UMP Cypher awards set for end of January

By Jimmy Chazama 

The Urban Music People (UMP) College/University Cypher Awards will be held at the end of this month.

This initiative, led by Chi­toliro Productionz, aims to show­case the talents of students from colleges and universities.

Chitoliro Productionz Project Coordinator Andrew Macheso, better known as DJ Bad Up Skillz, said the initiative has generated significant excitement within colleges and across the country’s urban music scene.

“Managing the University Cyphers has been an incredible experience, witnessing the raw talent and passion of students from across Malawi.

“The energy, creativity and competition have been a perfect showcase of what our young artists are capable of,” Macheso said.

He explained that the com­petition serves as an excellent prelude to the upcoming UMP Music Awards.

“The selection of winners was completed in November and De­cember last year, with all perfor­mances available on their You­Tube channel,” Macheso added.

The awards will recognise outstanding talent in five cate­gories: Best Verse (male), Best Verse (female), Best Lyricist, Every School’s Finest and Best Cypher.

The winners will receive med­als and recording opportunities under Chitoliro’s new record la­bel, set to launch this year.

The competition featured 13 universities, including Mzuzu University, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, University of Livingstonia, Malawi Universi­ty of Business and Applied Sci­ences, University of Malawi and Malawi University of Science and Technology.