UMP sets up music heritage fund

Ubuntu Music People (UMP) has established a permanent fund to preserve Malawi’s musical heritage through research, documentation and other heritage-related initiatives.

The UMP Music Heritage Fund will support research, storytelling, exhibitions, recordings and publications as well as the construction of memorial tombstones and other memorabilia for some fallen music legends.

In a statement, UMP said the fund is separate from the UMP National Music Heritage Award, which recognises pioneering musicians whose work has made a lasting contribution to Malawi’s music identity.

Chirwa: It’s a welcome development. | Courtesy of M’baluku

“The fund extends that commitment through sustained heritage initiatives beyond the annual awards ceremony,” reads part of the statement.

According to the statement, the fund will be financed through individual donations, corporate contributions, grants, crowd funding, philanthropic support and strategic partnerships.

In an interview, UMP media and communications Officer Edgar M’baluku said they created the initiative to ensure that efforts to preserve the country’s musical heritage continue beyond occasional recognition of musicians.

“The fund is a permanent initiative to mobilise resources for the recognition, documentation and preservation of Malawi’s music heritage,” he said.

M’baluku said the fund will initially focus on musicians who made their contributions during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s with UMP working to establish a team to oversee its day-to-day operations.

He said the organisation wants the fund to contribute to preserving stories and works of musicians who have shaped the country’s music industry.

“The long-term ambition is to build a credible and sustainable national mechanism for safeguarding Malawi’s music heritage,” said M’baluku.

He said financial accountability will be central to the initiative, with all funds kept in a dedicated bank account and expenditure requiring documented approval and oversight from the fund’s committee.

Commenting on the development, Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) president Vita Chirwa said the fund presents an opportunity for stakeholders to work together and contribute to preserve and advance Malawi’s music heritage.

“It is a welcome development and encouraging to see pople who have an interest in seeing Malawi’s music heritage go forward. This is an initiative that can help the industry,” he said.

Chirwa stressed on the need to commit to sustaining the initiative to ensure the fund achieves its intended purpose.

Ubuntu Music People (UMP), formerly known as Urban Music People, is a Malawian creative and cultural platform known for organising events including the UMP Festival, UMP Awards and the recently introduced UMP Music Heritage Awards.

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