United States of America Next Level initiative is set to empower local artists with a 10-day masterclass in hip hop disciplines of dance, beat making, MCing and graffiti.
US Department of State initiative uses hip hop music, dance and art to foster cross-cultural creative exchanges and community engagement among creatives.
Organised in collaboration with Kweza Arts Hub with support from the US Embassy in Malawi, the programme will take place from November 4 to 15 at Kweza Arts Hub, Lilongwe.
Facilitator and team leader MeccaGodZilla said the excitement about the programme is an opportunity for artists to learn from each other.
“I am thrilled to lead a team for Next Level’s cultural exchange in Malawi and collaborate with Kweza in Lilongwe. We are not just sharing our expertise in hip hop, but connect, learn and grow together with the incredible artists of Malawi. This programme is all about building bridges through the universal language of hip hop and I cannot wait to see what we create together,” he said in the statement.
The masterclass will be facilitated by a team of professionals from the US, including Queen Gabby (Dance), DJ Hoppa (Beatmaking), Polaryss (MC) and Nosey42 (Street Art) with MeccaGodZilla leading as site manager.
The programme will cater for a group of young artists aged 18 to 35 with slots for 30 dancers, 20 rappers and 15 participants in beat making and street art. They will become part of the initiatives through
applications which will close on October 25.
In an interview, Kweza Art Hub manager Alfred Ochieng urged artists to apply for the masterclass to explore international standards of creativity.
“The creative industry is growing and to reach international standards, local creatives need to be equipped and this programme which offers a cultural exchange with professionals who are already operating at a level we are striving for,” he said.
Ochieng added that the facilities at Kweza Arts Hub, including the recording studio, dance studio, Kweza quad and the whole space will be at the disposal of the programme for the entire 10 days.
With free participation and transport, the programme will conclude with a showcase event where participants will present their creations to the public at a venue to be announced later.
Through the same exchange programme, local artists like Gwamba and Suffix have been to the USA as participants in the initiative.n
