By Twink Jones Gadama
The Jacaranda Cultural Centre has announced the cancellation of its French cultural events, including the French song competition, school drama festivals, and writing competition, due to a lack of funding.
According to Poya Chapweteka, French Coordinator at the Jacaranda Cultural Centre, the cancellation was necessitated by the lack of support from the Jacaranda Foundation or other sponsors this year.
The cancellation has been met with disappointment from French teachers in Malawi, who see the events as crucial for promoting the learning and teaching of French.
“It’s a shame that it has to be this way,” said Silvéliano, a French teacher. “These competitions are very important for the promotion of learning and teaching French.”
The events were scheduled to take place at the Jacaranda Cultural Centre, which has been a hub for French cultural activities in Malawi.
The cancellation is a blow to efforts to promote the French language and culture in Malawi. French is one of the official languages of the African Union, and its promotion is seen as crucial for regional integration and cooperation.
The Jacaranda Cultural Centre has appealed to other sponsors to come forward and support the events, which are seen as important for promoting cultural exchange and understanding between Malawi and France.
“We hope to still have the opportunity to collaborate with AMEF in future competitions,” said Chapweteka. “We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our partners and stakeholders in this situation.”
The cancellation of the events has raised concerns about the future of French language and culture promotion in Malawi. French teachers and learners are hoping that alternative arrangements can be made to ensure that the events take place in the future.
As one French teacher noted, “The promotion of French language and culture is crucial for our country’s development and integration into the regional and global community. We hope that the Jacaranda Cultural Centre and other stakeholders will find a way to revive these important events.”
