Lilongwe-based musician Eric Trinta, who has been in the forefront fighting for the betterment of the creative, has said he will launch his Nyamithambo Arts Palace in Nsanje later this year.
Trinta said the arts palace in Nsanje is an extension of the other arts palace in Lilongwe which is currently being used for several arts activities.
“For a long time Nsanje has been neglected when it comes to entertainment and yet there is so much talent there. So having developed a palace in Lilongwe I decided to extend it to Nsanje and I am glad that the work is almost done and we will launch it now,” he said.
Trinta also revealed that apart from launching the arts palace which he said will also give the youths a chance to showcase their talents; he is also set to drop a new album titled Tonthola Malawi.
The musician said he will release the album in June. He said the album tackles several issues and some of the tracks in the album include ‘Solomoni Baba,’ ‘Maji Ndi Mambala,’ and ‘Ndi Thawi Yawo.’
He said the launch of the Nyamithambo Palace will go together with the arts palace.
“As I already said 80 percent of the work is complete, equipment is set such that artists have already started using it,” said Trinta.
He said the first performance at the arts palace was late last year when Lucky Stars performed after so many years.“We want this place to be vibrant; we want this place to promote arts and culture and so we will also be having cultural troupes every fortnight,” said Trinta.
The musician called upon artists to start trekking to Nsanje for shows.
He also said that they have identified new talent in Nsanje and that some of them are in the studios recording their songs.
“This is not just a matter of showcasing talent but this is a good platform for arts and wealth creation in the Shire Valley,” he said.
Trinta then bemoaned lack of proper funding to investors in the creative industry and observed that the department of culture is not given enough when it comes to funding.
“The creative industry is the only answer to some of our economic problems but it is sidelined. If you look at the budget which is given to the department of culture you will be sorry and this surely needs to change,” said the musician.
Trinta then called on arts associations in the country to unite and lobby for more funding for the department of culture.
“If the department of culture was being given enough funding we could not be talking about the Blantyre Cultural Centre still being in a pathetic state, we could not have been talking about arts associations struggling, this country needs to change on the way it looks at the creative industry,” he said.
Trinta said artists in the country have fought for the Cultural Policy which is now on the ground but he said they were now looking forward to the establishment of the National Arts and Heritage Council whose bill is yet to go to Parliament.
Currently the Ministry of Sports and Culture is making consultations on the draft bill.
Meanwhile Trinta has said the arts palaces in Lilongwe and Nsanje will on Valentine’s Day hold activities.
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