2023-04-27 10:42:30
The National Communication Council (CNC) rejected some thirty songs by Burundian artists on Monday April 24, 2023, because they do not respect Burundian cultural values. It is now forbidden for the media to broadcast them. This comes as during the second edition of the national forum on development in Burundi, it was pointed out that the State hardly supports the initiatives of artists or the cultural industry in general.
Alain Amrah Horutanga believes that operators in the cultural sector are doing their best to support artists. He mentions in particular the setting up of cultural centres. But that is not enough, it requires the intervention of the State. (Photo: Akeza net)
From now on, Burundian media are no longer authorized to broadcast around thirty songs banned by the National Communication Council (CNC) on Monday April 24, 2023. The reason for this ban, according to the CNC, is that the songs in question do not respect Burundian cultural values . This measure has generated a lot of reactions on social networks where some people are sorry and others welcome the measure. Other music lovers say there are a few songs that don’t deserve to be on this list because they don’t convey “inappropriate” content like “Abagabo bararya imbwa zikishura” by Leonard Niyomwungere.
The artists lament to see the State reject certain songs but paradoxically, it does not support the artists produce better hits. ” If the CNC has rejected certain songs, it is better that it establishes a list of good songs so that we know what the authorities prefer or what they denigrate. As the state has discouraged some singers, it also supports the good initiatives of artists instead of seeing the bad only “wrote on his Facebook page Boniface Girukwishaka known under the stage name B-Face. Artist Philbert Cimpaye (DJ Philbyte) believes that quickly punishing artists should go hand in hand with supporting them.
The cultural industry needs support
« Given the achievements resulting from the recommendations of the first edition of the national forum on the development of Burundi, the cultural field was not taken into account said Alain Amrah Horutanga, entrepreneur in the cultural industry through his presentation at the second edition of the National Forum on the Development of Burundi which was held in Bujumbura from April 20 to 21 at the Palais des Congrès in Kigobe.
For Mr. Horutanga, most cultural and creative industries operate in the informal sector. In addition, the people who hold these industries are young people whom investors often do not trust, because they are considered inexperienced.
“Even if the cultural industry is informal, that shouldn’t be a valid reason not to support them. Never mind, it’s a sector that employs a lot of young people, especially in the audiovisual sector, in the cinema, etc. », indicates Mr. Horutanga.
State support is essential
According to Mr. Horutanga, to develop the cultural sector, you need the support of the State but also the support of the private sector. For example, the public-private partnership (ppp) is something that might help artists or the cultural industry in general a little more. “In the meantime, with our meager resources, we manage to set up small structures such as cultural centers that give young people room to express themselves. But these centers cannot allow us to place Burundian artists or creative geniuses on the regional or international scene”, says Mr. Horutanga.
He explains that the centers that have been set up to support artists do not have sufficient financial means. As a result, artists struggle to persevere in their craft and engage in other activities to support themselves. Others migrate to other countries where the grass is still green. To develop the cultural industry, artists should be understood and supported. The support begins first with the change of mentalities, by promoting and valuing actors visible in the media. In addition, the Burundian elite should appropriate or promote Burundian cultural products. Never mind, there are public cultural centers that are dying all over the country. It’s time to reinvigorate them.
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