By Kenneth Zindondo, contributor:
There is a symphony of wealth in the cultural industries in the country as they contribute an estimated K28 billion to the economy annually.
This is according to a mapping report unveiled at the University of Malawi (Unima) in Zomba on Friday.
The report stems from a study by two Unima academicians—Zindaba Chisiza, a Professor of Drama and Theatre Development, and Gowokani Chijere Chirwa, Professor of Economics—who tracked the sector’s economic footprint from 2013 to 2021.
The mapping report says the cultural industries hold untapped potential that, if leveraged, can contribute significantly to development.
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It reveals that the creative engine accounts for 0.4 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Presenting the findings, Chijere Chirwa, who is research co-lead, pointed out that despite structural hitches, the numbers pointed to a sector on the rise.
“The figures show that there is a promising improvement, in terms of growth, in the cultural sector compared to recent years,” he said.
The report also reveals that media art which includes broadcasting and digital content takes the crown as the highest annual monetary contributor, with visual arts and cultural heritage on second and third respectively.
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The study lays bare deep seated gender disparities that continue to plague the creative ecosystem.
“We found that males dominate the industry more than females. At the same time, males earn more than their female counterparts,” Chirwa said.
He said the sector remains heavily youth- driven and holds immense potential if matched with the right structural investments.
Chisiza bemoaned the unfriendly environment local creators navigate, observing that, despite the sector’s proven economic viability, artists are still choked by a lack of government support, tight financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure and economic shocks.
“These challenges severely hamper the overall growth and sustainable development of our creative minds,” Chisiza said.
To bridge the gap, the scholars have recommended that the government increase direct financing to the creative sector and foster research-driven policy-making that unites all stakeholders.
Director of Arts in the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, Humphreys Mpondaminga, welcomed the report.
“Plans are underway to introduce specific grant provisions within the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) framework to ensure that local artists benefit directly at the community level,” Mpondaminga said.
Meanwhile, legislator MacPherson Ndalama, who is also founder and Executive Director of Zaluso Arts, has underscored the need for sustained research to amplify the sector’s voice in national budget conversations.
The study was conducted with financial and technical support from Rei Foundation and the Malawi National Commission for Unesco.
