The year 2025 redefined careers for creatives who earned different milestones in their areas of expertise.
Owing to their outstanding work, some individuals received recognition both at international and local level.
On the music front, Temwah and Emmie Deebo shone at the continental Zikomo Africa Awards by scooping the Best Artist Award and Best Female Artist in Southern Africa respectively.
The nature of their triumph was particularly fulfilling as the two competed against counterparts from across the region such as Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea.
Said Temwah: “I am very excited. Honestly, the competition was tough. There were a lot of people who were equally deserving of the award. I am so thankful to God and I take this as a blessing because I did not expect it.”
At the same Zikomo Africa Awards platform, entrepreneur and evangelist Prophet Shepherd Bushiri also walked away with the Philanthropist of the Year Award. Twenty-nine Malawian artists were nominated for the awards.
Blossoming movie producer Beatus Msamange received two separate nominations at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards. Msamange received nominations in the Best MTF Movie category for his films Mananga and Rivals in Time which he produced and directed respectively.
Actress-cum-director Joyce Mhango-Chavula won the Special Jury Award at the Kenyan Yora International Film Awards for her directory role in the movie The Gunless Soldier. The film also received four awards at the UMP International Film Festival.
It was awarded the Best Cinematography Award, Best Sound Award, Best Feature Film Award and Best Makeup Award.
The seasoned actress said the international awards that Malawian filmmakers are winning reflect the progress the local film industry has made.
“This shows that the local film industry is progressing and this is evidence that we are producing films resonating globally. It also serves as a call to encourage other local filmmakers to tap into the global market. The opportunities are huge,” she said.
Fashion promoter and Miss Culture Global pageant founder Lorraine Kljajic got nominated for the Pageant Producer of the Year by Lumin & Lifestyle Magazine of Nigeria. She also received a nomination for the Pageant Director of the Year Award at the Fourwall Models Awards in Nigeria.
The awards celebrate the achievements of models and industry experts in the pageant and modelling industry.
Kljajic said: “I am honoured with the nomination. It shows that excellence can emerge even from underrepresented spaces. Coming from Malawi, where pageantry and fashion sectors are still growing, this recognition means our stories, beauty and creativity are being noticed and respected globally.”
The pageant organiser was also decorated with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the UMP Fashion Awards for her role in promoting fashion under her Miss Culture Global and the African Fashion and Arts Festival.
Four Malawian fashion players received nominations in different categories at the Volta Fashion Week Awards and Honours 2025 in Ghana.
Monalisa Kafuwa was nominated for Star of Africa Photogenic Model of the Year Award, Dolphine Designs got a nomination for Star Africa Next Rated Fashion Designer Award, Landry Idel J and Benjamin Njanji received nominations for Star Africa Next Rated Models of the Year Awards.
The Volta Fashion Week Awards is a Pan-African fashion platform that brings together Francophone, Anglophone and Africa fashion players under one umbrella to showcase their unique talents.
There was more joy on the fashion and modelling front when Miss Tourism 2025 Olivia Masonga won the Beauty With Impact Award at the Miss Tourism International Pageant which was held in Jos, Plateau State in Nigeria.
