On Sunday, 1 September, 2019, Music Crossroads Malawi (MCM) issued certificates to Chingalire Dancing Troupe founded by Chief Chingalire, popularly known as Ben Michael Mankhamba.

The dance group’s graduation, took place at Chingalire Rural Homestay in Nsalu, Lilongwe West, after a four-day attendance to a training workshop facilitated by MCM.

In an interview, Chief Chingalire said the Dance Troupe was introduced just few months ago after the youths from his village got inspired by Music Crossroads “Hear Us Children” Dancing Group which performed at Chingalire during Ethno Malawi Music Camp, one of MCM’s initiatives.

“The Troupe began 3 months ago when Music Crossroads came to do The Ethno Malawi Music camp. Youths from around this area got inspired and asked me if I could help them form a dance group, so as a musician who is already in traditional music it was easy for me and they teamed up and we started teaching them some traditional dance moves from Malawi like Tchopa, Chisamba, Mganda and the like.”

“But still they needed an expert to come and teach them more so I asked Mr. Gayighayi Mathews Mfune, Director of Music Crossroads Malawi for their support. Mr. John Duma, MCM’s Choreographer, and two other assistants were immediately sent to train them,” said the Chief.

Many parents in Malawi have the tendency of stopping their children from participating in artistic activities like music and dance due to negative stereotypes. They associate culture with so much immoral behavior and music and dance careers have suffered from this kind of negativity. To the contrary, many careers have been built around culture and the arts. Examples abound from students that have graduated from Music Crossroads Academy who are doing well economically and socially. What we need is to nurture, guide, support and develop the various talents and the arts industry in general through a conducive performance environment.

At the ceremony, Mfune pleaded with parents and guardians from Chingalire and surrounding areas to let their children take part in such activities so that those with talent should be supported and reach their desired destinations.

“Most of the times we (parents) stop our children from participating in activities they feel they could end up being their career because we think doing so would expose them to bad behaviors like smoking or prostitution. We can challenge you that with proper guidance and allowing the children go through a training process, they will be able to realize their potential and dreams without compromising on behavior.”

“We have so many successful people here in Malawi who have lived or are living a happy life through art alone, be it dancing or singing. So what I want to tell you is that art is an occupation on its own,” Mfune said.

At the event, Mfune also watched performances by the graduates themselves, The Daughters Band, Music Crossroads Band and Hear Us Children which came to further support and inspire the New Chingalire Dance Troupe.

About 16 youths were issued with the certificates, which will now be a powerful instrument for them as they will now be recognised as professionals in the industry.

Lofina Saulosi is one of the graduates, and she expressed gratitude for being awarded the certificate.

“I am very happy to have been given the certificate, and it is my first time receiving a certificate. My dream is to continue working hard since I have a feeling this is my career, and I am also thankful to my mom who always supports me in this,” she happily said.

As a way of sustaining the initiative, Chief Chingalire also highlighted that he will think of the way forward, and also hailed MCM for the gesture upon his initiative.

“Music Crossroads is a mother body of promoting young music artists. They are based in town but they are now doing outreach programmes, so this is one of the centres and I am happy that they are there in partnership with us, and at their academy we even have a student from here who was offered a scholarship by Focusrite to study music. So I would say things are moving in the right direction and I am very happy for their gesture,” he explained.

On the matter to do with his personal life as a musician, the Chief also indicated that his followers should look forward to a new single.

“I still work on music and very soon I am releasing a single titled ‘Moyo wa Kumudzi,’ you know I did ‘Moyo wa Ntauni,’ but after also staying in the village now I want to release a song about the life of a villager,” he added.