NIGERIAN ARTISTES GO ON STRIKE
Following the resolutions adopted at a recent world press conference in Lagos, the coalition of major associations in the Nigerian music industry commenced an indefinite mass hunger strike on August 25th.
The aim of the strike is to draw the attention of the world to the intolerable amount of piracy currently devastating the music industry in Nigeria. This drew musicians and other stakeholders in the industry to the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, venue for a public awareness rally where various artistes and music producers mounted the stage to express their anger and dissatisfaction against piracy. Those who spoke include, Tony Okoroji, Kenny Ogunbge of kennis Music, Sunny Nneji, amongst others.
The coalition in its press release signed by Mr. Efe Omorogbe, prior to the commencement of the mass hunger strike, further resolved that a delegation of the industry stakeholders will proceed to the National Assembly in Abuja on September 1, to express the disappointment of the industry, over the lukewarm and ineffective attitude of the government to attacking the piracy scourge that is fast eating away the livelihood of Nigerians and destroying the nation’s image.
The coalition is also requesting all broadcast organizations in the country to show solidarity with the plight of the Nigerian entertainment industry by observing September 1, 2009, as “No Music Day”. To this end, Broadcasting stations across Nigeria are therefore requested not to broadcast music between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm on September 1. Artistes across the country are also requested not to engage in any musical performance on the above date.
It is worthy to mention that similar groups like, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Association of Nigerian Theatre-Arts Practitioners(ANTP),Nigeria Movie Producers and even Government agency ; National Film and Video Censors Board(NFVCB) are all part of the piracy struggle in Nigeria.
Even though I doubt the efficacy of a mass hunger strike, trust Nigerians! I quite appreciate the efforts of these associations by going to such extent as to starve themselves of food and even taking the fight to the den of the pirates which has produced a statistics of about six billion naira worth of pirated works destroyed by the NFVCB, I think more efforts should be geared towards re-orientating Nigerians about the ills of piracy and its end result, because what goes round, comes round.
Government should also show more commitment to improving the country’s economy as well to pay more attention to eradicating this piracy menace and not just “lip service”.
Remember, what goes round comes round; it might be you or your loved one tomorrow, so let’s all join in the fight against piracy.
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