Complains over authors’ rights

Tutu Muna

Anglophone musicians petition Biya against Tutu Muna
- Say they were discriminated against and marginalized in the recent redistribution of authors rights by the minister of culture
By Esan-Ekoninyam Besong-Awu in Yaounde
Musicians of NW and SW extraction have expressed disappointment with the minister of culture, Ama Tutu Muna, over what they consider as her poor management of author’s rights.
    Speaking to The Median after the redistribution last week, of a special author’s rights package by the minister, some Anglophone musicians cried foul, saying they were unjustly placed among the lowest category of musicians who benefitted from the minister’s gesture.

    “We are very disappointed with the minister. We do not understand why all Anglophone artistes were given a flat rate of 100.000frs each, while some of our francophone colleagues had as much as 1 million frs,” complained Loh Benson, dean of North West musicians, who wondered what criteria was used in allocating the same amount for his son (a new-comer in the profession) and himself.
    Loh Benson complained bitterly that though he was a member of the adhoc committee that the minister set-up for the redistribution, he was treated with disdain by other members of the committee who allocated huge sums for themselves and only 100.000 for him.
    “I was a member of the adhoc committee for the special authors’ rights redistribution. But if I tell you that I know what criteria were used in allocating amounts to individual musicians then I am lying,” Loh said, noting that “everything was done in all secrecy between the minister and her francophone lackeys.”
       Loh Benson, a father of eleven children and eight grand children wondered how he is going to send these children back to school with what is left of the 100.000 frs.
    “After paying transport to Yaounde and back to Bamenda, lodging and feeding myself here how much do you think will be left by the time I get to Bamenda,” wondered Loh Benson.
    He questioned why the minister could not send the cheques to the regional delegations, to reduce cost.
    As for King Phil, president of North West artistes, “we do not consider this money as authors’ rights. It is probably a special package from the head of state to help musicians to send their children to school.”
    Like the former speaker, King Phil also wondered what criteria were used in allocating different sums to individual musicians. Besides, he questioned why no Anglophone musician had more than 100.000 frs.
    “All musicians from NW and SW had a flat rate of 100.000frs, but most francophone musicians received more than this amount with some having as much as 1 million frs,” King Phil noted, questioning if there are no Anglophone musicians worthy of the name.
    Besides the flat rate of 100.000 frs they received, Anglophone musicians observed that of the 1159 musicians shortlisted to benefit from the special redistribution, only 23 came from NW and about the same number or even less from the South West.
    While some of the musicians have promised to take the minister to court for usurping the powers and role of authors rights associations, the association of NW musicians have said they would address a powerful memo to president Biya exposing the injustices that the minister has shown to them ever since she was appointed in 2007 and the untold damage she is doing to NW and SW music and culture.
    “Enough is enough! We cannot continue to take this non-sense from someone whom we thought should rather protect our interest,” Loh Benson charged.
           Despite the frustrations of the NW and SW musicians, The Median was however informed that the young Anglophone artiste Stanley Enoh received as much as 1 million frs. Some others received more 100.000 frs but not up to 1 million, we learnt.