Karaoke Music: last warning

Bujumbura City Council’s Mayor has addressed to the karaoke musicians not to exceed 8:00 pm while playing their music. The addressees are worrying about their future –by Diane Uwimana

Steven Sogo and Romeo Nininahazwe.©Iwacu

In his correspondence of July 2013 addressed to different Communes of Bujumbura City Council, the Mayor has given a last warning about how night clubs must work . As it is indicated “everyone who would like to organize such activities should have authorization from Bujumbura City Council and comply with technical requirements in terms of soundproof of dancing clubs. Noisy dancing clubs should close their doors immediately. Moreover, karaoke activities are forbidden after 8:00 pm”, states the correspondence, signed by Ir. Saidi Juma, Bujumbura City Council’s Mayor. The closing measures will be inflicted on disobedient people. “The municipal police commissioner and communal administrators must ensure that the recommendations are respected” as it is stated in the note.

“8:00 pm is a logical hour for starting the karaoke music. Closing at that time, means we are going to give up our job and go back home”, deplores Roméo Nininahazwe, an artist and singer in “Etoile du Centre group” and organizer of karaoke music at “kw’isango Bar”. Steven Sogo, running karaoke music at “La détente”, is very angry and finds the measure very unjust: “Many families depend on this activity. What are we going to do while even our copyrights law hasn’t been signed yet?”

The same thought is shared by Issa Jamal (nicknamed Yoya), often playing his music at “Cyrille bar”, who mentions that the Bujumbura City council’s Mayor wants to cause their unemployment: “there are at least 50 people working in each pub and depending on karaoke music. If the Mayor applies this measure, many people will lose their jobs and may families will hardly survive.”
Moreover, he points out that karaoke music activities bring many taxes to the government and attract many tourists in the country. “If artists organize concerts, there are 10 percent of taxes paid to the government. Furthermore, there are tourists who are attracted by Karaoke music. If this measure is going to be implemented, the country will lose some taxes and Burundian artists will be obliged to flee to other EAC countries”, states Yoya.

Likewise, Jean Pierre Nimbona (Kidumu), living in Kenya and running Karaoke music with his group “Boda Boda”, mentions that the measure will discourage young artists. “In other EAC countries, artists are working 24/24 hours. Now, Burundian musicians have just been forbidden to work beyond 8:00 pm!” regrets Kidumu, angered by the situation. Some Burundian musicians are now wondering how they are going to compete with other EAC and international region artists while their working schedule is completely reduced.