The National Government is committed to fighting cartels in the music and arts industry to ensure artists earn from their talents.
This was revealed by the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage Aisha Jumwa during the burial of prominent traditional song writer and singer Masha Iha Thoya in Malindi town, Kilifi County.
Ms Jumwa who was accompanied by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi and several Members of County Assembly (MCA) also challenged the Kilifi County Assembly to pass bills that will entrench traditional music, arts and artefacts in law and help in revenue collection through tourism and research education.
“Music is economy, music is entertainment and we have started to deal with cartels in the music industry and their days are numbered because we want our musicians to benefit fully from their talent and President William Ruto is keen in ensuring that musicians earn decently,” she said.
She added that the Mijikenda culture will be celebrated in a big way starting this year and that the annual Chenda Chenda festival will be a national event to be attended by the Presidents.
“As the national government we are going to put up the Mijikenda Cultural Center to celebrate our community heroes and heroines and our culture. We are also against archaic traditions that go against human rights,” she added.
The event was a sorrowful but colorful burial ceremony attended by thousands of Mijikenda traditional music lovers and political elites in the County who came to celebrate the life of the 82 year old musician who entertained even the high and mighty in society.
Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi challenged Ms Jumwa to take advantage of her position as CS for Culture and market the Mijikenda culture as a way of earning respect among Kenyans.
“We want you to help us propel our Mijikenda culture so that Kenyans can fully understand us, hence earning us respect,” she said.
Governor Mung’aro on his part said that he will ensure that local artists are well taken care of and that no one will take advantage of artists.
Shella ward MCA Twahir Abdulrahman said that he will move a motion in the county assembly to make it law that major streets within townships in Kilifi County are named after Mijikenda heroes and heroines.
The deceased left behind four wives, 20 children, 35 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
