Yvonne Chaka Chaka Gives Keynote Address at ONGEA! 2021

[Photo Credit: EWN]

ONGEA! – The Eastern Africa Music Summit returned virtually for the 6th Year, from Monday 22nd to Wednesday 24th February 2021, with sessions running from 12.00pm – 9.00pm EAT (GMT+3).

“Due to the potential Health and Financial risks of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we had decided to cancel the 2021  edition”, said ONGEA! Founder – Mike Strano, who is also an Event Producer of 20 Years at PHAT! Productions.

“However, like many other Music Markets around the World, ONGEA! has also gone Online, in  order to continue Serving the Creative Industry of Eastern Africa – especially during this Crisis”. 

Born out of 10 Years of Kenya Music Week, ONGEA! – The Eastern Africa Music Summit is a Corporate Social Investment of PHAT! Music and  Entertainment Limited, to help Develop a Creative Industry that is more  Professional, Transparent and Profitable for all, with music as a driver. 

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“Intellectual Property is the Fuel that Drives our Creative Industry; and over the last 16 Years we have Worked  with Governments and Stakeholders to help Reform the Business of Copyright & Related Rights in Eastern  Africa”, says the Founder.

“However, there is Still a Lot of Work to be Done on Compliance. For example, No  Shows for Musicians during the ongoing Pandemic across the World, has brought the Importance of Royalties  into Focus for just Survival alone. However, in Eastern Africa, the meaningful Collection & Distribution of such Revenue is Absent, plunging our Artists into Financial Distress. Now is the Time to Fix the System, so that our Industry can Recover and never Face such Challenges again.” 

As such, ONGEA! 2021 featured a special Webinar on Tuesday 23rd February 2021, at 02.00pm-03.30pm  EAT (GMT+3), entitled: Royalties in Focus. COVID-19 showed the Importance of Royalties as a Revenue stream and amplified the Challenges in Eastern Africa with Collection and Distribution. 

The Session was opened with a special Keynote Address by the original ‘Princess of Africa’ - Yvonne Chaka Chaka, in her new Capacity of the Vice President for CISAC (Confédération Internationale des Sociétés  d'Auteurs et Compositeurs) - the International Confederation of Societies of Authors & Composers, which is an  international Non-Governmental and Not-For-Profit organisation, that aims to Protect the Rights and Promote the  Interests of Creators worldwide. 

Other panelists included; Intellectual Property experts from CAPASSO (Composers, Authors & Publishers  Association), IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), KECOBO (Kenya Copyright Board),  Mdundo and SACEM (Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Éditeurs de Musique).