Rising unemployment and lack of professional spaces where artists, especially musicians, can nurture their talent and produce commercial digital content, has been one of the major challenges facing the creative industry in Malawi.
It is against this background that one of the country’s youthful media entrepreneurs Bright ‘Ekcess’ Chiligo, who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mikozi Entertainment, has built Mikozi Creative Studio in Blantyre.
He said this will create youth employment through nurturing and creating profitable digital content.
Located in the commercial city of Blantyre, Chiligo said the Mikozi Creative Studio is a creative hub which has been designed to respond to youth unemployment through nurturing artistic talents and producing globally competitive digital content.
The hub’s main services include digital content creation such as music, videos and other forms of creative media.
Additionally, Mikozi Creative Studio serves as a platform for collaboration among creatives who seek to generate foreign exchange through the digital export of arts and creativity in Malawi.
Said Chiligo: “The idea is to take local content and talent to the international stage thereby creating employment in the process. As Mikozi Entertainment, we believe in the potential of Malawian creatives and content that’s why we have invested into this multi-million project.”
He hatched the idea of Mikozi Creative Studio in 2020 after the successful launch of Mikozi StudioLive.
Initially, Mikozi Entertainment’s focus was on bridging the gap between the corporate world and the creative industry through online performances.
Said Chiligo: “We achieved our goal of bridging the gap between the corporate world and the creative industry by 2022. Then we recognised a greater opportunity to elevate Malawian arts and creativity to a global platform and generate foreign exchange.
“This, therefore, inspired the vision for the Mikozi Creative Studio, a space where high-quality artistic products could be developed to compete on a global market.”
The Mikozi Creative Studio has been under construction since 2022 and it is now in the final stages. Its official launch is planned later this year, once everything is set to ensure that the studio operates at its full potential.
Apart from currently employing over 10 creative staff, Mikozi Creative Studio envisions creating over 1000 jobs by nurturing artists and creating commercial digital content.
Chiligo described Mikozi Creative Studio as a groundbreaking initiative that symbolises the evolution of the creative industry in Malawi.
He said: “It is more than just a physical space. It is a movement aimed at positioning Malawian arts on the global stage. This project is about creating a sustainable future for the creative industry by focusing on digital content that can transcend borders and generate significant foreign exchange for Malawi.”
Chiligo added that Malawian creative industries have authentic and inspiring stories to tell the world. Therefore, they were there to actualise this dream by working in collaboration with different creatives both locally and across the borders.
He said the studio’s uniqueness lies in its vision and execution, which is purpose-built to develop content for international markets.
“We are not just a production house. We are a hub for innovation where the focus is on creating content that can compete globally. Our model of generating foreign exchange through digital means is unprecedented in Malawi, making us pioneers in this space.
“My appeal goes to creatives in the country to up their game when it comes to composing songs or any other creative material so that they stand out and compete on the global level.”
Mikozi Creative Studio stands to contribute to the development of Malawi through job creation and creative digital content.
Said Chiligo: “As Mikozi Creative Studio, we are dreaming very big. Our goal is to create jobs, nurture local talent and generate foreign exchange that can bolster the Malawian economy. By exporting high-quality digital content, we hope to change the narrative about Malawian creativity and show the world what our artists are capable of producing.
“It is possible to make Malawi a hub of interesting content if only we can join hands and let the corporate world and the government invest in the creative industries.”
Commenting on the studio, one of the country’s award winning Afrobeat artists Onesimus AKA African Butter, said it is important in promoting African talent and creativity.
“What Mikozi has done is very commendable and great contribution to the creative industries not only in Malawi but also Africa as a whole. Together we will push African content to the world,” he said.
