Organising committee for MBC’s Entertainers of the Year Awards expanded with inclusion of experienced local entertainment industry veterans

Award winning Malawian film producer, Shemu Joyah

* Including award-winning film producer Charles Shemu Joyah; renowned entertainment journalists, Nation Publications’ Brian Itai; Times Group Sam Banda Junior

* As well as multi-award winning journalist, Peter Kanjere; music promoter Taps Bandawe and celebrated dramatist Charles Mphoka

* Ceremony now be hosted in February every year from December with this year’s edition expected to be held on February 28

By Victor Singano Jnr

The organising committee for MBC’s Entertainers of the Year Awards has been expanded with the inclusion of experienced local entertainment industry veterans, that included award-winning film producer Charles Shemu Joyah.

The committee has also been boosted with renowned entertainment journalists, Nation Publications’ Brian Itai; Times Group Sam Banda Junior; multi-award winning journalist, Peter Kanjere; music promoter Taps Bandawe and celebrated dramatist Charles Mphoka.

The country’s public broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC) made the announcement yesterday at Hotel Victoria in Blantyre at a media briefing to share latest updates regarding to the upcoming third edition of the event — which has been shifted from December to February every year with this year’s edition expected to be held on February 28.

Among the new developments, MBC’s Director General, George Kasakula said after conducting a thorough postmortem of the previous editions, they have decided to move the official period of the awards from December to February in order to ensure the competition match well with international standard events.

He acknowledged that internationally, awards ceremonies are hosted after the elapse of 12 months, saying the previous process was not giving opportunity to artists who used to release their projects around October up to December — despite entertaining the public within the period.

On the strengthening of the organising committee, Kasakula said they “aim to improve the quality because the major target is to make this event better and better every year and we are very confident that come February, we’ll have a credible and successful function”.

He added that as usual, they will make sure all nominations are carefully vetted and that for the first time they will provide opportunity to Malawians in diaspora to take part in nominations as well as voting processes.

“As we always do, we’ll engage independent auditors because we want everything to be done in a smooth manner and professionally,” he said. “Therefore, we are also calling up the corporate world to partner us in this noble initiative so that together we can take part in promoting our own local talented artists by recognising their works.” Kasakula.

The nomination period will take place between January and February 2026 while the official ceremony of the awards is expected to be held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

The reigning Entertainer of the Entertainers are football star Isaac Kaliati in male category and musician Miracle Chinga in female category.

They surpassed votes from other nominees in 51 categories that included music, drama, film, poetry, media, sports and social media influencers — and the winners were:

* Gospel Artist of the Year: Miracle Chinga (female) and Steve ‘Wazisomo’ Muliya;

* Secular Song of the Year: FADA Motionist (Kutali);

* Secular Music Artist of the Year: Emmie Deebo (female) and Driemo (male);

* Content Creator of the Year: Tamia Ja (female) and Phwedo (male);

* Football Team of the Year: Mighty Wanderers;

*  Netball Team of the Year: Blue Eagles Sisters;

* Best Footballer of the Year: Isaac Kaliati (Mighty Wanderers) and Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Currents, US);

* Radio DJ of the Year: Joy Nathu 

* TV Personality of the Year: Ruth Kulaisi (female) and Brian Banda (male);

* Radio Personality of the Year: Chikondi Phinda (female) and Joy Nathu (male);

* Poem of the Year: ‘Ngati Sitikumananso’ (Robert Chiwamba) — voted as Poet of the Year;   

* Film Producer of the Year: Akila;

* Best Malawian Film of the Year: School Days;

* Stage Actor & Actress of the Year: Mphatso Machira and Enifa Chiwaya (Nanyoni);

* TV Actress of the Year: Flora Suya;

* Video of the Year: Chete by Malinga Mafia & Zeze 

* Radio Drama Programme of the Year: Pamajiga;

* Stand-up Comedian of the Year: Mr Jokes;  

* Stage Actor of the Year: Ching’aning’ani;

* TV Actor of the Year: Maxwell Makande.—Edited by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express