By Alex Kachingwe

Blantyre, September 2, Mana: Youths from various townships in Blantyre caught their leisure time at Chichiri Museum on Sunday, where Nzeka Arts organized a talent show dubbed, ‘Luso Langa Talent Exhibition’.

The talent show which was scheduled for September 1, 2024 at Chichiri Museum was aimed at promoting various art disciplines like music, poetry, drama, storytelling and dances (urban and traditional) to embrace Malawian culture.

The show saw performances from various artists representing different art disciplines and reached a climax following a magnificent Beni dance performed by Chichiri Heritage Cultural Troop which received great applause from the audience.

Speaking after a colorful performance, Bernard Kapanda, Chairperson for Chichiri Heritage Cultural Troop told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the talent show was very important as it provided a platform for the youths to showcase their talent to the audience.

He said these kinds of events bring people from different cultural backgrounds together and allows them to learn from each other, an experience which has the possibility to promote arts and culture in the country.

Director for Nzeka Arts, Harris Kamwendo expressed satisfaction with how people and youths around Blantyre city welcomed and showed up to the event, saying it was a message that people want to see the world of art and culture developing in the country by unearthing and exposing new talents.

“As Nzeka Arts we conducted a session with the youths before the event, sensitizing them to the essence of incorporating culture in their talents and the importance of producing quality artistic work out of their talents,” he said.

Kamwendo promised that Nzeka Arts will continue organizing more talent shows in the future as one way of creating platforms for people especially the youth to showcase their talents, and he added that these talent shows are also utilized to address various social issues affecting the youths like suicide, anxiety and substance abuse.

Ireen Navitcha, Miss Culture Malawi 2023, guest of honor at the event, hailed Nzeka Arts for organizing the talent show, saying the event created a platform for the youth to showcase their talents.

“Arts has been struggling to develop in the country as it lacks sponsorship. Through these functions we can attract sponsors who play a vital role in promoting artistic work among the youths,” she said.

Navitcha emphasized that having well blended arts and culture would also add more value to national development as it helps to promote the tourism industry in Malawi.