Chitoliro Productions announces its arrival
A new entertainment company trading under the name Chitoliro Productions is born. It was founded by Ken ‘Zizwa’ Limwame, a co-director of the now defunct Nde’feyo Entertainment music stable. Zizwa is no stranger when it comes to the entertainment business in the country having championed a number initiatives including establishment of Urban Music People Awards. Our Staff Reporter BRIAN ITAI caught up with Zizwa to share more about the Chitoliro Productions dream. Excerpts:
Q
: What is Chitoliro Productions representing?
A
: Chitoliro Productions embodies an emergent idea, dream and platform dedicated to cultivating and enjoying the fruits of African creativity, prioritising Malawi. We collaborate across various artistic realms, including music, film, dance, fashion, and even sports. Our mission involves structural improvements of the local creative industries, fostering new ventures, revitalising the UMP, Urban Music People, movement, and honouring Nde’feyo Entertainment’s legacy. We are off to a good start. Our in-house musical talents are converging in a supergroup called Chito Sealz, set to release projects starting with an upcoming EP. On Nde’feyo Legacy, we had the seminal two shows this year in Lilongwe and Blantyre, which were well received. We are encouraged to make this an annual endeavour powered by an informal network of nationwide self-sustaining Nde’feyo youth music clubs. Last week, we had a sold-out first show of Chitoliro Concerts series at Mibawa Multimedia Hall, supported by WS Bet, which brought together Malinga, Trumel, Mibawa Band and Maskal. Expect the return of explosive UMP-themed activities such as the festival and awards. Stay tuned for more updates as we will have more on this in a separate communique in the coming days.
Q
: Which areas will you focus on in your projects?
A
: Our interventions span upstream and downstream activities in all creative sectors, encompassing publishing, live and tech entertainment, urban arts capacity-sharing platforms, mentorship, touring and bookings.
Q
: Who are some of the artists that you are working with?
A
: Currently, we have supported Maskal’s return to the industry and our collaboration with other artists under the Chito Sealz collective will be announced soon. We worked with Nde’feyo Entertainment former artists during the Legacy shows (Piksy, Onesimus, Trumel, Bucci, and Maskal).
Q
: Is the coming of the company Chitoliro Productions a continuation of the Nde’feyo Entertainment mission?
A
: The Nde’feyo Entertainment’s mission as a record label was fulfilled. Nde’feyo’s legacy remains vibrant, and we will always celebrate it. However, Chitoliro Productions carries forward its values of excellence, community, authenticity, and innovation.
Q
: What are some of the objectives that the new company seeks to fulfil?
A
: Our objectives include establishing a positive narrative for Malawi, producing global-quality creative projects, staying abreast of industry trends, and technological advancements, and expanding markets. My role as executive producer entails being the patron of the journey, while day-to-day operations fall under a dedicated production team. Success in our endeavours hinges on the collaboration of various stakeholders, including policymakers, to meet our shared objectives.n
