New arts cafe: art place

I have always wondered why artists never use their creativity for their own benefit.

Then came Friday, June 23, a day to go down in the annals of Malawi’s art history as one on which Nanzikambe Arts in Naperi unveiled an ambitious plan that any artist must welcome with a broad smile.

It is on this day that Nanzikambe, over a free drink—and that was nice considering it was solid mid-month—showed their Arts Cafe to a selected few from the media, arts groups, and other sectors with good link to arts. 

Here is where artists and their publics can have proper meetings with blessings from the gods of art. If you like it, over a drink, with music playing in the background. 

An arts cafe, in Nanzikambe’s sense, is where a new direction in arts can be borne. 

Actually it is here where plans can be hatched on ways of combating behaviours that give art a bad name.

I was also happy to see Carlsberg Malawi there, pledging to stand by both the cafe and its patrons.

We drank on them too!

I know if it were not for the company’s brands manager [alcoholic] Twikale Chirwa’s car that cannot carry over five crates of drinks and four 750ml bottles of spirits, we could have toasted to the birth of the cafe well beyond midnight!

But I guess that would be too bad for a start considering the place is not a hideout where artists will drink their senses out and stage free shows themed on lawlessness.

At least, this is the impression I gathered from the event.

Here is a haven where artists and their clients can sit side by side at the counter, take out their masks, wipe off their make-up, order drinks and snacks and toast to a glittering future of the arts.

There is so much that can be shared; for instance, how to sharpen that drama plot, plan or price events, how to pluck that bass guitar, how to best keep it tight on the tempo of drums or keyboards, how to polish that wood sculpture to a gloss or conduct oneself on stage during that five minute stand up comedy session.

Can somebody say cheers!

Here is where the unity between art associations should grow; remember, a united voice can bring down all Jericho walls in arts.

I believe there is so little interaction between art associations today. But little by little, an egg will walk.

This arts cafe is a place for all art colours. Cheers to art’s newfound home!