By Saio Marrah
In an effort to ensure they work and speak with one voice, leaders of different associations of musicians across the country have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the executive of Sierra Leone Musicians’ Union (SLMU), a body that will represent them.
Speaking at the event on Sunday 7th March 2021, the Interim Secretary-General of the Emrys Savage, commonly known as King Fisher, said: “Today, leaders of music associations from across the country have come together to kick start the spirit of unity under the umbrella body that will ensure the welfare of all musicians is correctly addressed, that musicians get paid adequately for their work, that the holding of local shows is well planned to avoid unnecessary clashes and subsequent “beefing,” he said.
He added: “performances by foreign artists are sanctioned by a local body that will ensure local artists get a fair deal and our sweet Sierra Leone music gets the deserved airtime on local radio stations to name just a few of the benefits of unionism.”
He said despite the recognition that music and other forms of arts have gained in early 2000, musicians and other artists have mostly failed to gain economic benefits from their talent. According to him, the best thing most artists can boast of is having a large fan base of young people who, while they applaud the artists widely, hardly contribute to their financial wellbeing.
Savage said unlike the momentum that the newly re-launched national football league had been generating, artists have not been able to maintain the momentum of early 2000. He said nowadays, friends, families, and other artists mostly fill music shows.
He noted that most musicians who play in live band shows “work for ridiculously small amounts of money and business people who have invested thousands of dollars in musical and stage equipment hardly realize profit because shows are few and far between.”
The Interim Secretary-General said even the local structure to enable fans to buy songs does not exist anymore but he thanked the founding members of the Union for establishing it 1983.
He also thanked the government for supporting the industry over the years and pleaded with the government through the line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to create employment opportunities in the informal sector.
The Chairman of the Sierra Leone Musicians’ Union, Christopher Alie Conteh, informed Politico that “We are aware that there are different music bodies across the country. That in itself does not tell well if we cannot speak with one voice. The only way that we can speak with one voice is by having a body like the Sierra Leone Musicians’ Union established years back.”
He said the formulation of the SLMU does not mean the other bodies will not exist but that a change of name was necessary.
The president of the Karene Artist Union, Dauda Sylvester Kargbo, commonly known as Busy Down, said they decided to sign the MOU because the constitution is in their interest and “this is the first time in history that the umbrella body has considered us.”
The President of the Moyamba District Artists Union, Zaheed Muctar Sesay, commonly known as A-cross said they were happy with the memorandum because it unites the artists across the country. He was hopeful that “our songs will now go viral.”
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