Following growing concerns about successive administrations’ failure to leverage Nigerian music’s global success to boost the country’s economy, Mike Dada, founder and President of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), has urged the federal government to identify key platforms in the creative sector and collaborate with them to reverse the ugly trend.
Mr Dada, who gave this advice while chatting with our reporter, claimed that if adequate steps are implemented, the government will be able to reap the economic benefits of global acceptance of the country’s music.
Dada, said though the government has not been part of the growth and development of the country’s creative sector right from inception, this is the time for it to move fast and take charge of the developmental process. He insists that the government must collaborate with the major stakeholders in the creative sector to harness the economic benefits associated with the globalization of Nigerian music. He expressed optimism that President Tinubu can turn things around in the entertainment circuit.
“Mr President understands the benefits and impacts of the growth of African music . And he has been very supportive when he wasn’t even the president of the country. He attended AFRIMA in 2015. So, he has been very supportive of such a creative initiative. I had interaction with him in the past and I know his level of understanding of the power of the creative industry and tourism. I know he’s somebody who’s daring and is not intimidated or overwhelmed by his share of what he can do with African music,” Dada added.
Outlining the measures to be put in place to leverage the global success of the country’s music to boost the economy, Dada urged the government to go all out to identify the key platforms in the creative sector and partner with them. He also wants the government to develop more music festivals and support the existing ones as a way of attracting tourists to the country and increasing the country’s source of revenue.
According to him, “We have many music festivals as well as film festivals that can attract tourists and investors to the country. Such festivals include Felabration, HEADIES, SoundCity Music Awards, AMAA, AFRIFF, AFRIMA, Abuja International Film Festivals among others. The government should learn to collaborate with the organizers of these festivals.
“For instance, when people travel to see their favourite bands or artists, they spend money on hotels, food, transportation, shopping among other expenses. This can help to boost the economy of the host country. Government should be thinking in this direction. It should also identify key platforms and partner with them with to increase revenue generation for the country. The world is respecting African music not because we demanded it, but because we earned it. That’s one of the particularly happiest moments of my life when I see these things happen and African musicians are invited to Europe and America to perform to huge audiences. When these things happen, I am always happy and fulfilled, but the journey will not stop. We can only continue to manage and sustain the success story of African music. African music has been well accepted around the world more than anything else. It has the capacity to boost our economy.