By Rahim Abdul
Poet Japhali Ayoub Tim has appealed to the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) to ensure poets are fairly considered when distributing Blank Media Levy funds.
Tim said he has often wondered why many poets are left out whenever the levy is shared, despite their significant contribution to Malawi’s arts and cultural sector.
He said many poets are hardworking, dedicated, and highly talented, with the potential to promote the country’s culture both locally and internationally.
According to Tim, the main challenge facing poets is a lack of adequate support, limited access to funding opportunities, and insufficient guidance on how they can benefit from their creative works.
He argued that these challenges have left many talented poets struggling to develop their careers while artists in other creative fields continue to benefit from available funding.
Tim has therefore called on COSOMA to review its approach and ensure poets are given equal opportunities to access the Blank Media Levy alongside other creators.
He said providing poets with the necessary support would help them improve their work, preserve Malawi’s cultural heritage, and contribute more effectively to the country’s creative industry.
In his closing remarks, Tim encouraged poets to remain united, saying collective effort is key to achieving meaningful progress.
