Malawi has taken a step toward modernising cultural preservation with the launch of the Pabwalo Multipurpose Room in Lilongwe, a facility designed to merge arts and heritage with digital technology.
The space, unveiled at the National Library Service Headquarters on Friday, is expected to transform how people access and experience culture by combining traditional expression with modern tools.
Director of Arts in the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture, Humphry Mpondaminga, said the initiative marks a shift in cultural engagement.
“We are trying to integrate arts and culture within digital technologies so that people can access them in modern ways,” he said.
The facility responds to a shortage of dedicated spaces for arts and culture in the capital while also creating opportunities for performances, storytelling and community events.
It is also designed as a learning hub for young people, offering access to both live cultural experiences and digitised materials such as folktales through computers.
National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer Apatsa Seleman said the development reflects the changing role of libraries in society and the need to preserve intangible cultural knowledge.
“Our goal is to replicate this in other regions so that every Malawian can have access to such spaces,” he said.
