African Governments Must Do More To Support Music Industry - Akinyemi Onyoluwa

African governments need stronger policies to support musicians, music businesses and creative infrastructure if the continent is to fully benefit from the economic potential of its music industry, Nigerian music lawyer Akinyemi Onyoluwa has said.

Akinyemi said African music had become an international product, but government policies and support systems had not developed at the same pace as the industry.

“We still have a lot of catching up to do,” he said.

Akinyemi said some countries outside Africa had introduced policies designed to make it easier for musicians to create and sustain their careers.

He cited the United Kingdom, Canada and Sweden as examples of countries where government-backed initiatives support aspects of the music industry.

According to him, such support can include funding, tax incentives and assistance for music studios and live venues.

He said Canada, for example, has funds available to support artists who consistently release music and meet the requirements for the relevant programmes.

Akinyemi said African governments should view music not only as entertainment but also as a cultural and economic product capable of supporting tourism.

He cited Ibiza, an island in Spain, as an example of how music can contribute to the economic identity of a location.

He said the island’s growth as a destination for electronic music had attracted visitors from across Europe and beyond.

He argued that similar opportunities existed in Africa if governments created the right environment for the music industry to grow.

Akinyemi also praised Ghana’s Year of Return initiative, saying similar programmes could help connect people in the African diaspora to the continent.

He suggested that Nigeria could learn from Ghana’s approach by developing initiatives that encourage people outside Africa to reconnect with the continent, invest and contribute to local economies.

The lawyer said Nigerian, Ghanaian and South African music had gained international recognition and was increasingly consumed outside the continent.

He said this growing influence should encourage governments to take the industry more seriously.

“It’s actually like an international product now that is consumed all over the world,” he said.

Akinyemi said stronger government support could also benefit other parts of the economy.

He argued that a stronger music industry could contribute to tourism, employment and tax revenues while creating opportunities for musicians, producers, songwriters and other professionals.

He said African countries therefore needed to develop policies that recognised the wider economic value of music.

Akinyemi also stressed the importance of protecting the intellectual property created by musicians.

He said an artiste’s name and brand were valuable assets, while their music could continue generating income through copyright long after the artiste’s active career.

He said stronger legal and institutional systems were necessary to ensure that creators and their families could benefit from those assets.

The lawyer called for greater awareness among musicians and more professionals with specialised knowledge of music law to help protect the interests of African creators.