Tim Kamuzu Banda
28 April 2007
column
Nairobi — Kenyan musicians' effort to foster unity and raise their living standards together has received a major boost with the recent revival of the Federation of Artistes and Entertainment Workers Cooperative Savings and Credit Society.
The entertainers' cooperative was founded two years ago, but was bogged down by operation hiccups despite huge interest it had generated among musicians.
It was dealt another blow early this year when one of the founders and brainchild, Peter Dula, died.
According to the interim chairperson, Patrick Saana Kay, a number of musicians, himself included, and officers from the ministry of Cooperative Development last week converged on the Kenyan National Theatre to brainstorm on how to make the organisation a reality.
Among the resolutions was that membership be open to all musicians and people who derive direct livelihood from music.
Actors and comedians
Other artistic groups such as actors and comedians would also be illegible.
Membership is Sh100 with a monthly subscription of Sh50.
"This is a long overdue initiative that should play a role in the betterment of the lives of our musicians," jazz artiste Kay told reporters after the mid-week meeting.
Like any other savings and credit society, the organisation is to keep money for members, on the basis of which they will be able to obtain loans.
There is already support from the ministry whose officers are conducting training courses for the organisation's officials.
Amongst the objectives is to foster a working relationship with the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), a grouping of world artistes with 72 member unions around the world and whose head office is in Paris, France.
FIM has been instrumental in offering administration and logistical assistance, including funds to such organisations.
The cooperative has launched a major recruitment drive.
At the same time, the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) has received a clean bill of health from the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC).
Robert Hooijer, the CISAC director of African Affairs currently on a visit to Kenya to monitor the progress made by MCSK's restructuring, says he is impressed with the great strides made by the board so far.
This verdict is necessary for MCSK to receive the logistical, administration and financial support it asked for from the world organisation.
Hooijer who has more than 30 years' experience in royalties collection management, says that MCSK's problems are not unique, they are experienced by royalties collection societies in many other African countries.
But the fact that the MCSK board is addressing its weaknesses is enough to convince CISAC to help.
Already, CISAC has seconded a senior manager from the successful South Africa Music Rights Organisation to help revive MCSK.
The manager who arrived in Kenya on Friday, is to help with establishing the infrastructure and an operation system.
Hooijer himself has been conducting management training courses to the new management team since his arrival in Kenya over a week ago.
Hooijer says CISAC has already set aside a substantial amount of money to help in the development of the organisation.
Although he declined to disclose the amount, he was however prepared to say that MCSK will be provided with whatever amount it needed to ensure its activities are running smoothly.
"We have a vision to create Kenya as a centre of excellence when it comes to royalties collection and service to members, and this is something I am sure that MCSK is working towards," he says.
This move was welcomed by members during the 18th annual general meeting in Nakuru last week.
The meeting was attended by the CISAC official. And for the first time since the society's inception, the members accepted the organisation's statement of account without question.
They also commended the officials for what they called great strides made so far, and said they were looking forward to a more promising future.
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