Landmark creative forum set for Lilongwe

By Jimmy Jimmy Chazama:

The country is next month anticipated to host a creative and investment forum in Lilongwe, a new roadmap that seeks to fuel a creative renaissance.

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture alongside United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malawi and Standard Bank Plc unveiled plans for the 2026 Malawi Creative Economy and Investment Forum on Friday in the capital city.

The national platform designed to help turn the country’s creative talent into sustainable businesses, jobs and economic opportunities will run from November 25 to 27 2026 at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

The forum to run under the theme ‘ Repositioning Malawi’s creative economy for investment, jobs and economic growth’, is expected to bring on board creative entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, buyers, policymakers and industry practitioners from Malawi and across Africa.

Principal Secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture Jameson Ndalama observed that creatives in the country face barriers that make it tough for them to earn a sustainable living from their talent.

“Creatives in the country can contribute to jobs, business growth and the promotion of our culture. We want this forum to help identify what is holding creatives back and agree on practical steps that public institutions, businesses and the sector can take together,” Ndalama said.

He said the programme is organised around four pillars namely Create, Protect, Grow and Invest.

“Art disciplines will be complemented by discussions and activities relevant to digital content, visual arts, crafts, cultural heritage, gaming and animation,” he said.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Chika Aniekwe through this forum, they want to bring creatives together with people and institutions that can help them protect their ideas, strengthen their businesses and pursue new markets.

Standard Bank Plc, which has been instrumental in supporting the creative sector through the Joy of Arts initiative, said the unveiling begins a series of engagements ahead of the forum.

“As a Bank, we are committed to driving Malawi’s growth, and we recognise that some of the country’s greatest untapped opportunities lie within our young people,” the bank’s Chief Financial Value Chain Management Officer, John Mhone said.

He added that with the partners they were putting Malawi’s youth and the creative industries at the forefront of the development agenda.

The bank has since supported the forum with K300 million.

A series of sessions are set to come up including a ministerial session and a follow-up next year to track progress.

Meanwhile, some creatives have welcomed the forum saying it will help tackle long standing challenges in the sector.

“Money follows structure, and talent alone is not enough. In the music industry it is 90 percent business and 10 percent talent,” rapper Tay Grin said.

Fashion designer Xandria said access to finance remains the biggest hurdle for the sector