By Dalitso Kampira
The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), through its Bingu School of Culture and Heritage, is set to host its annual Cultural and Research Innovation Festival from October 4th to 5th.
The festival aims to highlight the vital role of culture and creativity in Malawis development, particularly in innovation and industry.
Speaking ahead of the event, Executive Dean of the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage, Dr. Atikonda Mtenje Mkochi said the festival has a huge significance in advancing Malawi’s development agenda noting that the intersection of culture and science is critical for fostering progress, with cultural and creative industries playing a key role in driving national growth.
“The innovations at the festival will showcase how culture and science can work in synergy. The nation’s development now heavily relies on the cultural and creative industries, making it crucial for more innovators and exhibitors to step forward,” said Mkochi.
Mkochi said the festival will feature a variety of cultural enterprises to demonstrate their potential contributions to Malawi’s development, adding that they have invited partners from within and outside Thyolo District, as well as representatives from other universities.
“We are engaging innovators and exhibitors who will display their various creations. We have also invited students from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) to participate in symposiums,” she added.
Technology Transfer Officer, Zalerapi Chirwa Mhango, from the Directorate of Research and Outreach, said the event has a potential for preserving cultural identity.
“Every society is recognized by its culture, name, and religion. As a university, we are targeting this crucial aspect too,” she said.
She noted that MUST, as a university for the people, aims to engage a broad audience, especially young people.
“The majority of Malawis population is young. By providing them with access to resources, we aim to support job creation and industry development through their skills.
“The festival will focus on areas such as agriculture, medicine, climate change, and natural resources, to equip innovators with the skills needed for job creation.
This years Cultural Festival, themed “Culture: A ‘NICHE’ for Technology and Innovation Development,” will feature Jetu as the guest artist, alongside performances from other local artists.
