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| Entertainment |
| Malawi’s own ‘Pop Idol’ |
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by
Herbert Chandilanga, 12 June 2006
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07:00:28
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The Malawi music scene is itching to take off its old and worn out cocoon, eyeing a new way of doing things in a bid to catch up with times. The singers on the scene are trying everything, from CDs to DVDs, from eyeing recording deals to dreaming of good managers and international contracts.
And in the midst of local singers’ aspirations rolls in an idea to promote raw talent, the idea of the E-Wallet 2006 whose sponsors Pay265 will identify and nurture new talent like Pop Idol does, according to the E-Wallet.
Pop Idol is originally a British television series that digs unexploited talent. It targets the best new young singer who sails through auditions and wins a recording deal with a reputed company.
Today, the idea has spread to several other areas like Canada, America and even South Africa. In all these places, it has met with considerable success.
Dangling before the local contests’ hopefuls—who should be between 18 and 30 years old––is a K100,000 cash prize and a recording deal. Those on second and third positions will get hampers sponsored by FlexiMail Limited, Telekom Networks Malawi and Nedbank.
The organisers even say they plan to make the event an annual thing. It sounds so good, but whether it will work for Malawi is just one of the questions.
According to the project’s coordinator, Felix Njawala, the show will involve regional auditions to identify aspirants to go through to the national auditions.
“We will stage regional auditions to identify 10 aspirants from each region. These will then meet in national heats at the French Cultural Centre (FCC) in Blantyre. These heats will be on local television to enable people countrywide to follow proceedings so they can vote who they feel is the best,” says Njawala.
He says the regional heats kick off with a Northern Region tie on June 18. The Central Region auditions fall on June 25 while that for the South will be on July 2.
“The 30 successful aspirants in regional encounters will then be pooled to the FCC to sort each other out for the grand award of K100, 000 and a recording deal. These FCC shows will take place on Saturday evenings.”
“Three judges: a musician, producer and an art expert have been chosen to separate wheat from chaff in the regional encounters. We can’t disclose the names of these three to avoid aspirants trying to influence or entice them for favours,” says Njawala.
After the regional shows, the ball falls into the audience’s court to choose who gets booted out.
“The audience will have a chance to nominate their choice through arranged sms numbers. Televised recordings of the live shows will also give those who miss live auditions a chance to pick their choices, ” muses Njawala.
He says they have talked to Malawi Television who have since given them a go-ahead.
“They have given us big support in that we will have the first four recordings free of charge. This is great and we are thankful. They have played a part in uplifting budding musicians,” says Njawala.
Another question should be how an aspiring artist, probably broke and clueless on where to fork a penny to meet logistic costs to Blantyre or any other city hosting the auditions, would make it to the auditions.
Njawala has the answer: The project provides for accommodation, food and transport to all travelling contestants.
“But contestants within the city will pay for their own costs. We have written hotels and lodges to have quotations on accommodation. We hope to hear from them soon,” he says.
The whole process—from regional heats to the selection of the top budding talent of them all—will according to Njawala, total 10 auditions. Registration is on via sms to 08300200 or by calling 01830200.
But after the idea has been sold from the organisers’ point of view, veterans in the music industry have their take on what should be expected.
Mankhamba (Ben Michael), who has led his Zigzaggers Band to four consecutive wins in the Kuche-Kuche Music Awards, holds that E-Wallet 2006 would indeed help unearth talent in the country.
“It is a good idea worth trying, so long as the winners get what they are promised. They should not be cheated in the end,” he warns.
He observes that the effort needs proper planning because, following similar efforts he has watched, for instance Pop Idol, the contest demands good financial input into the concept.
He suggests the idea should target promotion of talent in traditional music.
“We should aim at taking our music across the borders. We should not get carried away with foreign styles in this effort,” he says.
Another veteran musician and producer, Goodson Gomonda, says E-Wallet 2006 is a big potential boost to the country’s music industry.
“But the organisers of this show and others to come should realise that promotion of musicians goes beyond recording. Actually, promoting an album costs more than it takes to record. I hope they’ve consulted with experts and looked into what it really takes to promote talent,” he says.
He concurs with Mankhamba on the need for prudence in honouring the winners.
“We don’t need a story of promises and lies. What we want is to see the winners get their dues and even more help in promoting their albums,” says Gomonda.
To the prospective audience of the shows, live at the venue of regional encounters, the FCC or on local television, the powers to pass verdicts on which talent goes ahead or towards the trash can, lie in wait. May the deserving talent conquer the other contestants and voters alike.
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