Musicians divided over recognition of SOCACIM

Ama Tutu Muna

The granting of the licence of operation to SOCACIM on 15 May 2015 by the minister of Arts and Culture, Ama Tutu Muna was greeted by diverse reactions from artistes.
    While the members of Romeo Dika’s Syndicate of Cameroonian Musicians – SYCAMU were jumping in celebration, their colleagues of the other previously recognized author’s right bodies notably CMC and SOCAM cried scandal.
    In reaction to the minister’s hasty and controversial decision, the president of CMC, Sam Mbende told Equinoxe TV that “there is no new author’s rights body in Cameroon…….Cameroonians must be made to know how associations are created in the country, at least legally. You don’t create an association through subterfuge and improvisation. Legally a notary is supposed to inform the public through an official news organ that in 30 days a new association will be created”.
    According to Sam Mbende opined that Ama Tutu Muna acted in violation of the laws in force, notably the law of 19 December 2000 bearing on author’s rights and related rights and law of 2001 fixing the modalities of application of the 2000 law.
    Interestingly, in her decision granting licence to SOCACIM it was these same laws that Ama Muna evoked.

    Sam Mbende points out that by taking upon herself to inform the public about the creation of SOCACIM, Ama Muna acted ultra vires.
    “It is not the minister’s role to announce the creation of an association,” Sam Mbende charged, noting that  by using an administrative act to announce her decision Ama Muna simply moved from one folly to even greater lacunae.
    “A licence is granted through a decision which is a juridical act. But the minister’s communiqué announcing the issuance of the licence to SOCACIM was an administrative act which has no juridical force,” Mbenda explained, urging the powers that be to annul Tutu Muna’s decision and also call her to order.
    But in a contrary outburst, another reputed musician, Joe Mboule rubbished Sam Mbende’s arguments as baseless and intended to distract the public.
    “The application file for the licence was constituted in due respect of the laws in force”, Joe Mboule said, remarking that “those attacking the minister’s decision are people who do not want the old author’s rights bodies to disappear.”
    Mboule maintained that Minister Ama Tutu Muna has only met the aspirations of president Biya, who wanted sanity and serenity in the author’s sector.
    To reggae artiste, Silver, Ama Tutu Muna acted in compliance with the law.
    “We were over 800 of us in Mbengwi to create SOCACIM… Those who do not want to adhere should stay away,” Silver said.
    Some sources at the MINAC have also defended the minister’s decision as legal.
    “The minister of Arts and Culture is the only person habilitated to grant and/or withdraw author’s rights licenses. Besides, the 27 members of the interim board of administrators of SOCACIM made a legitimate request which the minister accorded within her constitutional prerogatives,” said a ministerial source.
    Meanwhile, at the time of going to press on Saturday, CRTV announced that over 500 artistes had petitioned the PM to annul the decisions of the MINAC.