Poet Isaac Kadankowa was crowned the winner of Malawi Has Talent Season II, taking home K35 million after a grand finale held at Apollo Auditorium in Blantyre. Kadankowa emerged top in the competition organised by Times Group through Times Television with support from Prophet Shepherd Bushiri’s Goshen City. His winning performance with a poem celebrating Malawi and its natural resources, culture, politics and corruption captivated both the judges and the audience.
After being announced the winner, Kadankowa broke into tears of joy and thanked God for the milestone. “I never knew this day would come in my life, but honour and praise go to God,” he said. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Patricia Wiskes hailed the organisers for creating a platform that exposes and develops creative talent.
She said the competition demonstrated the vast artistic potential that exists in the country. She said: “It has been a great moment where we have witnessed the talent that Malawi has. We have seen poets, dancers, pianists, vocalists and several other artists come on board and we are really grateful for how the competition has gone.” The minister emphasised the importance of investing in the creative industry, describing it as a viable economic strategy rather than a challenge.
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“As a country, we want the public to consider creative industries not just as entertainment, but as an economic strategy. The creative industries create jobs, generate income and improve the welfare of our young people,” said Wiskes. She called on government institutions and the corporate sector to invest more in the arts, saying such investment will contribute to job creation and national development.
Prophet Bushiri said he was impressed by the depth and diversity of talent showcased throughout the competition, pledging continued support towards nurturing local artists. “We have seen great potential in Malawian talent and Goshen City remains committed to supporting platforms that help young people grow and realise their dreams,” he said. On his part, Times Group chief commercial manager Ralph Chirwa said the company was satisfied with the outcome of the competition, launched in May last year.
“We are grateful to our partners, especially Goshen City and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for making this a reality. The journey was demanding, but it gave Malawians a platform to showcase their talent,” he said.
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