, Trinta said this festival is unique and wants to help build Nsanje District.
