Congolese artists based in Kenya have been told to compose and produce their own original songs to secure intellectual property right as provided in the Music Copyright Act.

Speaking on Monday evening at Vibro Club in Nairobi West, renowned music promoter and manager Panya Buku or PDG Mwakamba also urged musicians to stop turning original beats into AI- generated music. H expressed concern that artificial intelligence will negatively affect creativity and turn them into laggards and zombies.

Already, there are complaints in Kenya’s entertainment industry of a serious recession in in growth. Entertainment joints Kenya rehash the mic that that dominated the industry for more than 50 years because modern musicians are content to do remixes of oldies that often sound horrible.

Congolese Rumba legend Luambo Luanzo Franco’s music is the most bastardised, with songs recorded in the 1980s dominating live shows and club music today.  

Mwakamba who was the guest of honour during tribute shows to Orchestra Mangelepa’s legend – the late Twikale wa Twikale who was buried in Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week – expressed concern that the hard-work and sacrifices the old generation artists made to produce their music are being bastardised by artificial intelligence.

Mwakamba pointed out that the modern musicians should respect the originality of music and refrain from scavenging such beats using AI.

“I’m surprised most bands in our big cities, including Nairobi and Mombasa, that play live music regularly play evergreen songs composed by the old generation of artists without acknowledgement and authority of the original work or its authors,” he said.

Mwakamba reminded artists in Kenya – whether foreign or local – that most of the old generation musicians went through great challenges to produce the hits they (modern artists) rely on at most entertainment – if not all – joints to make money.

“The creativity deserves to be preserved and respected. They should be patented,” he said.

“I’m today sympathising and also angry with musicians who rarely compose songs because today there is money in music unlike in the past when the industry failed to enable them to benefit from their work.”

“In the 1970s and 1980s two bands – Orchestra Mangelepa and Super Mazembe – were the premier Congolese bands that dominated the Kenyan music scene, engaging in a friendly yet intense rivalry that defined the “golden era” of Lingala music in East Africa. Other bands including Boma Liwanza, Baba Nationale, Bana Ngenge, Viva Makale and Les Kinois (which became Virunga) too recorded some best hits.”

“In recent past there have been complaints involving violation of rights of popular sounds recordings.

“The current crop of artists must be aware that anyone who creates a cover version of existing musical work without the author’s express authorisation infringes on copyright and producer related right because according to the Copyright Act infringement would be liable for damages if sued.

Speaking on behalf of the Congolese musicians and the event organising committee, Kashama Fidelle Mandazi flanked by Didos Longwa Ngoie said they will form an association for aged Congolese musicians in Kenya to look into their welfare.

Also present were music promoters, Paul Rukaria and Sammy Njiru Mokonzi.

• A Tell Media report / By John Ashihundu