At a time when the heartrending song being echoed across the country is that of a dying culture of reading and writing among the youth, 22-year-old Chancellor College student, Dave Namusanya, has emerged third in the Africa Liberty Essay Writing Competition which called for entries from youthful African writers.

Drama is unfolding in the Nde'feyo stable as their entertainment company issued a press statement terminating singer Maskal's contract without telling the musician.

The country's beauty queen Miss Malawi Susan Mtegha, who is currently in China to participate in the August 12 Miss World, has failed to make it in two Challenge events namely Miss World Talent and Miss World Top Model.

After impressing in Germany, an initiative by Theatre Konstanz, Nanzikambe Arts is finally in United Kingdom to showcase And Crocodiles are Hungry at Night.

So many questions have been asked whether the self-acclaimed singjay Maskal would replicate the success of his first album and disapprove the thinking that he was a one-hit-wonder type of artist.

SWIFT Marketing, a firm that is running the rebranded E-Wallet has assured the nation that they are on a serious business mission and they will not disappoint.

The organisers made the pledge yesterday during a press conference at the Central Office of Information in Blantyre where they announced that they are back

Wati, Malawi's Big Brother Stargame housemate became the country third representative to reach the Big Brother Africa finals after he survived eviction on Sunday night and booked his place in the finale by virtue of him being head of house this week.

African Parks Majete and Carlsberg Malawi on Friday honoured top poets in the districts bordering the Chikhwawa-based protected area.

The competition was open to all schools, both primary and secondary surrounding the wildlife reserve.

Designer Lily Alfonso on Saturday evening was tearful after the overwhelming support she received during her show at Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre, where her dress eked K115,000 on auction.

It is time artists in the country stopped taking arts as a pastime activity and turned it into a profession if the public is going to fully appreciate their role in society, Chancellor College principal Professor Chris Kamlongera has said.

The long-awaited Malawi Arts and Cultural Festival (Macfest) will not be affected by the cancellation of the African Union (AU) Summit, an official in the department of culture in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture has said.

MUSIC Crossroads Malawi has heaped praises on Lilongwe based group Konkalazi Band, saying they did well on their European tour.

The organisation's director Gayighayi Mfune said the winners of the inter-regional festival held several shows and workshops during their tour.

The eulogies showered upon Enock Robert Fumulani last Friday were a testimony of life purposefully-lived by the 96-year-old composer believed to have been sent to teach the word of God.

The very first ever arts café to be established in Malawi will be officially unveiled on Sunday, July 15  afternoon at Nanzikambe Arts premises in Blantyre's township of Naperi.

Simply called The Arts Café, the facility, which has been built by Nanzikambe Arts, comprises a performance space where artists can stage their performances, sitting area for a 400-member audience, snack bar with fast food, drinks, games, DStv and resource centre stocked with internet services, books, newspapers and magazines.

...Soldier Lucius and Paul Banda lose father

Death has no other name indeed. A dark cloud has descended on the Fumulani family in Chileka following the death of inspirational patriarch, Enock Robert Fumulani on Thursday morning.

This is the second death in two days for a prominent music family to lose a member following the demise of soldier Lucius and Paul Banda's father, Bernard Chidampamba, during the early hours of Tuesday. He was buried on Wednesday at Sosola Village in Balaka.

Fumulani, who was aged 96, was the father to inspirational musicians Robert and Arnold Fumulani and grandfather to a third generation of Chileka musicians; Musamude, Anjiru, Gift, Moda and Chizondi Fumulani and their cousins Anthony Makondetsa and Yanjanani Chumbu.

Black Missionaries Band leader Anjiru Fumulani confirmed the death. He said Enock was diagnosed with malaria three weeks ago and was subsequently admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).

"We took him to QECH and he was discharged when he started feeling well. But his condition turned worse three days ago, and he died in Chileka during the early morning,' Anjilu said.

Anjiru, who was lost for words, said the family will miss Enock a lot.

"He has been the major inspiration in the family since time immemorial. He is the one who inspired and groomed our parents, the likes of Arnold and Robert Fumulani. He has also been the force behind the Biblical undertones in our songs. He was deeply religious and inspired us to weave Biblical messages into our songs,' Anjiru said.

Anjiru said burial of "our pillar of strength and inspiration" will take place at Singano village in Chileka Friday. Enock was born on October 19, 1916.

BLANTYRE artists on Sunday failed to give each other space as they held performances within close proximity which split the patrons resulting in some events attracting less than 50 people.

MA L AW I A N writer, poet and former Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) president Stanley Onjezani Kenani, once again failed to scoop the 13th Caine Prize for African Writing

held on Monday at Oxford in United Kingdom at the second time of trying. Kenani was the only Malawian writer among the shortlisted candidates with his 'Love on Trial' from For Honour and Other Stories published by eKhaya/ Random House Struik.

MALAWI'S Big Brother Africa (BBA) Amplified representative DJ Lomwe will perform at this year's reality show alongside Botswana's Zeus on July 22.

Pastor Favour is well-known for his ministry but his music is slowly penetrating the gospel music market with the release of his second album Wotopa Koma Olondolabe.

Singer Mlaka Maliro who launched his debut gospel album Hosanna at Robins Park in Blantyre on Sunday has chosen the best way in spreading the word of God, his father has said.