Support African Musicians

Alhaji Sidiku Buari The President of the Musicians? Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and the Chairman of the African Action Plan Committee of the Federation of Musicians (IFM) Alhaji Sidiku Buari has called on the big recording companies in the western music industry to extend their business to Africa, where tremendous hidden talents abound that could change the golden age of music in this millennium.

He also asked them to extend the needed support to African musicians everywhere in order for them to gain international recognition to avoid being exploited by some self-serving groups and individuals.

Alhaji made the call during a fact finding tour of the British Musicians Union (BMU) in the UK and the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) in the US where he undertook a familiarisation tour of the two musical organisations after which he held meetings with the leadership of the two organisations.

Commenting on the presence of African music in the western market, the MUSIGA President, observed with dismay the fact that ? music tracks from Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast as well as Togo were non-existent in the big shops in New York and the other major cities across the US and the UK. But you will be surprised that some of these tracks could change the world of music?

In their responses, the leadership of both the BMU and AFM indicated that so far, some African artistes have registered with them through some recording organisations and they are looking forward to registering more African musicians.

They also pledged their full support for African musicians in the Diaspora who will need their assistance.

During their deliberations Alhaji was exposed to some musicians-support programmes and policies offered to members of the BMU and AFM such as how to stay alive working, how to get more money from your music, how to benefit from ?new use? procedure in the recording industry as well as how to protect your independent recording.

Alhaji Buari was also introduced to benefits to be derived by the public or event organisers from the use of live-band music at parties and receptions, use of advocacy to push through protective policies that will help the working life of the musician among others.

The MUSIGA President thanked the two bodies for their support for the sound hospitality accorded him and the opportunity given him, to learn so much about their organisations and urged African musicians at home and abroad, to affiliate themselves with any of the two bodies to benefit from the huge advantages to be derived from their membership of the two organisations.