By Jimmy Chazama:
Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) through Copyright Fund on Friday disbursed K115, 304,512 to 15 recipients in the fourth call.
The development was another big win for the creative industry as on the same day, Parliament passed the National Arts and Heritage Council (Nahec) bill.
Copyright Fund Committee announced this during an event which was held in Lilongwe on Friday.
The committee’s chairperson Christopher Magomero said that the 15 beneficiaries’ projects are aimed at developing the creative sector in the country.
“We received 110 proposals and selected the best 15. We have reduced the number of beneficiaries but increased the award amounts to ensure projects achieve their goals,” Magomero said.
The committee has since urged creatives to submit impactful proposals that can contribute to the development of arts and culture.
Musician Tay Grin is among the 15 recipients and has received K10 million for his Harmony Across Borders project.
He hailed Cosoma for the support saying Copyright Fund has to this far benefited several creatives.
“I am honoured to receive this support from the Copyright Fund. This grant will help promote our young artists, bring them on board, and ensure that all creatives in the country who are doing wonderful work are promoted through this project,” Tay Grin said.
Other beneficiaries include Anthony Makondetsa, who received K6,250,000 for An Anthology of Malawian Artists, Neptune Productions, who received K6 million for Mfumukazi Comedy Series, which screens on Times Television and Light of Youth Creative Organisation (Lyco) which got K6.5 million.
Poet Luckier Chikopa is also another beneficiary. This is Chikopa’s second grant in Copyright Fund.
“I am thrilled to build upon the success of my first project Sign Language Poetry, which had a profoundly positive impact on vulnerable children,” she said.
Chikopa of the ‘Mamuna Ndi Mbalame’ fame, who received K6.5 million, said the Braille and Sign Language Poetry, aims to bring the joy of poetry to deaf and blind students in Chiradzulu District.
The other recipients are Musicians Union of Malawi, Mable Lwanda, Solomonic Peacocks and musician Kelvin Maigwa.
Copyright Fund, established by the government under Section 98 of the Copyright Act of 2016, aims to promote creativity, enhance artistic skills and preserve cultural heritage.
Since its inception in 2022, the fund has disbursed approximately K387, 304,512 across various projects.
