MUSIGA President Meets FIM Leaders In US

The President of the Musicians Union of Ghana, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, has called for unity among musicians worldwide to enable them to speak with one voice on issues affecting them.He made the call in Washington D.C. when he addressed a Presidium meeting of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM).

Alhaji Sidiku Buari who is the vice president of the Federation regretted problems musicians from Third World countries encounter with immigration authorities when acquiring visas and the necessary travel documents in pursuit of their profession, whereas the same does not apply to musicians from European countries.

He said one problem confronting the music industry worldwide is that of piracy and called for urgent measures to stop the pirates in their tracks.

Alhaji Sidiku Buari said advancement in technology today helped facilitate piracy since the trend now is for people to download musical works from the internet without paying any royalty.

He said people?s intellectual property needs to be respected and acknowledged.

The president of the International Federation of Musicians, John Smith, on his part, said the federation will go every length to protect the interest of its members.

Mr Smith who is also the general secretary of the British Musicians Union outlined a number of workshops and seminars to be organized in African and European countries to help build the capacity of members on piracy and technological development.

The president of the American Federation of Musicians, Tom Lee, also pledged his Federation?s preparedness to assist musicians in Third World countries to upgrade their skills.

He cautioned African musicians against miming which he said does not help them develop their talents.

Mr Lee added that, live band music will help generate employment for African musicians.

The president of the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organization ALF CIO, John Sweeney, promised to table problems of immigration and other labour matters encountered by musicians from Third World countries in Senate.