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Arts, Heritage Council divides arts bodies

 

Arts bodies in the Malawi are divided over government’s plans to come up with a National Arts and Heritage Council (NaHec) instead of an Arts Council.

If implemented, the country will have an Arts and Heritage Council which, just like the sports council, will be administering and financing all arts and heritage related projects. All arts and heritage bodies will also be affiliated to it.

Mabedi: We were consulted

But the council, according to the project outline. Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) president the Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango has accused the Department of Culture of bulldozing decisions.

“We are not part and parcel of the National Arts and Heritage Council, but an arts council which we have been fighting for many years. Where on earth is Arts and Heritage Council?” wondered Mhango.

He claimed that MUM was not consulted and threatened to obtain an injunction against the decision.

But other arts groupings have said they were consulted and that they are part of Nahec.

“As a new president of Theatre Association of Malawi, I am aware of the proposed National Arts and Heritage Council. And I support the proposal because consultation were already done,” said Eric Mabedi, president of National Theatre Association of Malawi (Ntam).

Asked to what led to the inclusion of heritage to the long fight for arts council, director of culture in the Ministry of Civic Education, Culture and Community Services director of culture Dr. Elizabeth Gomani-Chindebvu referred the issue to the ministry’s spokesperson Christopher Mbukwa.

Mbukwa wondered why the misunderstanding is arising now, arguing all parties were consulted.n

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