Actor Ngoma sounds SOS on Uganda trip
Malawian actor Kelvin Ngoma is on the verge of missing out at the African Monolugue Challenge in Uganda.
He is among 10 African finalists nominated to contest for the grand award slated for August 18 in Uganda. However, he is failing to raise K1.7 million for his travelling expenses.
“I have done everything I can from knocking on doors to starting online fundraisers, but all the efforts have proven futile,” said Ngoma.
Meanwhile, his fellow contenders are lodged at Pan African House in Uganda as they prepare for the final showdown.
He said: “The competition is in progress and I am late, hence, my plea for assistance for a return air ticket. Hopefully someone will see this and help me travel to Uganda for the challenge. This is a very important event in my career and the country at large and it will be a shame to miss it.”
The aim of the tourism-based challenge is to bring African countries together and sell their countries, traditions and costumes while competing the Best African Monologist and Best African country to visit.
Commenting on the development, Film Association of Malawi vice-president Ashukile Mwakisulu expressed concern over Ngoma’s situation. He said efforts that were made by the association to assist the actor have yielded nothing.
“It is really discouraging that we as a nation fail to take advantage of these initiatives that can help boost the creative industry in the country,” he said.
Mwakisulu said they are still hopeful that some intervention will be found:“We are still appealing to well-wishers to come forward and support Kelvin. We are supposed to be proud as a country of this man,” he added.
Ngoma has starred in several movies including The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Fatsani, Is the President Dead and Highbrow.
The other contenders in the challenge are from Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe , Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire
