House adopts motion to promote local music
Parliament yesterday passed a motion requiring radio stations to play 70 percent of local music to support the domestic music industry.
The motion was moved by Thyolo Thava member of Parliament (MP) Mary Navicha (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) and was supported by gospel musician-cum-legislator Allan Ngumuya of Blantyre City South Constituency.
Ngumuya urged both sides of the House to support the motion, saying artists in the country, including musicians, were being denied a platform to display their talents amid an influx of foreign music.
He also lamented that music careers were not rewarding in the country, citing his own decades of active role in the sector as having paid little dividends financially.
Said Ngumuya: “I have 15 albums to my credit, but with little money in the bank. At least if more artists are given more airtime they will benefit from copyright money.”
Dowa West MP Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) said the motion was commendable as it would assist the country to find meaning in its own culture.
He said: “We seem to be finding things which are foreign more attractive and important than our own things. We need to start promoting our own culture.”
However, some legislators expressed reservations about the motion, with some questioning the importance of the motion when, according to some MPs, it lacked identity and authenticity with foreign genres dominating the industry.
One of the MPs, Elias Wakuda Kamanga (Kasungu North East MP, People’s Party-PP), said it was worrying to note that there was no genre which can be distinctively classified as Malawi music, unlike in neighbouring countries or across the continent.
Chitipa South MP Werani Chilenga (PP) also disagreed with the inclusion of the private radio stations in the motion, calling for amendments to isolate only State broadcasters. n
