On 13th March 2010 saw the launch of CREAM Women in the Arts (WITA). A women’s network focused on unifying and promoting Malawian women in the arts through interactive capacity building events that will lead to women’s socio-economic empowerment. Chairperson of the network Zilanie Gondwe in her opening speech stated that the network has been founded on the basis that in Malawi or anywhere else in the world women’s voices are not given the same respect as men’s. Women who write, sing, perform or create (especially critically) cannot find public inclusion, sponsors, consideration and markets. Women suffer from creative exclusion in Malawi. Gondwe went further to state that in this century the world cannot continue to use less than half of its wisdom therefore it is time women in the arts  in Malawi where recognized  and their evolution in the arts accepted.

In the arts women face many challenges and social stigma. This is particularly in film, dance, theatre and music.  Women of these talents are perceived as somehow lacking in morals, of having questionable values. These attacks are unjustified, and as a result many young women are restricted or forbidden by their parents, partners or families from exploring their creativity. If a woman sings in a club at night, or acts in a play as a prostitute, society must able to accept it as a role Gondwe argued. Acting does not make the person.  If artists, male or female choose to live a negative lifestyle this is their individual choice and not a direct reflection on the industry. Gondwe hopes that society will learn to judge artists by their quality of work, their products, and their talents and not by individual’s lifestyles.

The launch was preceded by a workshop held at the Goethe institute an organization run by the German Embassy; in  attendance was the Director of Culture Dr Gomani- Chindebvu, Cornelia Aust of the German Embassy  and Kirstin Pagels of the Goethe Institute. Cream WITA envisions a future where women artists gain positive and visible recognition and are rewarded for their effort in the proactive development of the creative industries.