Entertainment of Thursday, 10 July 2003

Source: GNA

MUSIGA calls for law to ban profane music

Sunyani (B/A), July 10, GNA- Alhaji Sidiku Buari, National President of the Musicians Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) has called for a law against the use of profane language in the music industry. ''It is only by law that will make recalcitrant musicians pay heed to advice by the association against negative and uncouth songs produced by some musicians,'' he said.

Alhaji Buari said at the inauguration of the Brong-Ahafo Regional branch of MUSIGA at Sunyani.

He said some musicians, mostly those who have not unregistered with the association, were taking advantage of the absence of such a law to release "unpalatable" music on the market.

''Though the copyright authorities are making great efforts to curb the practice some musicians are adamant as there is no law to force them to stop it."

Alhaji Buari said the national secretariat would embark on a talent-hunting exercise to tap and guide young musicians to portray Ghanaian culture especially at the international level.

''Young musicians will be nurtured to properly play their role in the socio-economic development of the nation'', he said.

He said musicians from Denmark portray their culture and that the government of Ghana was negotiating with the World Bank to acquire a loan to help local musicians to promote indigenous Ghanaian culture.

Alhaji Buari appealed to Ghanaian musicians to restrict their works to suit the Ghanaian taste instead of copying foreign musicians.

"As you can't be like Michael Jackson so there is no need to copy his music, besides that foreign music has nothing special to a Ghanaian", he said.