Some Gambian artists have complained about the use of their songs in the Africell Fun Ring service without being notified by the GSM Company. They are claiming that nothing is being given to them in terms of payment for their songs in this service. According to Gibou-Bala Gaye, aka Gee, they are getting nothing from it. "I have even phoned the staff responsible for the fun ring to delete all my songs on the service," he said. He said he will demand for the removal of all his songs from the Fun Ring service or else he will take steps to stop it legally.

Mighty Joe, another Gambian artist, also confirmed the use of his songs in the Africell Fun Ring service. Supporting the claim made by Gee, he said he is challenging all the other affected artists to come together and put a stop to it. Responding to the claims, Musa Ceesay, the Africell Media Consultant, said the Fun Ring is another version of the services they offer to their customers. He argued that the songs of Gambian artists are being played on radio without the payment of royalties.

"Africell has nothing from the fun ring. We have less than one thousand subscribers on Gambian artists songs at the cost of 50 Butut per day. How much then can we give out with this?" he asked. Mr. Ceesay said it is not a reasonable demand from the artists. He further argued that what Africell had given out in terms of support to artists is unquantifiable.

"It is over a million Dalasi," he said. The Africell Media Consultant said with all the fun rings that he is aware of; it was the artists who requested for Africell to put their songs in the Fun Ring service for the purpose of publicity. "If anybody thinks he/she is being exploited by putting your songs in the service for the company's own interest, then let the person come forward and tell us and we promise it will be removed," said Mr. Ceesay. He said the Gambian songs that are being used on the Fun Ring service are less than one percent.

"I also wish to assure that this will not in any way affect the relations that exist between Africell and the Gambian music fraternity," he concluded.