Malawi: The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) collaborates with the Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) with an aim to promote the arts in the country.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Malawi University – Prof. Wilson Mandala noted that the music has a special power and holds a special place in the lives of the people. The professor cited the biblical songs that soothe tormented souls and national anthems that identifies a country.
Considerably to present the global recognition to the Malawian talent, Professor Mandala has offered the musicians of the country an opportunity to get a degree to authenticate their talent in few years through the African musicology programme of the university.
President of Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) – Vita Chirwa said that the union is thrilled with the agreement that signifies a common vision of developing the arts in the country.
The Mighty Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) band has spiced the event with their performance. All the musicians of the band Dennis Kalimbe of ndirande Anglican Voices, Favoured Martha, Tommy Chitmatima and Eliza Mponya attended it.
Musicians Union Malawi (MUM) was established in the year 1994 and was formally registered in May 2002, with an aim of protecting the rights and welfare of the musicians. As a music body, it has greatly worked with the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) as a body that oversees the collection and distribution of loyalties for production work.
MUM has 1,500 members registered under it nationwide, and it has been facing challenges mainly in distribution and promotion of local music and massive growth of piracy.
The Union has been working with the COSOMA through Cultural Support Scheme (CSS) project to implement the capacity-building interventions.
It has also conducted numerous activities under the Scheme with an ultimate goal of improving the capacity and promotion of Malawian music by creating the industry that will be appreciated as a representation of Malawian culture with viable sales and marketing skills.
Malawi University of Science and Technology is located in Thyolo town which is situated in the Southern Region of Malawi.
The university was established back in 2012, with the aim of developing and applying science, technology and innovation to develop the economy of Malawi.
The first batch of the students have arrived at the university in the year 2014 and now it has four operational schools that are the Malawi Institute of Technology (MIT), Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences (NSCES), Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) and Bingu School of Culture and Heritage (BISCH).