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Artistes react to government’s planned music video ban

By Daniel Anazia
22 July 2017   |   4:10 am
Some popular Nigerian music stars have expressed their displeasure over the planned ban by Federal Government on shooting of music videos as well as movies outside the country.

Yemi Alade

Some popular Nigerian music stars have expressed their displeasure over the planned ban by Federal Government on shooting of music videos as well as movies outside the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, during the week at the Creative Industry Conference in Lagos revealed the intentions of the government to discourage Nigerian musicians from shooting videos for their songs outside the shores of Nigeria, saying the trend does not build the nation economy, rather it create capital flight and unemployment.

Some of the stars that have so far expressed their opinions on the proposed ban include Yemi Alade, also known as ‘Mama Africa’, rapper Ruggedman and P-Square. They argued that the policy would hinder competitiveness of the music industry.

Reacting via her Instagram handle, Yemi Alade shared her thoughts. “So all the money artistes have spent shooting videos that are yet to be released will be refunded abi?” she quizzed.

“An economy/industry that has gotten thus far without your one dime or assistance is what you want to nip so insensitively. So will you sponsor the unavoidable travel expenses 2Naij of the international acts we have featured on our songs? You might think that a musical video is just ‘a thing’ we do!! It’s a business! You don’t understand!! At least a little bit of research would help.

“Have you sponsored a music video or even been at a video location. You see an industry moving forward, your contribution shouldn’t be to pull it back!! Sad, sad, sad! The video directors we use round the world are also Nigerians. I guess you don’t know that!”

Also taking to his Instagram to let out at length his vexation is Ruggedbaba, who argue that many artistes take their music production outside due to the sophistication of the technologies needed for such productions, which are mostly not available in the country.

He wrote: “A woman has just been arrested for exchanging her two month old baby for a bag of rice. That’s how hard the situation in our country is getting. Meanwhile the budget to run the Nigerian Senate this 2017 is N215billion.

“A government that has not in anyway supported or encouraged the Nigerian entertainment industry now thinks it can control it. An industry that men and women have single handedly built? BIG JOKE!

“We watch you use the country any how you like because unfortunately, you are the ones at the helm of affairs. We all see how that has been going since 1960. You are not providing jobs for the masses. Education is poor; our Nigerian certificates are more useless than tissue paper outside Nigeria. There’s no stable electricity. Security is not stable.

“Our hospitals are not equipped to the extent our president is receiving treatment in a London hospital. Nigerians who are not related to any rich family are on their own. Entertainment that has kept a lot of Nigerians off the street is what you want to try to destroy. You haven’t helped us fight pirates, you haven’t helped us get our royalties; you have not set up anything to help the Nigerian entertainment industry. Meanwhile the budget to run the Nigerian Senate this 2017 is N215billion.

“Amenities we lack are a few of the reasons some entertainers go outside the country to shoot music videos and movies. Now you want to try to stop that? Please do not make me laugh. Even America where their government gives their citizens amenities they deserve still shoot movies in other countries.

“Nigerian government should stop giving us jokes and give us light, equip and pay our forces. Equip our hospitals enough so that even our president can be treated here.  Stop owing pensioners, doctors and teachers. Stop sending your kids to schools abroad. It’s Nigeria’s money you are spending abroad. Spend our money on our land and its people. Minister face your work.”

Peter Okoye of the PSquare duo on his Instagram wrote: “Sometimes am ashamed to be called a Nigerian because this people…Tufia kwa…Another nationality loading.” Adding, “Dear FG, for your information! All the shame wey una dey bring for dis our country na we dey cover una yash!”

His elder brother Jude engees Okoye also writing via Instagram page said: “An industry they never encouraged, supported or empowered is what they now want to control. Let all of you stop running to abroad when you are sick as na naija money una dey use patronize oyibo hospital dem.

“You people are the ones refusing to fix our health facilities so u travel out when mosquito bite una. So why tell us where to record when u can’t provide uninterrupted power here in Nigeria. Sometime I wonder how we got it all wrong. Una children when dey school for abroad na which money una dey use patronize them?”

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