The most ambitious and colourful AFRIMA so far, the 2016 edition, took off Friday, November 4, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on an economic note and was presided over by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed.
In line with the signs of the times, AFRIMA and the African Union, AU, are exploiting and exploring ways of maximising the economic value of the Music of Africa
THE AFRICA MUSIC Business Roundtable, a 2016 introduction to the AFRIMA event, is the starting point to this journey. Held inside the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos, the inaugural brainstorming session had 17 stakeholders across the Africa Industry, participating. Alhaji Lai Mohammed flagged off the historic event with a keynote address. The AU, through Ms Angela Martin, its Head of Culture Division, delivered a Goodwill Message, to lift the Day’s Spirit.
At the end the eggheads agreed that, foremost, the sector needs a repositioning. Music must assume its role as a major revenue earner for Africa.
And secondly, Music they added, is a veritable tool for forging Africa’s Unity. They advised that Music should be deployed for spreading African ideals and ideas. Africa’s Musicians should also unite towards African Courses.
To do these, the panelists concluded that Africa must put in place a very viable Structure to ensure that Musicians, and practitioners in the industry, are well educated to their rights, and begin to see each other as partners and Not rivals, as it is presently construed. The major areas of concentration is in the capacity building.
They recommended, that Education must be directed towards knowledge in Contractual Obligations, Issues of Piracy and Protection of Intellectual Property.
Education in the Finance and Business of Music is also crucial, they added.
While, the adoption of Modern Technology for the making of music is seen as Inevitable
The Panelists submitted that That Music Is Still an ill exploited and explored Goldmine of Africa.
Africa MUST START TO HARNESS THIS TREASURE. AND THE TIME IS NOW. END