Malawi celebrates Africa Day
Several organisations across the country staged a number of exhibitions and activities to mark the climax of Africa Day commemorations yesterday under the theme Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.
Global Internet, which also runs Serendib Hotels, staged in-house activities where all its staff were clad in traditional African gear.
The company’s chief commercial officer Elias Imaan said being an African company that is doing business in an African country, they thought it wise to develop a concept that will reflect the significance of the day.
“If we can borrow the theme of the day, you will see that in our hotel business, cultural issues matter a lot.
“We appreciate that people who do come to our resorts not only come to visit, but also come to appreciate what Malawi is all about as an African nation,” he said.
On their part, digital television service providers MultiChoice, who have dedicated the whole month of May to the Africa Day celebrations, introduced an Afro-cinema pop-up channel on their DStv and GOtv platforms.
The channel, which started airing on May 21 and will run until May 30, is designed to celebrate Africa’s cultural diversity which is captured and reflected in the work that is produced by filmmakers from the African continent.
MultiChoice Group chief executive officer (entertainment and connected video) Yolisa Phahle said the essence of Africa Day is about celebrating African unity, success as well as acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead.
“Because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the film industry, we want to celebrate the resilience that the African film industry has shown,” she said.
As part of the commemorations, Research for Lost History Foundation, together with Nzika Muliyenda, on Saturday staged arts activities such as poetry, music, lessons on Africa Day and a special libation session for those who dedicated their lives for the liberation of Africa.
The movement’s director Paliani Chinguwo said they are trying to promote the aspects of African spirituality from the perspective of how ancestors used to believe and practise various ideas and concepts.
“So many of these aspects have been discarded and we are trying to dig and find ways how they can be useful in the modern day. In our case, it is more of a disaster since we have abandoned much of our indigenous knowledge,” he said.
