Renowned gospel musician Reuben Kigame on Tuesday, March 30, warned government officials and those from the copyright societies against speaking at his funeral when he dies.
In a statement, Kigame stated that he was struggling to make ends meet, despite the many songs that he had released since 1986.
"I wish to go public about something and I want this marked well: if you one day hear musician Reuben Kigame is dead, do not allow any government representative or those from the so cold copyright societies to speak at my funeral service.
"What I have been through under them is enough," Kigame begun.
Kigame decried that he had been released 29 albums with daily airplay in many stations around Kenya but did not have much to show for it.
"My songs are played on just about every public event including by police and military bands. Yet at the end of the month I can only look forward to about ksh18,000 in royalties," he added.
The musician indicated that he was not only speaking for himself but for other artists who were struggling as well.
"If I was not doing it for God I would have quit long ago because even from the church, all you can get is acclamation and encouragement.
"God has been faithful to me because I have eaten, got a home, raised a family and kept going and serving through his miraculous provisions," he concluded.
MCSK is tasked with collecting royalties on behalf of authors, composers, arrangers and publishers of musical works. It is not the first time that artists have lamented about getting meagre royalties.
The government, on March 9, 2021, announced a new system through which musicians and all artists will register and track their royalties from their works.
Through the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and the Collective Management Organisations (CMOs), the government will depend on an ICT system for registration of copyright, licensing of music use, royalty management and media monitoring.
The new portal will look to stem on issues of lack of royalties to artists that have dodged the entertainment industry.
