The trajectory of the country’ creative industries has fledged to a significant height for the past decade or two. The arts and cultural fraternity have seen some tremendous changes which have shaped the business outlook of fields such as music, film, drama, writing and, of late, content-creation where female creatives have soared high.
However, for a long time, the country’s creative industry has been dominated by male artists who have not only conquered the music airwaves, but also swept a substantial number of awards across different competitions such as UMP, Maso and the rebranded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s (MBC) Entertainers of the Year.
For example, for the past decade, very few female creatives won or made it through most arts awards (e.g music, film and content-creation). But the landscape is steadily changing. People have begun to witness the rise and efforts of female creatives who have been dominating in different fields such as content-creation, social media influencing, music and filmmaking.
This has been the case for the past two or three years when more female creatives have emerged to exert pressure to ascend to the top. This has not only resulted in the creative industry recording mass nomination of female artists in different awards, but also winning them.
The list of successful female creatives who have made headlines for the past two or three years included Afro Pop artists Temwah, Amapiano singer Jetu (AKA Celebu wamkulu), and the rising star Emmie Deebo, gospel musicians Theresa Phondo and Miracle Chinga, and actresses Enifa Chiwaya, AKA Nanyoni, Flora Suya and Cynthia Zulu.
For example, Miracle Chinga broke the record last year for winning four trophies to lead the pack of female artists to the supremacy in the country. She won Entertainers of the Entertainers and Best Gospel Artist of the Year (Female category) in the MBC Entertainers of the Year, and Best Gospel Artist of the Year and Best Song of the Year (for Nseli, which features Evans Mereka) awards in Maso Awards.
Apart from winning two awards in 2023’s Maso Awards (Best Female Artist of the Year) and MBC Entertainers of the Year (Best Secular Artists of the Year), Afro Pop/Amapiano female artist Temwa Gondwe (popularly known as Temwah) won the Best Zikomo Africa Female Artist of the Year international Award in the 2024 (Zikomo Africa Awards) and Best Collaboration of the Year Award in the 2024 Maso Awards for the song Mapemphero, which features Gwamba, Lawi and Dr. Namadingo.
Veteran actress Enifa Chiwaya, who is popularly known as Nanyoni won two trophies in the 2024 MBC’s Entertainers of the Year (Best Actress of the Year and Best Stage Actress of the Year). Flora Suya and Shantel Elia won the Best TV Actress of the Year and Best Actress of the Year awards in the 2024 MBC Entertainers of the Year. While Cynthia Zulu scooped the Best Actress of the Year in the Maso Awards (Maso Awards).
The 2024 Entertainers of the Year also saw the Best TV and Radio Personality of the Year accolades going to Ruth Kulaisi and Chikondi Phinda of MBC, respectively.
Rising star Emmie Deebo won Secular Artist of the Year in MBC Entertainers of the Year (2024); whereas, Theresa Phondo bagged the Best Female Artist of the Year Award in the 2024 Maso Awards.
Jackie Kantambe Ryan of the famous Jackie show (of the popular slogan, ‘Moni, ndine Jackie’) grabbed two awards in the 2024 Maso Awards (Best Female Content Creator of the Year and People’s Choice Award).
While Hannah Jabesi AKA Tamia Ja received the Content Creator of the Year Award in the MBC’s Entertainers of the Year (2024). And Arts Promoting Social Media Platform Award went to Mijedo Corner which is run by comedian Felistus Nya-Uyu Ngwira.
Fashion designer Xandria of Xandria House of Fashion received the Fashion Designer of the Year Award in the 2024 Maso Awards.
Miracle Chinga bagged four awards in 2024 for the first time since she took over the music birthright from where her late mother Grace Chinga stopped in 2016. The Thamanga Mwanamkazi hitmaker attributed her milestones to hard work and determination.
“It was not easy to win an award in the past because most of us (female artists) used to look down upon ourselves. But now, the situation has changed. Experience has taught us a big lesson to believe in ourselves.
I owe my excellence to myself for not giving up, my producers for believing in my potential and fans for giving me unwavering support,” said Miracle.
She urged the corporate world to invest in female creatives, saying they have different projects which require investments.
“I would like to urge the corporate world in the country to invest in female creatives’ projects because they have potential to contribute towards the growth of their brands and the country’s economic growth. The more female artists are engaged in projects the more jobs are created to lessen their vulnerabilities,” remarked Miracle.
