Our people our pride goes continental
They were awarded and decorated with various prizes by Malawi’s late president Bingu wa Mutharika, but their stories seem to be no longer remembered in the minds of many. Such people have nothing to say apart from having fond memories of how the programme identified them as brave, creative or called them major contributors to society. This is the story of Malawi’s Our People Our Pride. But what is the stand of the project just a year after it failed to be conducted? Our Correspondent ROGERS SIULA reports.
The defunct annual award show that was born, bred and amplified by heads at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is bound to return, bigger, better and refined in a different format. The event was championed by MBC in the absence of another landmark award programme dubbed Entertainers of the Year.
The programme came to the limelight in 2009 and the launch took place at the College of Medicine Sports Complex in the country’s commercial capital, Blantyre. It was last held in 2011 and the late president Bingu wa Mutharika attended all the occasions, which also attracted various international artists including, Rebecca Malope.
Mutharika was also one of the sponsors of the various categories. Its focus was to award outstanding individuals for their brevity and creativity in their various societies of the country as a whole.
The continental version will produce 48 stories from Africa, then serialise them into 12 episodes and eliminate the entrants to the last 10 through vote process by phone across Africa.
According to former MBC director general Bright Malopa, so far 17 countries are in sync with the idea.
He said it was disheartening to see Our People Our Pride suffocate due to narrow interests.
“Well that’s the sad thing about Malawi, but it’s understandable owing to our shallow thinking that tends to promote narrow interests forgetting the broader picture. Here was a project many countries were admiring. It even got an award from top civil servants across the continent because of its innovative nature. I spent six months mulling over the idea,” said Malopa.
Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria and Sadc countries are some of those reported to be covered in this resuscitated project.
“I just can’t let my energy go into the drain because of mendacious thinking pranks. I have been talking to DStv and Mo Ibrahim and they have all shown interest to sponsor it as Africa’s People Our Pride,” he added.
Malopa said he was impressed with the progress of the project. “There is also going to be Africa’s People Our Pride Magazine featuring the same in a detailed format,” explained Malopa, adding that all projects would be carried out by his South African based company, Rivonia Media Group.
