Authors’ Rights: Irregular Payment Detrimental To Artists

Authors' rights which have two distinct components: the economic rights in the work and the moral rights of the author are intended to allow the author to profit financially from their creation. This financial profit seems to be far-fetched to most artists in Cameroon. Artists, especially those who are no longer very active, depend largely on the distribution of authors’ rights to afford their basic needs. With the almost non-existence of such dues, this has greatly affected their living conditions as they can barely provide for their basic needs.

A Cameroonian singer, Wax Dey, says with the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant cancellation of many shows, this has exacerbated the disastrous conditions of most artists. “The non-payment, or non-availability, of royalties has been a tough pill for many to swallow”, Wax revealed. He added that authors’ rights are the main source of revenue for artists and when the rights are not respected; it is difficult for them to survive. With the Covid-19 pandemic, most institutions no longer organise events and musical concerts no longer take place like before. These used to be significant sources of revenues for artists, which have now disappeared, another singer narrated. Some artists say they have looked for secondary and tertiary means of survival. Many of them have found employment or have big and small businesses. But Wax Dey insists that royalties are vital to many, and are perhaps the surest bet for the majority who are no longer active in their artistic career.  

Another singer, Ateh Bazore, who is also President of SONACAM, says because of lack of authors’ rights, most cannot send their children to school; talk less of affording money for food or medical bills. Hence, when some of them become sick, they post their pictures on Facebook and other social media platforms to beg for money. “This is not good for the image of our artists...