Elysian

13/11/2023

The perfect moment doesn’t exist. You can only get closer to “perfection” when you execute and improve on what you have executed.

That thing you have been postponing? Do it today.

Happy Monday!

25/10/2023

ELYSIAN Magazine Issue 8 | The Creative Economy | Feature Pages

We speak creativity very fluently. That’s why we take pride in ensuring every page in our magazine embodies creative excellence.

These are some of the magazine pages from our last issue, available for free download here: https://elysianmagazinemw.com/magazines

24/10/2023

We have come such a long way!

The first newsletter we ever produced was in 2021 for the Dzuka Africa Organisation, also known as Dzuka Africa StartUp Hub. Dzuka Africa supports emerging youth and women entrepreneurs with capacity-building programs, infrastructural support, business acumen, training, and access to market opportunities.

Dzuka Africa was an implementing partner for the World Bank-funded Digital Malawi project by the Malawi Government and the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC). They wanted a communication tool that could help them communicate the project’s developments efficiently and creatively, and in came the idea of a monthly newsletter.

ELSYIAN worked hand in hand with MN Creative Action to develop the newsletter. Little did we know, it would mark the beginning of our work in aiding a diverse range of brands develop communication solutions that help them create meaningful and memorable connections with their audiences.

Since then, ELYSIAN has added and delivered more offerings under its communication solutions, including the development of magazines, portfolios, and press kits, as well as public relations and social media management.

24/10/2023

Do Session Artists Deserve an Artist's Music Royalties? | ELYSIAN Podcast | Out on November 9th

23/10/2023

Dear Creative/ Founder/ Entrepreneur,

Do you ever feel like implementing something, but then hold off on doing it because things aren’t “right” yet?

“Right” could be:
- You don’t have all the resources you need
- You don’t have the support, hype or numbers you want the project to have
- You feel the project isn’t “perfect”. “Something” is missing (but you can’t put your finger on it)
- You are frustrated because things aren’t going according to your plan or expectations

We get it. We’ve all been there. Unfortunately, the stars don’t always align and we don’t always feel ready to jump. Jump anyway. Use what you have. Remember, the steps we take today are what illuminate the path ahead of us. So, take that step, no matter how “not ready” you feel. Remember, success is awarded to the doers.

18/10/2023

A new ELYSIAN podcast is now out!

Last Thursday, on the 12th of October 2023, ELYSIAN's Events Department, hosted an event titled “Film and Theatre” under the theme “Fostering Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Trade”.

The goal of the event was to create a platform through which key players, including creative minds and industry experts, can come together to discuss and uncover the ways through which artists in the Southern Africa region can collaborate and trade within and across their countries.

Some topics discussed at this event include:
- Unlocking cross-national partnerships in Film and Theatre
- Navigating legal and financial aspects of cross-border productions
- Distribution and exhibition strategies for international productions
- Cultural Preservation and tourism impact in cross-national productions

We recorded this event so that key players can join the conversation and share their insights with us. This is especially important because one of the key action points from our event was the creation of a National Consortium that will enable mutually beneficial cross-national partnerships in the Southern African region.

ELYSIAN will create the consortium in collaboration with the Film Association of Malawi - FAMA, Sotambe Film Institute, the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Award (ZAFTAs), ZiphoZonice Masuku, and Constance Thyangathyanga.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gXGuEYTr

To share your thoughts, email [email protected] or use this WhatsApp link: https://lnkd.in/gEhZFGku

12/10/2023

Thank you to everyone who joined the Film and Theatre event!

Stakeholders working in Southern Africa’s Film and Theatre industries have similar problems, desires, and needs – they want to focus on the creative aspects of their work, enjoy the proceeds of their work, collaborate with their peers, and have their work enjoyed locally and across multiple nations within and outside of Africa.

There is a desire to control the narratives of African stories, and that starts with storytellers being able to make art for the sake of making art, and not for the sake of making money or meeting agendas. One of the key ways of controlling narratives is through collaboration.

One of the key action points from our event was the creation of a National Consortium that will enable mutually beneficial cross-national partnerships in the Southern African region. This will be done by ELYSIAN in collaboration with the Film Association of Malawi - FAMA, Sotambe Film Institute,
the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Award (ZAFTAs), and ZiphoZonice Masuku.

This meeting was the first of many that will transform Film and Theatre in Southern Africa.

Less than 30 minutes to go!

Here are some key areas that we will be focusing on during the Film and Theatre event:

- What it would look like for different countries to collaborate on Film and Theatre?
- What kind of legal and financial pitfalls should we look out for when collaborating with creators from other countries?
- How can I, as a creator, distribute and exhibit my work in other countries?
- How can creators ensure that they still preserve their wn cultures when working with people with backgrounds different from their own?
- What digital tools and resources can I use to make my work as a creator easier?
- What future trends and opportunities for collaborative productions are there in store for me?

Does it sound like something you want to be a part of? Do join us! Registration is free: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceC8duVM3tlmqsseq_9oMMn0gL8qI2FlJZmbyyCACGAO1g5Q/viewform

12/10/2023

Investors are always looking for innovative ideas and people with the vigour to achieve success. Approach investors as an entrepreneur and not a filmmaker. Investors don't care about the great concept or cinematography; they are motivated by return on investment.

12/10/2023

One way of ensuring we have mutually beneficial collaboration is to get right with our paperwork. Get right with intellectual property. Get right with copyright.

12/10/2023

We need a united SADC - a unit for filmmakers where they can work across countries and get as much media coverage, revenue and audience as it would in its own country, maybe even more.

12/10/2023

Marketing and distribution is capital intensive and beyond the capacity of an independent filmmaker.

12/10/2023

12/10/2023

We need independent bodies that do marketing for films. We are producers and directors, marketing isn't our job. We need people to support us on that end.

12/10/2023

There are no support structures after films are premiered. This has caused filmmakers to make losses on what was initially meant to be a revenue generator.

12/10/2023

Collaborations will help us do films for the sake of films, and not films for the sake of making money or meeting an agenda

12/10/2023

Less than 30 minutes to go!

Here are some key areas that we will be focusing on during the Film and Theatre event:

- What it would look like for different countries to collaborate on Film and Theatre?
- What kind of legal and financial pitfalls should we look out for when collaborating with creators from other countries?
- How can I, as a creator, distribute and exhibit my work in other countries?
- How can creators ensure that they still preserve their wn cultures when working with people with backgrounds different from their own?
- What digital tools and resources can I use to make my work as a creator easier?
- What future trends and opportunities for collaborative productions are there in store for me?

Does it sound like something you want to be a part of? Do join us! Registration is free: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceC8duVM3tlmqsseq_9oMMn0gL8qI2FlJZmbyyCACGAO1g5Q/viewform

12/10/2023

MEET OUR PANELIST, Martina Mwanza from Sotambe Film Institute in Zambia.

Martina Mwanza is a co-Founder and Managing Director of the SOTAMBE Film Institute in Zambia, which offers a Certificate programme in Filmmaking and is behind the organizing of the biggest Film festival in Zambia – SOTAMBE International Film and Arts Festival, which was recently elevated to the Zambia International Film Festival.

Mwanza holds a Master's Degree in Development Studies. She actively participated in the organisation of the biggest Human Rights Film Festival in Czech Republic for many years. Mwanza also holds a certificate in Scriptwriting and Film Distribution and since 2019 is an active member of the Filmmakers Guild of Zambia. She is a TEDxNkana 2019 speaker and she was a Juror of the Short Film Category at the 25th Zanzibar International Film Festival, 2022.

Her dream is to build SOTAMBE into an international standard Film Festival for Southern African Filmmakers with linkages to other global film festivals and distribution platforms.

Register for the Film and Theatre event: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceC8duVM3tlmqsseq_9oMMn0gL8qI2FlJZmbyyCACGAO1g5Q/viewform

12/10/2023

MEET OUR HOST, Constance Thyangathyanga.

Constance Thyangathyanga is a multi-hyphenate creative and with 10 years of experience in the Malawian arts sector. She is accomplished in Film, TV, radio, theatre and literature fields, as well as an arts events curator and manager.
She is currently working as a communicative content and documentaries producer for a religious brand.

Thyangathyanga aspires to be a cultural engineer, due to her own passions and her observations throughout her time in the industry.

Register for the Film and Theatre event: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceC8duVM3tlmqsseq_9oMMn0gL8qI2FlJZmbyyCACGAO1g5Q/viewform

12/10/2023

MEET OUR PANELIST, ZiphoZonice Masuku.

With 20 years of TV experience under his belt and a National Diploma in Motion Picture Production obtained at the Tshwane University of Technology in 2004; he has worked for various big companies like Red Pepper Pictures, Urban BrewStudios, Rapid Blue and Tswelopele Productions. He has directed 13 reality shows to date;

SABC 1's Vaya Mzansi, Born Legends, Plate It Up, Wedding Chefs, Squad Goals & Raw Silk, SABC 2’s Chakalaka, ETV’s Mahadi Lobola & SA’s Got Talent, Mzansi Magic’s Hot Plate, Our Perfect Wedding & Doctors On Call and the international format series Four Weddings on DSTV channel 131.

He has also pursued building his own company, SOTHAR Pictures, creating TV content in the form of Writing, Producing and Directing. Under his own company, he has created and Executive Produced the following TV shows predominantly for the SABC:
- Drama series (Bone of my Bones) 2017
- Drama series (Amazing Grace) 2020
- Drama series (Identity) 2022
- Drama series (Higher Grade) 2023
- Fashion reality competition show (Raw Silk) 2018
- Docie-Reality series (Born Legends) 2020
- Fitness show (Squad Goals) 2021
- Cooking show (Plate It Up) 2021
- Wedding/Cooking show (Wedding Chefs) 2022
- Family Cooking show (Chakalaka) 2022

Register for the Film and Theatre event: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceC8duVM3tlmqsseq_9oMMn0gL8qI2FlJZmbyyCACGAO1g5Q/viewform

12/10/2023

MEET OUR PANELIST, Jessie Chinganga Allen from the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Award (ZAFTAs).

Jessie Allen is a writer, director, producer, actor, and entrepreneur. She is the Vice President of the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of the upcoming Zimbabwe Annual Film & Television Awards.

She is committed to contributing to improving the image of Black Africans in film and television through positive and authentic image creation. She believes this will foster better understanding and compassion cross-culturally.

Allen is a doctoral researcher based at the University of Wolverhampton. Her research study focuses on the narrative of Black Africans when talking to strangers about their health experiences. She founded JAC Film School in 2020 as a way of giving back. She teaches screening writing and directing to up to 5 aspiring filmmakers and funds the production of the students’ films.

Register for the Film and Theatre event: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceC8duVM3tlmqsseq_9oMMn0gL8qI2FlJZmbyyCACGAO1g5Q/viewform

11/10/2023

MEET OUR PANELIST, Phil Kuipa Phiri from the Film Association of Malawi - FAMA.

Kuipa will be joining the Film and Theatre event, hosted by ELYSIAN in partnership with the Film Association of Malawi (FAMA), Jacaranda Cultural Centre and Maison de la France, SOTAMBE Film Institute, the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards (ZAFTAs).

Philmon Layson Kuipa is a successfully trained Scriptwriter, Cinematographer and Theatre Practitioner. He is also the Founding Director of a newly established film festival, the Nyasa International Short Film Festival, and the Coordinator of the 2nd edition of the Malawi Film Festival. Kuipa also produces and hosts radio and TV programs.

Kuipa’s play script “Long Night” contributed to the Malawi junior certificate literature book “Familiar Stranger”, published by Claim Mabuku.

Kuipa works as an independent filmmaker and has vast experience in documentaries. Among his work is a documentary on the establishment of the parliament office in Malawi – a documentary that explored the innovative approach to the establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Office in Malawi. He also recently executive produced another documentary - The Lazarus Chakwera Documentary - that unveils the life story of HE Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi.
In 2020, three of his short films were nominated in the Focus on Ability Competition, and one was awarded as the Best Film.
Kuipa recently ventured into music video directing through a debut song by 16-year-old dancehall artist, Amaka.

Kuipa has outstanding attributes that include personal motivation, leadership, determination, creativity and an entrepreneurial and competitive attitude. One of his favorite strategies for achieving all his feats is planning according to his availability, not his ability.

To register for the Film and Theatre event, follow this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceC8duVM3tlmqsseq_9oMMn0gL8qI2FlJZmbyyCACGAO1g5Q/viewform

10/10/2023

This Thursday, October 12th, ELYSIAN will be hosting an event under the theme “Film and Theatre - Fostering Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Trade”.
The event will serve as a platform through which key players within the Film and Theatre industries can collaborate and trade within and across the Southern Africa region.

To deliver this event, ELYSIAN has partnered with the

- Film Association of Malawi - FAMA, whose mandate is to coordinate persons and groups involved in film promotion and production in Malawi;
- Jacaranda Cultural Center and Maison de la France, a local hub for culture, music arts and literature, and a space for artists, performers and musicians to share their work;
- Sotambe Film Institute from Zambia, home to the SOTAMBE International Film and Arts Festival, which was recently elevated to the Zambia International Film Festival, and a provider of Certificate programmes in Filmmaking;
- the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe, an organization that develops and promotes a sustainable film industry through collaboration, career development, networking opportunities and stakeholder development;
- and the Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards (ZAFTAs), which promote creativity, excellence, and diversity by recognizing and celebrating the best of the Zimbabwean film and television industry.

You can be a part of this event by following this link: https://forms.gle/RGA8vBgzb4EAXqB97

Registration is free.

09/10/2023

ELYSIAN is invested in creating opportunities for in Malawi and across the African region to build mutually beneficial . We believe this is one of the best ways to build an of creatives who represent their on both individual and collaborative levels and create a that benefits every skill and talent in its .

While we mainly exhibit our love for collaboration in our , we also extend that same value to our events too.

This Thursday, October 12th, ELYSIAN will be hosting an event under the theme “Film and Theatre - Fostering Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Trade”. We understand that the artistic landscape is growing beyond national boundaries. Now more than ever, there are growing calls for artists of all trades to export their work and be exposed to .

The need for exporting artistic works has always been very clear, however, the path to doing so hasn’t. Our event intends to bring together key players, including creative minds and industry experts, to discuss and uncover the ways through which artists within the and industries can collaborate and trade within and across countries within the region.

We invite you to be a part of this transformative event. To register, follow this link - it's free: https://forms.gle/RGA8vBgzb4EAXqB97

Tomorrow, we’ll be sharing the exceptional brands that we have partnered with to ensure our event is insightful. Stay tuned!

09/10/2023

Your brand is one from being .

Nowadays, customers are demanding exceptional and high-quality and from brands. If brands fail to deliver to the satisfaction of their customers, they can quickly become victims of , and lose hundreds of sales or the customer base they worked so hard to get.

This is why investing in your by hiring a skilled is important. It ensures that you are able to communicate effectively with your customers, even when they have or bad reviews.

Denzel Machaka tackled this topic exceptionally well in our latest issue of ELYSIAN Magazine—now available on our website for free .

LINK: https://elysianmagazinemw.com/magazines

07/10/2023

We are excited to share our 8th issue of ELYSIAN Magazine with you.

Creatives have come a long way—from being dubbed wayward societal oddballs to contributing to economies in ways that traditional industries did not see coming.

ELYSIAN Magazine Issue 8 focuses on the force that is the Creative Economy, with respect to the exponential growth that the creative economy has had, and has the potential to have in coming years.

It lays the foundation for much deeper and more diverse conversations to be had concerning the Creative Economy. This is only the start.

Join the journey; join the conversation. Read ELYSIAN Magazine Issue 8 here:

https://elysianmagazinemw.com/magazines

31/08/2023

Finding the right path through the AI maze can be tough for small business owners, but taking your chance on the journey can be absolutely worth it! Utilizing AI in your business can help you:
- Personalize your content
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Analyze and provide data-driven insights based on your audience preferences

We know knowing and choosing the right AI can be a daunting task, which is why Issue 8 shares an amazing list of AIs you can try out, courtesy of

Harness the potential of AI to transform your small business into a digital powerhouse. Embrace the challenges, learn as you go, and watch your business thrive in ways you never imagined possible 🚀

Start Your AI Journey Today! Download Magazine for free: https://elysianmagazinemw.com/magazines

28/08/2023

Mondays are much better when you start them with some good ole’ knowledge acquisition.

If you loved the interview we had with Wiza Jalakasi in ELYSIAN Magazine Issue 7, then you’ll definitely love the podcast we recorded with him titled “Understanding Malawi’s Digital Transformation”. Here are some things you’ll learn from the podcast:

- What internet technologies used to look like then, and what they look like now
- What it takes to build a successful enterprise
- How to conduct market research as a tech entrepreneur
- No-coding tools you can use to test the viability of your business (he mentioned names for tools you can get started on!)
- How tech creators can work with regulatory bodies when implementing new ideas

And the list goes on!

Head on over to the ELYSIAN Podcast on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elysian-magazine-mw/episodes/Understanding-Malawis-Digital-Transformation-e28jebr

FEATURING Wiza Jalakasi Wiza is a tech prodigy who started coding at the tender age of 11. By 16, he built Malawi’s first-ever music download website, MwTunes. His next startup, Djuaji, made it into the Savannah Fund in 2015 and won $30K in seed funding. After Djuaji, Wiza moved back to fr...

26/08/2023

This is such a great development!
In our Twitter Space with the Tech Malawi Hub on August 6th (The Future of Malawi’s Digital Economy—link below), we discussed the impact of mobile money; its role in financial inclusivity and accessibility, and as a tool for banking.

According to the Reserve Bank of Malawi, about 10.1 million people own mobile money wallets in Malawi. This implies that mobile money accounts are 841.7% higher than bank accounts, which stand at 1.2 million. One reason for this is the accessibility of mobile money accounts, which only require a phone and a sim card (i.e. phone number), or access to a mobile money agent. Another reason was the cost of transactions, which is significantly lower than the cost of transacting with and across banks.

During the Space, one person asked, “Is there an actor who has an incentive to build a socially conscious savings or investment product in Malawi?” Our assessment was that Malawi’s current tech infrastructure isn't capable of managing risk (at scale) or recovering defaulted loans. As such, we are excited to learn that TNM has found a way to circumvent these issues and still provide a much-needed service for its clientele. We won’t be surprised if its subscriber rate catapults following this development.

TNM has taken an enormous step in advancing Malawi's financial and tech advancement. It is our responsibility to meet them halfway by practising integrity by paying back the loans we take. This is how we will build a financial ecosystem that serves everyone involved.

The future is here! Congratulations, TNM!

ELYSIANxTechMalawiHub – The Future of Malawi’s (Digital) Economy: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elysian-magazine-mw/episodes/The-Future-of-Malawis-Economy-with-Tech-Malawi-Hub-e27vc3o

21/08/2023

The business landscape has evolved, and so have the rules of the game. Nowadays, businesses not only thrive on the power of their products or services; effective communication is a must too. Effective communication is the bridge that connects them to their customers and builds trust and loyalty.

This, in turn, establishes the business’ credibility, enhances customer experiences, and ultimately drives growth.

Embrace the power of clear, engaging communication to unlock the full potential of your small business! Read the images below for some tips!

20/08/2023

Jimmy Kainja shares about Digital Rights in Malawi and the challenges that affect them. Download your copy for a full read

elysianmagazinemw.com/magazines

19/08/2023

"Another thing that doesn't get talked about enough is having the energy to see things through to the end. You can't just copy something that you saw but aren’t passionate about, because it takes months or sometimes years of investment in terms of labor before you start to see any sort of return on that persistence. Choose something that you can struggle for." - Wiza Jalakasi

Read the full interview in our latest magazine on the link below
elysianmagazinemw.com/magazines

19/08/2023

WE ARE BACK!!!!!

After a two-year hiatus, we are happy to announce that we are back with a new issue.

Issue 7 is themed "Digital Revolution" and focuses on how entrepreneurs can use DIGITAL SOLUTIONS to HARNESS GROWTH. We delve deeper into Fintech and how businesses can incorporate different aspects of it into their daily activities.

We also discuss Robotics and Drones and how they are shaping the STEM landscape in Malawi.



https://elysianmagazinemw.com/magazines

The theme for Elysian Magazine Issue #7 is “The Digital Revolution: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Digital Solutions to Enhance Their Growth”. The main idea is to explore the ways the technological and digital landscapes in Malawi have transformed over the years to allow our readers more insight ...

17/08/2023

ONE more day to go! Elysian Magazine Issue 7 | Out tomorrow

16/08/2023

2 days to Issue 7! Out on Friday the 18th.

15/08/2023

The continues!

Only three days remaining until we release Elysian Magazine Issue 7. Out on Friday the 18th.

14/08/2023

Elysian Magazine Issue 7 | Out on Friday the 18th

11/08/2023

Last Sunday, Elysian, in collaboration with Tech Malawi Hub, held an insightful Twitter Space to assess the future of Malawi’s .

That technological advancements such as , and Online have revolutionized the way people make financial transactions is undeniable, but what impact do they have on traditional financial markets and consumers?

Our conversation spanned multiple areas, including Malawi’s digital divide, access to the internet, the challenges and opportunities within various financial disciplines, as well as government policies.

Over four hundred people were in attendance, including Bram Fudzulani, the Chair of the Malawi Internet Governance Forum.

You can listen to the recap of the Space using this link:

What does Malawi's digital economic future look like? That technological advancements such as , and Online have revolutionized the way people make financial transactions is undeniable, but what impact do they have on Malawi's traditional financial markets and....

21/10/2021

"What would it look like if we could explore different avenues of giving people content while diversifying how that content is generated, or how it is presented?"

This is one of the biggest questions we had when we were creating the 6th issue of Elysian Magazine. While we haven't yet tapped into the different ways we can present content, we have definitely tapped into the different ways we can generate it.

This month, the Finance Column was a transcription from a video by Financial Wellness with Kuwala. We are glad that Kuwala's videos provided such great room for us to experiment.

Follow Kuwala for financial tips, and watch the video we transcribed here:
https://www.facebook.com/Financialwellnesswithkuwala/videos/229334195626085/

You can also download Elysian Magazine here:
http://thokokadewere.com/magazines?page=2

18/10/2021

Happy new week!

Let's start off this week with a challenging quote that reads "Making money as a Malawian artist is easy".

If you're abit skeptical, read "Making Money As A Malawian Artist" by B1 from our latest issue of Elysian Magazine and get some tips. You might just be an article away from your big break.

Remember, nothing works unless you do!

Download Link: http://thokokadewere.com/magazines?page=2

16/10/2021

We are now on Twitter 🥳🥳🥳

Our goal is to get on as many platforms as possible to enable us to reach and connect with youth entrepreneurs and business owners.

Give our account a follow and get connected.

Twitter Handle: