Mzuzu University (Mzuni) head of Department of Language, Cultural and Creative Studies Chimwemwe Kamanga says the proposed Bachelor of Arts in Language and Creative Arts programme aims to provide an all-round understanding of the creative industry.
He told a validation meeting on the proposed programme held at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas), Blantyre on Monday. that the programme’s graduates will be empowered to benefit from their creative works.
Said Kamanga: “Most of the practitioners in the creative space do not have academic grounding and it is hoped that through this programme, we will be able to roll out additional short courses and other arrangements to include creative players to empower them to reap the fruits of their art.”
He said the programme will bring a number of creative aspects, including emerging and conventional ones.
“There are many talented individuals in Malawi and only a few aspects are required for the players in the creative industry to be complete. Much as they may be able to produce something that may earn them money at the end of the day they may not benefit much because of some slips in knowledge,” said Kamanga.
He said the Department of Language Cultural and Creative Studies has evolved from the department of English and with that evolution, a need has arisen to come up with the programme of their own.
Kamanga noted at the moment, Mzuni only has one programme which is the Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics Law Enforcement Discourse.
“We are moving away from the traditional way of looking at language considering how the world is evolving and moving into a more use of the language on a daily basis,” he said.
In November 2023, the Department of Language, Cultural and Creative Studies at Mzuni conducted a needs assessment exercise for their proposed Bachelor of Arts in Language and Creative Arts programme.
To ensure that the programme is comprehensive, relevant and aligned with both national and industry needs, the department is conducting validation meetings with key stakeholders to to review and validate the updated draft programme document.
Actor-cum-filmmaker Arthur Chokotho has lauded Mzuni for the programme which he said will give Malawi’s creative players a platform to validate their craft.
“Sometimes talent alone is not enough. This maybe the last puzzle that may help to lift our creative industry to the next level,” he said.
Other teaching institutions that offer courses for the creative industry are University of Malawi and Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must).
