Airtel Malawi’s Head of Brand, Public Relations, and Corporate Social Responsibility, Norah Chavula Chirwa told the media during the launch at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre on Wednesday, that 14 countries including Malawi will be participating in Voice Africa with seven participants selected from each country.

“The seven selected in each country will receive $5,000 and then proceed to Nigeria for coaching where the production will take place,’’ Chirwa said.

Chavula said, the Malawi edition of The Voice Africa competition connected by Airtel, has opened nominations until 11 November 2022.

“The idea behind this competition is to promote Malawi’s talents in the music industry and offer an international platform for local artists to get recognition, but entrants will have to do it using an airtel number, hence The Voice Africa; connected by Airtel.” Said Chavula.

Atupele Clara Mahata known in the Music circles as AyceeX James says this is a motivation to all singers adding it is an opportunity for them to put Malawi on the map.

"This is a big opportunity because 14 countries in the continent of Africa are participating and it will put Malawi on the map," she said.

According to Chirwa the final of Voice Africa, a singing competition that seeks to discover and grow musical talent in Africa, will be held in September 2023 with the winner set to walk away with $100,000.

In 2013 and 2016 Airtel also ran two series of TRACE Music Star, a musical talent search competition, that aimed at discovering the greatest singing talent in Africa.

Zodiak Broadcasting Station Television personality Ruth Kulaisi won the 2016 Airtel trace music star singing competition bagging K 10 million kwacha and represented Malawi at the pan Africa singing showcase in Nigeria.

(Additional reporting by Mathias Mkupasha)