Last year, the US Department of State (DOS) announced the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative which recognised music as a tool for not just artistic expression, but also for entrepreneurship in a creative economy, civic engagement and giving a voice to people from all walks of life
In recognition of the talent existing in Malawi, the Embassy brought the Next Level Academy a 10 Day Masterclass designed to provide intensive training in Dance, Beat-making, Mceeing, in addition to entrepreneurship and conflict transformation workshops for young Malawian creatives facilitated by select professionals from all over America.
Public Engagement Coordinator at the Public Diplomacy section of the US Embassy Amanda Van Duynhoven, noted that youths are the future and have the ability to take what has been imparted to them and grow creating a multiplier effect in the process.
She said the various kinds of exchange programmes and individual exchanges are always advertised on its website and social media.
“With the funding made available from the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, we were able to bring the Next Level Team here to bring a team of American Hip Hop artists who can collaborate and do an Exchange Programme both giving their instruction and their experience to our Malawian audience taking part in the training but also learning from the Malawians here who are working in the creative space to build something together.
“Sometimes by bringing people together, you just put them in a room and collaboration could happen from there; but we recognize that there is so much talent and potential in the youth and in artists in Malawi and all we want to do is give them the tools to amplify that further because the potential and the talent is there it just needs to be recognized”
The leadership team at the US Embassy realises the importance of investing in the youths and the creative economy and hoped to be able to do more programmes in the future.
The 10 day training workshop drew the participation of street art, visual artists, hip hop dance, and beat making which will culminate into a showcase event on the 16th November at Kuseli.
Presidential Advisor on Youths and Arts Q Malewezi observed that in order to move forward in terms of industrialization, the creative sector comes in handy.
“The Vision 2063 does stipulate a couple of things about the need for Malawi to grow its creative economy so this is capacity building because not only are the Malawi practitioners being trained in the aspects of crafts, but today there is an entrepreneurship session where there are different tools and strategies that are being discussed in terms of creative entrepreneurship..
“Once our young people are equipped with the skills and knowledge in terms of creative entrepreneurship, they’re able to contribute more into the creative economy”
