Beaver Dzikiti

Music Program Director, Mangochi, Malawi

I am the first born of a family of 5 children. I was raised by my both parents in Mangochi but sadly lost my mother when I was 12 due to maternal complications after giving birth to my youngest sibling. Then in 2005 my father followed her to be with the Lord as a result of HIV/AIDS. I became head of the family at just 25 years old and had to take care of my siblings. It was a difficult time with unbearable hardship as I had to look for work just to support my brothers and sisters. By God’s grace I was able to attend secondary school, and graduated from Nkope Community Day Secondary School in 2001.

MY MUSIC PATH

Although I wanted to pursue tertiary education with a mechanical engineering course, I couldn’t afford the school fees and decided instead to join a band called Mulangeni Sounds in Mangochi. This is when my passion for music was born.

While I was in that band I had an opportunity to attend a music school in Zomba where I mastered the keyboard and guitar. When I returned from school, I was a member of Andrews Hotel Vibrations Band for about 5 years. Whatever little money I earned performing was used to feed my siblings and get them to school. I then went for the studio training at Mbenjere in 2009 in Lilongwe.

HOW I GOT INVOLVED WITH RISEUP MALAWI

I got to know RUM through my long time friend Hudson who is the in-country director. Before RUM, Hudson used to fix computers for the same hotel where I was working, Andrews Hotel. I volunteered with RUM for awhile teaching youth how to play keyboard and guitar. Eventually I was hired as their music foundation program director in October 2022.

Working for RUM has helped me advance my own music career while sharing my love for music with youth. It’s also provided me with part-time income to support my family.