By Alice Ndunya

Machinga, June 11, Mana: Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) has engaged muscians, the meadia and other stakeholders in the eastern region districts to raise awareness on its mandate on copyright proptection, licensing, registration, membership and distribution of loyalties in a bid to protect artistic creative works from unlawful copyrighters.

COSOMA Communication Officer, Catherine Mitungwi said the meeting at Liwonde in Machinga on Tuesday was meant to strengthen collaboration with music artists, raise public awareness on the societiy’s activities while addressing misconceptions surrounding COSOMA’s mandate.

“Engaging stakeholders to discuss our mandate is essential because it propvided us opportunity to  furnish artists with imprtant information that helps in protecting artistic creative works from unlawful copyrighters while fostering innovative progress for the artists,” she said.

During the meeting COSOMA officials made presentations on; copyright protection and licensing, registration and membership, distribution of loyalties and ways of promoting innovation among artists.

“We organised this meeting to fill in the information gap that exists on COSOMA’s mandate, engaged stakeholders to create a well-informed public and to strengthen our relationship with artists,” said Miyungwi.

One of the participants, a Mangochi based musician, Asante Emment, populary known as Achakongwe said the meeting was ideal as it informed her on COSOMA`s role in protecting artists from unlawful copyrights and other bad trends in the music industyry that leave alot to be desired among established and upcoming music artists in Malawi.

“I now know that the society is vital in protecting artists, I did not register my music with the society because I was not aware that I needed to do so.

“With this information, I will take action, The meeting was an eye opener to me,” added Asante Emment who has been in the music career since 2013 but not yet registered with the COSOMA.

Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) Secretary for Zomba chapter, Holice Kalembo hailed COSOMA for engaging music artists on its awareness programmes.

“We are looking forward to having these kinds of meetings with COSOMA to ensure brighter future for the music and art industry,” he said.

The meeting at Liwonde had participants from COSOMA’s eastern region stakeholders with  musicians and the media from Machinga, Zomba, Mangochi and Balaka.

COSOMA has over 18,000 registered members across the country ranging from muscians to writers and visual artists.

In October 2024, the society distributed loyalties amounting to K1 billion in total, with approximately 50 members receiving not less than K1. Million each.