Music Crossroads competition terminated
End of the road. The southern Africa music event, Music Crossroads Competition has been terminated indefinitely, Nyasa Times has established.
The annual music bands awards has been put to an end after operating for over ten years. It was managed by Music Crossroads Southern Africa (MCSA) which was initiated in 1995 by Jeunesses Musicale International (JMI) Africa, the world’s largest youth and music network.
MSCA comprises of five southern Africa countries Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia.
Music Crossroads Malawi country coordinator, Gayighayi Matthews Mfune confirmed in an exclusive interview that the annual competition has been ended due to the change of focus by the sponsors.
“The global crunch has also contributed to the termination of the competition. Our main funders are complaining of experiencing some financial constraints due to the global economic crisis. That aside, there is also a main change in the focus from the annual competitions to music education,” Mfune explained.
Mfune who heads JMI Africa said following the termination of the competition, all member countries have been advised to formulate music education related projects that will focus in imparting music knowledge in aspiring artists.
He said currently Music Cross Malawi chapter has established its music academy in Area 23, Lilongwe where wanna-be musicians are trained some music theories such as vocal management, instruments, stage management among others.
“No more Music Crossroads competition. If there will any competitions, then it will be solely organized and funded by a member country but not as big as it was before. There is no more funding for such events. It’s just fortunate that Malawi was last the country to win the competition,” he added.
Meanwhile, according to Mfune, member countries are currently repositioning themselves as individual institutions detached from any government or any other institution supervision.
Malawi’s Konkalazi band earlier this year emerged winners of 2011 Music Crossroads Southern Chapter in a contest held in Maputo, Mozambique.
It became fifth Malawian band to win the competition part from Konga Vibes, Tikhu Vibration, Mafilika and Body, Mind and Soul bands who have once won the Music Crossroads championship.
Music Crossroads Southern Africa (MCSA) was initiated in 1995 by Jeunesses Musicale International (JMI) the world’s largest youth and music network and since has involved more than 28,000 musicians aged 18-25 years, reaching more than 600,000 audiences.
MCSA program encompasses festivals, workshops, training, but also competition. Malawi joined it in 1998 and ever since has been one of the forces making big impact and has hosted it two times.
Some of local products of Music Crossroads include the Part of Life singing sensation Dan Lufani, dance-hall lady icon Wendy Harawa, Khumbo and Toinge Hango.
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