By Donata Mpochela
MZUZU-(Maravi Post) –It is clear that tragedy often spurs art. marking nearly 40 years of HIV/AIDs in the world has recently inspired artists to not only commemorate the somber occasion but toast activism in the face of tragedy and fondly recall loved ones.
AIDs awareness songs written by Tithakupewa Music Project (TMP) is currently working to expand village development in Chitipa district which has attracted much attention to several youths, artists in Chitipa, a district with a serious AIDs problem.
Tithakupewa Music Project a group of musicians of different genres who wrote a song dubbed “Hope” which is set to be released on January 27, 2020 was written to give hope to people living HIV/AIDs.
In an interview with, Tithakupewa Music Project Founder, Mike Sikwese a.k.a Mikhebway said the music video “Hope” is a song carrying a message of expectation to people living with HIV/AIDs.
“The song will touch many lives and transform the communities hoping to contribute in changing perceptions to people related to HIV/AIDs”, Sikwese said.
The group has a ten track DVD album which has 90 percent PEPFA goals message a United Nation (UN) campaign which gives hope to people living with HIV/AIDs, however, “Hope” is in the second album titled “Tithakupewa”.
In Malawi, HIV prevalence among adults ages of 15 to 64 years-old is 10.6 percent.
This corresponds to approximately 900,000 of people living with HIV and approximately 87,000 die from the disease each year.
However, each year, around one half of all new cases of infection are among young people between the age of 15 and 24.
Artist Ho Wokire whose real name is Howokire Henry Lweya observes that whenever he talked with students and other young people about HIV/AIDs he was astonished at their lack of knowledge on the subject.
“This led me to partner with Tithakupewa Music Project with an idea to increase AIDs awareness through music, since the media is the most common form of entertainment in Malawi,” Ho Wokire said.
He said personally his ready to continue to transform lives through art.
“I will continue to spread HIV messages as themed to my entertainment film called ‘No Limit Made Business’ whose slogan is to transform lives through art.
“I know through these songs some people somewhere are changed in a way after listening to the messages,” Ho Wokire said.
