MACFORD DIRECTS TV SERIES IN MALAWI

 MBABANE – Malawi is feeling the Swazi theatre touch, as Macford Sibandze has been given the task to direct a drama series for the country’s national TV  station.

Macford Sibandze was in Blantyre, Malawi for the past two weeks where he was contracted by an independent TV House, Landline Production, that does work between Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya to direct a 13-episode drama series.
 The name of the series is titled KWACHA and has stories that revolve around fake doctors, fake pastors, blessers, lecturers selling marks at universities, multiple concurrent relationships and the scourge of unemployment. It is basically a daily life drama focused on the youth.

Sibandze said the opportunity came about after a few of his producer friends in South Africa mentioned him to the Malawi TV executives. “Malawi wanted a change of creativity for their national TV drama series which I hear attracts a lot of viewers just like soapies attract Swazis and South Africans. So my Swazi authenticity was refreshing for them as I came with a totally different approach,  and I’m gladly raising, my country’s flag while at it,” said Sibandze.
Sibandze was part of the auditioning where aspirants came in numbers and only selected 12 main characters, mostly university students from Exploit and Colombian University.

This project has the full endorsement of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Patricia Kaliati, who Sibandze met.  He also met CEO of Malawi Broadcasting, CEO of Malawi Arts and Culture and the two principals of the two universities.  Commenting on this, Sibandze said he loved the experience though he found himself not only directing but writing. He said the project will be more like the storyline on  Skeem Saam in South Africa.

He also said the minister was so ecstatic when she saw the five minutes edition of the series and could not believe that the cast are all Malawians. “The country has a lot of growing to do in terms of the arts but talents are amazing and I cannot share some clips with Swaziland via social network,” he added. Other countries that have invited Sibandze for his production talents are Zambia and Tanzania where he will be doing  similar projects.   It is this commitment that will see him forced to difer some of the projects he has in the country. He said such opportunities have been opened by digital migration and urged locals not to only look at Swaziland but the whole of Africa.

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