Music Crossroads Malawi empowers artists in the North

 Music Crossroads Malawi has mobilised musicians in the Northern Region to undertake a two-week music training focusing on various topics to help them improve their skills.

The training, which has attracted 30 artists, aim to elevate their craft and promote sustainable growth within the music industry.

In an interview, Music Crossroads Malawi director Matthews Mfune said the training is designed to empower artists not only creatively, but also as entrepreneurs capable of managing their careers.

“We are giving them a music training that is looking at various aspects in terms of sharpening their musical skills as in practising musical instruments to better their profession, but also providing a workshop on how they can look at music as business and how they can sell themselves and their products.

“Through the programme, we want to train musicians in the north to do better in their music and be professionals in their field,” he said.

Mfune said the Northern Region is mostly sidelined by most training institutions that deal with arts and culture making it less active.

“Very little is happening in Mzuzu and surrounding areas because of the absent of institutions. So, artists are deprived of the platform and the opportunities for training. However, we want to raise their profile, but also thought we could do something for the musicians in Mzuzu,” he said.

Pierre Mangoche, an artist and member of the Fingerprint Band, who is taking part in the training has commended Music Crossroads for giving them the opportunity.

“It is a good opportunity for us creatives to be able to network with other people and get the professional exposure that we do not normally have here in Mzuzu. The training will help us attain a level of professionalism on the type of music that we do as we extend the skills to other creatives,” he said.

The training focuses on copy right law, tax related issues and music management.

The project has involves facilitators from the Musicians Organisers Volunteer Exchange (Move) project, an international exchange project of young musicians coming from Malawi, Mozambique, Norway and Brazil. n

PHOTOGRAPH: HAPPY VALIRANI