By Chisomo Phiri

On Monday 6th June, 2021, the Copyright Society of Malawi awarded twenty-one (21) royalty recipients that amassed with millions of Kwacha for their creative performances in music and film making industries during a ceremony held at Sunbird Lilongwe Hotel in Lilongwe.

The event was graced by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Dr. Michael Usi where fifteen musicians and six filmmakers warded millions of Kwacha.

In his speech, Dr. Usi ensured the creative sector saying the government still have interest towards the promotion of the sector.

“Creators must work together as a unit and air out their ideas to the Ministry. My office is always open to listen to your call of attention and this current government recognizes your input to the social-economic of this country” said Usi.

He further argued female artists to fully exploit their talents as the group of recipients was o comprised of no female creators.

“I am also herebgy encouraging female artists to be active and take part in these creative activities so as to be part of the awards winners. It is something not good to see that in our today’s event, no female creator has been awarded which is not good in the gender equality practice nation” he added.

In her remarks, COSOMA Chairperson Maureen Masamba thanked the government for its continued support to COSOMA in its pursuit of protecting and promoting arts industry in Malawi.

She also pleaded with the artists countrywide to invest the royalties they receive from COSOMA.

” I would like to encourage all the beneficiaries from this royalty distribution to make use of this money in arts promotion and  save unlike wasting it anyhow as  we are living in a period of pandemic that has affected our income generating activities”, She said.

The disbursed royalties were from the Blank Media Levy for the period of July 2020 and December 2020. About 3,640 works and a total of 1, 055 artists have benefited from money amounting to K212, 984, 478. 01.