Eric Trinta, the proprietor of Nyamithambo Arts Palace in Lilongwe and Blantyre, has been in the artistic realm for many years. He continues to initiate artistic ventures with the aim of helping in developing the creative sector and promoting and preserving the country’s culture. Trinta believes the country still has not done enough to treasure the creative industry and yet it has more to offer in terms of developing Malawi including fighting unemployment. Sam Banda Jnr had a chat with him.
Firstly, tell us more about Nyamithambo Arts Palace and why you created it?
I am someone who is so passionate about art. I have done music but then this was not enough for me; so I thought of creating Nyamithambo Arts Palace after seeing that there were a lot of young people with massive talent but did not have the space to showcase their works. I started with Lilongwe before taking it further to create another space in Nsanje District where I come from. I am happy with the strides that we have made this far because we have seen young people coming out to showcase their works in different art disciplines.
You are also into accounting; why art?
As I have indicated, I came into the creative industry as an artist through music. I observed that huge population which cannot go for white collar jobs are in this sector but policy makers and other players are not supporting it to achieve its potential. This is where I thought I should move in and help especially with the fact that I was also into music apart from accounting. I took a deliberate deviation into investing in arts through Nyamithambo Arts Palace and started pushing for right policies to be put in so that an artist is served better and create conducive environment for the creative industry.
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You have spoken highly about wealth creation. How do you connect it with art?
Wealth creation at household level has been my concern and the only way for Africa including Malawi is arts and culture which is sidelined. So, we want Nyamithambo to create more wealth to millions of Malawians. We want it to be one of the best in the creative industry by seeing Malawi having right investments in its natural capitals, the lake and Shire River being the priority. Once Malawi has the National Arts and Heritage Council, we want to take over the management of museums and create more cultural villages throughout Malawi.
Apart from driving Nyamithambo Arts Palace, you have also created a festival – Khulubvi Arts and Cultural Festival; tell us more about this event?
Khulubvi Arts and Cultural Festival started as Nsanje Arts Festival as at first, we thought of hosting it at Nsanje Youth Centre Ground and later changed its name to Khulubvi Arts and Cultural Festival as its venue now is along the Khulubvi Highway which runs from Marka to Sorgin covering the whole of Nsanje District.
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Why did you pick the name Khulubvi? Is it because of the place Khulubvi where there are Mb’ona shrines?
Khulubvi is a name everyone in Nsanje District or Shire Valley should be proud of as it is a national treasure and we felt duty bound to uplift it just like Unesco did.
What comes to you when you look at Shire Valley apart from the fact that it is where you come from?
Shire Valley has vast natural capital which needed a platform for it to be seen worldwide and I felt the festival will save that purpose and also to clear negativity which was there towards Shire Valley.
To this far, are you satisfied with the steps you have made since you started the festival?
We are making great progress and we have achieved much both locally and at national level. Crucial topics have been debated and solutions presented. Sena and Mang’anja cultures have been rekindled and put on the map and there is positivity in thinking by communities and we are expecting to achieve more. Young artists have developed and they see future in arts and are learning a lot from cultural dances for their works. We are yet to achieve our greater goals though due to funding as mostly it is individuals funding as corporates are yet to come in. Shire Valley needs unity of purpose for it to achieve its potential at household level and that is what we want to achieve by the end of the day. We cannot have heavy investments which do not create independent society and right infrastructure, roads etc.
How unique is Khulubvi Arts and Cultural Festival?
Our festival is unique as it has an issue to address yearly through themes created for each edition. This year, we are running under the theme ‘Shire Valley, time to shine: let’s empower our people’. We are looking at positivity of the Shire Valley. It is the only place with heavy investments: Shire Valley Transformation Programme, sugar industry, energy as in ethanol and electricity, livestock, cotton and tourism through Majete Game Reserve and other reserves and Mb’ona shrines. All these are there but the district and its people remain poor and vulnerable. We need to balance the two as conflicts are now coming out between the investors and communities. You can see the vandalism going on.
Lastly any other comments you can make?
Khulubvi Arts and Cultural Festival is a platform to reach out to both investors and communities, utilizing arts and culture for development. We are asking communities to embrace this festival as their own and support it. Corporate society should come in as they benefit from these communities.
