When I first heard about the Youth Innovation Awards (that should have been in 2017, or last year), I got instantly curious about the event. I looked it up on Social Media, to discover that it was a highly political event.
I must have been deeply obsessed with recognition, and affirmation in the past two years (given some insecurities of my own), and was always thrilled with spaces I felt would affirm me. I get embarrassed, from time to time, thinking how far I was willing to go, just to make sure people saw me “winning”.
I was not very amused when I saw people I had never heard about getting awarded for their work. Perhaps it was realising that having a name, was not enough for you to get recognition. You actually had to do the work.
I got to asking myself: Where were the mainstream people? Why were they not being awarded? Was it just about who knows who?
I instantly established a negative perception of the event, and discarded it from events I rated in Malawi.
When one of my clients had asked me, a Thursday before the event, if I was going to attend the event this year – I still held my disdain, and maintained that I would not attend.
I do not like attending political events, or really any events that I know will involve endless praise of specific individuals. I refuse to have any political affiliations, to protect my integrity. I also do not approve of making gods out of human beings (something I fear politics, among other things, does), and I will have the same to say, if humans ever try to make a god out of me.
On Friday, a senior at my workplace asked me if I would love to attend the event on a company ticket. I was still hesitant; but I really had no other plans for my Friday night.
A shocker was the price of the ticket – MK100,000 ($130); which is a terribly high price for an event about the youth, creative youth to be precise – who are most times unemployed. I got quite scared to find out the price for the rest of the tickets bought by the people who sat closest to the stage. I took the leap, and decided I would attend the event. If it was boring, at least I would have a story to tell.
My first concern, was obviously; what I would wear. Most of the dresses in my wardrobe have been worn before (including the one I wore on this night), and I am not a fan of showing up under-dressed to events.
I am still discovering my style as adult. For now, I know I love Chitenje Prints, beads, and definitely glam.
I settled on this golden yellow dress that I last wore on the 4th of May in 2017, for a Lions Club Dinner. Why wouldn’t I opt for yellow, when the color was carefully made for the black woman?
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I was running late at my house, trying to blend the red and yellow eyeshadow perfectly into my eyelids. I am making amends with make-up, and our new relationship is on the basis of art, as compared to beauty.
My workmate had told me that the event would be starting at 1830; which in Malawian time is 1930hrs.
I arrived at the Bingu International Conference Centre around 1842hrs. I pulled into the carpark, which was already fully parked, as I had anticipated. I drive a very small car (Daihatsu Esse), and always count on finding a space to squeeze my car into, that most cars would not fit in.
I made a full circle, and failed to find any space the first time. I was determined to still park on that side, as I find the exit from there generally easier.
I went around again, and found myself lucky this time. I managed to reverse park and squeeze myself tightly between a Mazda Demio, and a Daihatsu Mira. I have parked in tight spaces, but you must understand that this was the height of desperation for me, because I had to squeeze myself out of my car; as the door could barely open.
The dress I wore is a thrifted number, from when I was shopping for a finale dinner gown in 2016. I bought at least 10 different dresses (because they were hella affordable), and I still have not worn some of them to this day.
I love this dress for its fit and its color, but I deeply detest how tightly it holds my knees, to the extent that I fail to move. So much for fabulosity, hey.
I ran into Clement from Divine Media creations as I entered the reception area, and we resorted to a mini photoshoot.
I made my way inside, and was directed to my office table; which was right by the entrance, and a table away from the stage. We had two tables reserved in the room, and it was either that, or the one at the far back. I had to compromise and accept sitting next to the door; so I could at least be closer to the stage and witness all the action upclose.
The president and the first lady arrived shortly after 1900hrs, and we commenced the event with the National Anthem.
The event was co-hosted by members from the National Youth Council.
The programme was brief, and made available to everyone. It was opened with a word of prayer, that was followed by a performance from the Zathu Band.
I love the Zathu band, and I am friends with most of the members of the band. I think they are very creatively gifted, and use their platform really well to educate the youth in Malawi. They also get to travel a lot, which obviously gets a thumbs up from me.
Just after the beautiful performance by Zathu, several speeches were made just before the awarding ceremony. The last speech made was by the President of Malawi, Arthur Peter Mutharika.
President Peter Mutharika, as a Global Youth Ambassador, in his speech, promised the youth of Malawi to create opportunities for employment and business in order to reduce poverty and suffering among them. I am yet to establish if the job-creation he speaks of are the internships taking up the fully-trained graduates that should in fact be employees; not interns.
The President said the country’s economy is improving, and gives an opportunity to create jobs and new businesses – thereby reducing the rates of unemployment among the youth of Malawi.
“I want the youth to be vanguard of rural industrialization Corporation to finance your industrialization ideas,” he said.
The President said he was delighted to see the gathering of youth, a gathering in the spirit of innovation and patriotism.
I may not agree with some of the work politicians are doing in this country, but I do agree with these points – that this unemployment tragedy is upon us, and it is completely up to us, the youth, to bring an end to this. We are on our own, with no one to turn to. We must rise up, speak truth to power, innovate, and employ our fellow youth. That is the only way that we will get out of this rut.
“I am inspired to see most of you shaping your own lives and doing things for yourselves instead of waiting for anyone or Government,” the President pointed out.
The Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, Grace Chiumia said the issue of unemployment in the country remains critical, and that government alone could not absorb anyone. Evidently.
She said the establishment of Community Technical Colleges in the country has provided an opening among the youth to sharpen their skills, create self employment and businesses amongst them.
Chief Executive for National Youth Council of Malawi, Dingiswayo Jere, said that his organization is striving to make sure that most of the youth in the country are empowered, to be self reliant. He pointed out that there needs to invest more in the youth since the majority of our country’s populations are the youth, who could positively contribution to Malawi’s national development.
A Youth Representative, Maureen Phiri thanked the government for involving the youth of the country to participate in vocational skills development, jobs for youth initiative including internship programme.
Most of the speeches consisted of half praise for the current government, a possible quarter of some facts, and perhaps a few plausible solutions.
The Awards were presented in the following categories:
Entrepreneurship : Davie Kasenza of Davina Furtunites
Agribusinesses: Emmanuel Banda of Noble Technology
ICT: Yusuf Chimole of Lyne Energy Systems
Environment and Climate change: Emmanuel Chisamba of Intelligent Waste Solutions.
Health: Griffin Manyaka of Royal Sanitation.
Art: Peter J Makwana, Travel Photographer.
Human Rights : Educate Her
Job Creator Extraordinaire Award: FISD Limited Company
When the President was giving out the last award to FISD, and I did not stand up alongside everyone in the room, because my dress was very tight and slightly uncomfortable. This was immediately interpreted as being rude, or “retaliating”, by my colleagues.
It got me to thinking, about the type of world we live in – with little room for free-thought, and a whole lot of moving with the crowd.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner (genuinely the best food I have had at BICC), and the president and his first lady opened the dancefloor with a first dance. A lot of people left as soon as there were done eating, as there was no open bar at the event.
All photography in this post by Peter J Makwana and his team.
Contact Divine Media Productions on +265 (0) 999 61 87 57
Overall, it was a lovely event. Much political praise, as was expected. Some very deserving youth were awarded, we ate a little, and danced the night away.
I personally felt that the event was so focused on the presence of the President in the building (which was not such a bad thing) as compared to the actual winners of the day. I felt we came out to celebrate Young Innovative Youth, but spent most of our time trying to discuss what the president had done for the youth in the country.
I have nothing against celebrating our leaders. I just happen to think that there are enough events to do that, and that events celebrating the youth (which are almost rare) should be for celebrating the youth, and I was happy that the president, in his speech endorsed the message of supporting innovative youth.
Congratulations to all the winners! Thrilled to see who will be scooping up these awards next year.
I had a lovely time, and may just opt to attend the next Youth Innovation Awards Ceremony.
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