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Rwandan artistes now want in on proceeds of digitalisation

Friday May 27 2016
RT0524PeaceJolis

Peace Jolis performs at this year’s Isaano Festival. Musicians have only depended on the few events to earn a living. PHOTO | ANDREW KAZIBWE

The just concluded 26th World Economic Forum on Africa held in Kigali under the theme Connecting Africa’s Resources through Digital Transformation could not have come at a better time given the low uptake of digitalisation among Rwandan artistes.

This dismal showing in digitalisation has denied the artistes not just audience but also the money that comes with it.

At a symposium about the digitalisation of creative industries, a number of issues were discussed with the focus on saving the local art industry.

Just last year, artistes proposed the formation of Rwandan Arts Council (RAC) to act as a link between the artistes and the government.

The soon-to-be-launched RAC will bring together various arts bodies such as the Rwanda Film Federation, Rwanda Music Federation, Rwanda Writers, Publishers, Illustrators and Designers Federation, Rwanda Performing Arts Federation, Rwanda Plastic Arts Federation, Rwanda Beauty and Fashion Federation.

The Rwanda Arts Council, Rwanda Arts Initiative and the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) will work together to unite the artistes, and give them a stronger voice.

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“This body is to help find solutions,” explains Dr James Vuningoma of RAC.

According to Mhango Chimwemwe, a member of the board of Pan-African Composers and Song Writers Alliance (PACSA), and president of Musicians Union of Malawi, many artistes in Africa have to change their way of doing business or continue lagging behind when it comes to selling their works.

“Apart from relying on radio, television and CDs, artistes should know that they can benefit more by signing agreements with various platforms worldwide and begin working and earning digitally,” he said.

To Mr Chimwemwe, artistes need to understand their rights, even as the vouches for them and the country pushes for more air play for local content.

“South Africa has implemented it, Kenya is advocating it, Malawi and Zambia are moving towards it,” he said.

Mr Chimwemwe added that when an artiste’s song is played on radio or television, the artist must earn royalty from it.

Following the establishment of RAC, an intellectual property forum — an element of the national IP policy — with representatives of various groups, is to be created by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM).

Of concern to Rwandan artistry and stakeholders in the industry is copyright and IP protection especially as digitalisation and online sales become a reality.

Sports and Culture Permanent Secretary Lt-Col Patrice Rugambwa urged artistes to utilise RAC and RSAU to defend their rights.

“The IP law has been in place since 2009. We still need joint effort of artistes, who should officially register their works to emphasise originality of their acts,” he explained.

The need for a collective management institution to not only collect and distribute royalties to the artists but ensured broadcast media, night clubs, and restaurants pay royalties was also voiced.

Further cited in Rwanda is the difficulty in receiving money from abroad, especially when it is online platforms.

“Rwandan financial institutions haven’t yet caught up with these international payment systems,” said Jabo Butera, chief executive of Diaspora Business Incubation.
Mr Butera said that most people are using mobile money.

“We hope to establish a forum for developing an e-payment system for receiving money from abroad as well as boost the use of credit and debit card online payment,” he said.

Now that both Trade and Sports ministries are on board, artistes feel their work is being recognised.

“We have from way back only been in talks with only MINISPOC and RDB, and were desperate a bit as art was not taken seriously then. We now have hope that our struggle is on a broader aspect to be realised,” explained Martine Umulisa, a theatre artiste.