Dzaleka Artists To Receive Music Business Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, 14 July, 2025

Lilongwe, Malawi

Vwaza Multimedia, in collaboration with The Diamond Standard and Salama Africa, proudly announces the “Music Business Link-Up: Introduction to Music Business and Distribution with Vwaza” event. This visionary initiative aims to unlock the untapped creative potential at Dzaleka Refugee Camp, nurturing local talent and positioning Malawi's music industry for global recognition.

Dzaleka Refugee Camp is home to a vibrant community of artists, and has long been a hub of creativity despite the adversity and lack of support its creative community has faced. Recognising Dzaleka as a pool of innovative and diverse talent, the collaborative partners are committed to building up the creatives in the Camp to help them understand how music distribution works and how they can monetize their creative works through Vwaza Multimedia’s platform, Vwaza Music.

The event, which will be held on Saturday, the 26th of July at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District, will feature various activities geared towards building the capacity of artists at the Camp, thus providing a platform through which the artists can realise the financial rewards of their work. Vwaza Multimedia, The Diamond Standard, and Salama Africa, will facilitate discussions on the Malawi music industry, intellectual property, and music monetisation, among others.

"Vwaza is dedicated to empowering Malawi's music industry by providing innovative solutions and opportunities for artists," said Joel Fickson, the Founder and CEO of Vwaza. "Dzaleka's rich cultural heritage and talented artists make it the perfect partner in our mission to elevate Malawi's music globally. We will onboard artists from the camp onto the Vwaza platform, ensuring that the artists earn revenue from their work, get the exposure they deserve, and can benefit from the impact of our initiative long after we have trained them."

Pokani Kaunda, Founder of The Diamond Standard said, "For us, Salama Africa represents the rich and diverse creative talent from across Africa that is often overlooked and under-supported within Malawi. Our focus is on delivering music business workshops that equip their creative community with practical industry knowledge—particularly around harnessing their talent and intellectual property—to help them intentionally diversify their income streams and build sustainable careers."

Prince Lokendo, the Executive Director at Salama Africa, reflected on the importance of the event to the community of Dzaleka. He said, “The Music Business Sessions represent more than just an event—they are a powerful platform for creative empowerment and economic opportunity within the Dzaleka community.”

“At Salama Africa, we’ve seen firsthand how music can transform lives, especially for young refugees who often lack access to formal education or employment. This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to nurture talent and build sustainable futures through the arts. We are proud to support this collaboration and look forward to the inspiration and innovation it will spark.”

The event comes as one of Vwaza’s initiatives to empower African creators by ensuring they receive fair compensation and gain global visibility for their invaluable contributions.

About The Brands
Vwaza Multimedia is a dynamic streaming platform based in Malawi with a mission to become the definitive global home for authentic and original African entertainment.

The Diamond Standard is a Malawian artist development academy and cultural heritage curation agency dedicated to understanding and leveraging intellectual property in both local and global contexts. It focuses on developing, connecting, and marketing local talent through annual programs, masterclasses, and strategic collaborations.

Salama Africa is a multicultural, apolitical, non-religious, and charitable community-based organization with a vision to empower refugee children and youth by nurturing their talents through the arts.