For the second week in succession the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA) addressed artistes at the National Arts Council (BASATA) Art Forum (Jukwaa la Sanaa) on Monday, to help them understand procedures to follow before signing contracts.
One of the attendees, Irene Mwakambulwe of the Jivunie Tanzanian Arts group, said most artistes lack sufficient information on contracts and promotion of their works because they shy away from discussions.
“COSOTA’s advice does not reach most artistes mainly because they don’t come to discussions as the Monday forum and this denies them the chance to know more about contracts and other issues,” she said.
“Most artistes understand when they are shown how to go about handling such things as contracts but there is a problem because only a few of them show up for discussions held in the presence of COSOTA and BASATA officials as well as artistes of differing experience and views,” she added.
Mwakambulwe further noted that discussions would help reduce the ignorance of artistes but those who attend them do not pass to others what they learn at these gatherings.
She also criticised the media for not giving the discussions due attention as proved by their frequent absence, a tendency that further limits information shared to reach artistes who do not attend them.
“When COSOTA’s Computer Systems Administrator, Sagenge James, addressed the forum last week, for instance, very few artistes and journalists turned-up,” said Makambulwe.
“This week I was more surprised to see a smaller turnout when the institution’s Acting Chief Executive Officer and Copyright Administrator, Doreen Sinare, came to expand on what her colleague had said the previous Monday,” she added.
Mwakambulwe’s observation did not seem to disturb Sinare’s presentation, for she just went through her prepared presentation then answered questions from the floor.
Asked why she saw it necessary to come this week after her colleague had represented the organisation on the same platform last week, Sinare said James had talked about artistes using modern digital methods to promote their works, so she came to tell the artistes dangers they face in the arts industry.
“It’s better for us to do this because education for the public is supposed to be continuous,” she said. “With sophisticated technology entering into the industry, the means available to artistes and stakeholders have been greatly expanded.
“For example, a distributor can make use of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) system to distribute art works.” Sinare feels that getting the opportunity to present issues within the copyright laws as they stand today both nationally and internationally, was another bonus and very useful.
By IMAN MANI, Tanzania Daily News
