Mikozi Network moves to widen variety
If there has been one platform that has made a lasting impact within the creative space in the year just ending then online arts platform Mikozi Network stands out. Apart from establishing a trusted go-to site for promotion of numerous artistic brands, Mikozi Network went out of the way to revive the fading fortunes of one-time local music god Joseph Nkasa and even facilitated a donation of a car from a group of well-wishers. And just this week, the platform challenged itself to raise K1 million to help the original surviving member of Lucky Stars Boniface Ndamera. Within hours, the platform managed to raise the set amount and it was handed over to the Chinafuna M’mbale star. Our staff reporter BRIAN ITAI caught up with Mikozi chief executive officer Bright ‘Excess’ Chiligo. Excerpts:
Mikozi Network moves to widen variety
Q: What is Mikozi Network?
A: Mikozi is a network of frustrated youths that came together to build solutions to various problems that they face in a more creative and effective approach. The platform mainly uses music and entertainment as a tool that unites and brings the youth together to speak as one voice.
Q: When you say frustrated youths, what sort of frustration are you talking about?
A: Honestly speaking, our generation is a frustrated one. We are a generation that displays happy faces on social media yet we are struggling financially, emotionally and health-wise. Financially in a sense that Malawi has more people graduating from colleges yet the job opportunities in the economy are getting lesser every day.
Q: When was Mikozi Network established and how many people are behind it?
A: Mikozi came into being in 2017 and so far we have 16 youths from different parts of the country managing the platform. We believe that every youth who is frustrated in Malawi belongs to this movement and are part of it since we speak with one voice.
Q: Other people look at Mikozi as some provocative platform. How would you define your approach?
A: I think our approach is okay as it is result-oriented. Even if as some view it as provocative, but as long as we are being real and stating nothing, but the truth then it is the right approach. Some may consider us a bunch of misguided youths, but what have the useful youths done? We may be referred to as useless, but look at the number of organisations that are being led by youths nowadays. These 50-plus old men leading youth organisations and movements, should we still call them youths? I think it is unfair for these old men dressed in youthful faces to be calling us useless.
Q: This year we saw you making serious interventions such as facilitating the donation of a car from well-wishers to Joseph Nkasa and fundraising for Boniface Ndamera. What is Mikozi Network’s stake and interest when carrying out these interventions?
A: Like I said, our goal is to use arts and entertainment to create employment opportunities and also export art. In this industry, the artists are the bosses. If the artists are broke then the whole industry is broke. That means our long-term goals won’t be achieved. Therefore, we want to ensure that artists who have attained a certain status fully reap from their sweat and craft.
Q: What is the source of money that Mikozi Network operates on? Do you have a donor?
A: Our source of money comes from our unity. We have so many people that follow our movement and support us in so many ways. Love is the biggest currency. Money cannot build what love can. Whenever we have something that needs support in terms of money, we know it is our followers who will help us raise that amount. So, we can say yes Mikozi have a donor and that donor are our followers.
Q: How many followers does the page have as at now?
A: We command a followership of 447 000 currently.
Q: Sometimes we have seen jokes aimed at different artists on your platform. How do they react to such jabs?
A: They don’t take any offence. They know it is just the way we chat and interact, nothing beyond that.
Q: What are the long-term objectives of the platform?
A: Our long term is to ensure that arts and entertainment create well-paying jobs for youths and also benefit the country’s economic status by exporting art.
