Vice-President Michael Usi has featured in a short film alongside Nigerian actors Charles Awurum, Charles Inojie and Nkiru Sylvanus.
The three actors were in the country courtesy of Shepherd Bushiri Foundation (SBF) ‘s initiative to connect them with Film Association of Malawi (Fama) to enhance Malawi’s film industry and expose local talent to international opportunities.
Malawi Virus tells the story of Manga (played by Usi), a Malawian footballer pursuing his career in Nigeria.
While there, he becomes romantically involved with another man’s wife (played by Sylvanus) leading to a police report. The officer (played by Inojie) sides with the complainant, a Nigerian citizen (played by Awurum), arguing that Manga’s actions are unacceptable.
However, when they confront Manga in the company of the woman, he silently offers a bribe.
To his shock, the officer turns against him, accusing him of instilling fear in a foreigner and placing him under arrest.
Shot in Malawi, the production highlights issues of bribery, reflecting real-life challenges in law enforcement.
In an interview, SBF public relations officer Aubrey Kusakala said the veep initiated the movie project after meeting the actors at Shepherd Bushiri’s birthday celebrations.
According to Kusakala, the film is not the final version and fans should reserve their conclusions until it is completed.
“He took an initiative to shoot the movie with them, but it is not a finished product,” he said.
However, Kusakala said the production is a positive stride in pushing forward the industry.
“The short film has already shown how Malawian and Nigerian cultures can blend to create something appealing. Our focus is to ensure our Malawian actors grow and penetrate both local and international markets,” he said.
Speaking while in Malawi, Awurum emphasised the importance for Malawians to tell their stories.
“Film is a powerful tool and it’s important for Malawians to use it to address social issues affecting their country. You don’t have to wait for someone to tell your stories, you can tell them better,” he said.
It is not part of the initial partnership between Fama and SBF, according to Kusakala.
Fans commended the production after Awurum posted the short film on his Facebook and YouTube pages.
One Frederick Otieno commented “Now this is pure content, we need more of these collaborations ahead,” he said.
Another one, Steith Winter wrote “This is a must watch, would love to see the whole movie.”
