Usi supports plans to set up arts council
Comedian, dramatist and playwright Michael Usi, popularly known as Manganya, was recently appointed Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture. The ministry is also in charge of the Department of Arts, which is one of the areas the minister has made a name for himself. Now the question that has been lingering in many people’s minds is what artists should expect from one of their own. Our reporter YVONNIE SUNDU interviewed Usi on this and more. Excerpts:
Q
: Artists have for long talked of the need to have a National Arts Council to address their welfare. How do you plan to set it up so that it benefits artists?
A
: The previous government has sold me guilt. What I mean is that this is one of the issues I have been grappling with as an artist. Some of the strategies I was using while at Adra, I will also use them here to help artists. It will be on a bigger scale now. We need to have a creative arts body which should have a communication mechanism to know what is happening with its members. I don’t want to see what I have seen in the past where a sick artist is neglected and nothing is done. But when he is dead, the government comes in to buy a coffin, they say a lot of thing. That to me is gross immorality and shouldn’t be happening. Some issues are blamed on the ministry and it’s not all correct because it has to deal with policies, but there are bodies that have to deal with the nitty-gritties on the ground. As such, I support the idea of a council.
Q:
Many countries such as South Africa and India use their culture and art to boost tourism and the economy. How can Malawi ensure that its culture is not just used for identity, but for economic benefits as well?
A
: A strategy is a very good tool to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. This issue being raised is an agenda, but we have to see how to achieve it. What are the action plans and action steps to achieve that? Who are the stakeholders? Tourism attachés in foreign missions, what are they doing? Part of their obligation is to ensure that Malawi is being sold, is this being achieved? How much value have they brought to the tourism of Malawi? We are also looking at capacity for musicians to come up with a product that showcases Malawi as a country in a serious discipline, something that has to be done with quality, much innovation, thought and financial support. That is why when it comes to that action plan, we should look at value, but better placed in terms of quality, capacity and even the talent to sell Malawi out there. We can have competitions amongst the artists and the winner gets a contract to sell Malawi because this is business. This ministry is a business entity, where after getting money from the government, we are supposed to produce. As such, marketing is very critical, but this requires, timing, messaging and channels of communication.
Q
:The country has talent in film making, but filmmakers are not getting anything and instead, they are spending from their pockets. What’s your plan for them?
A
: Having visited Nollywood and shot a film in the United States, plus interacting with foreign film makers, I know what goes on. In Malawi, we have Shemu Joya, Flora Suya and Joyce Chavula Mhango, among others, who knows what ought to be done. If these people need to be contracted, give us the pathway and the ministry should not be reinventing the wheel. The human capital I have found here is suitable and fit to take us far in terms of developing the industry and everything. What is lacking is support like finances, networking and independence to think and implement. We need to stop celebrating activities but rather achievements.
Q
: There is a huge outcry on piracy by musicians and filmakers, how best can this malpractice be addressed?
A
: Piracy is a challenge not only in Malawi, but all over. What we can do is minimise piracy by having institutions entrusted with discipline of the industry going flat out. When a film is produced, sometimes it grows wings before it is released. We have legal instruments against piracy, but the artists themselves don’t know. For us to address this issue, I will strive to ensure that specific issues that call for the collaboration of other ministries or departments are done properly. I am a victim of piracy, when I released my film Manganya in Action, it was heavily pirated in Lilongwe and Blantyre, just to mention a few places. We caught lots of people with the copies, but for the law enforcers to go and arrest those individuals, they depended on my pocket. I had to use my money and I was spending more money than I had thought just to arrest two people yet there were more. The artists are challenged as they cannot go after the pirates, but with concerted efforts from all stakeholders, we can minimise these cases.
Q
: Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) has been accused of cheating artists on their royalties. There have also been instances where radio stations owe musicians royalties. What role are you going to play in addressing these issues?
A
: First of all, we need to understand the anatomy of Cosoma, its structure and how it functions. My focus will be ensuring the royalties goes to legitimate people because there is a case in question which is very interesting. The day I got appointed as a minister, I got communication from Cosoma asking for details of my films for royalties, I was surprised. It is a case that will unlock a lot of issues as I have a number of questions to ask them. It will not be me asking, but the ministry. My case will be used as an example to get to the bottom of this.
Q
: We have talked about tourism, culture and art. Where does Manganya fit in all this? Or, is this the death of Manganya?
A
:[Laughs] An actor will never die. Right now people are still enjoying my episodes which I did a long time ago. Manganya lives in me, but now that I am a minister, I may not be there for acting purposes. If someone wants help with writing and directing plays, I am available.However, I hold the view that Malawi is not short of artists, there are plenty of them and my job is not to monopolise. So this time around, I will be offering support services because my job is so demanding now.
