Protecting the rights of artists
SIR: I write with reference to the article "What cultural policy says about funding the arts", by Uchechukwu Nwosu which appeared on page 31 of The Guardian newspaper of November 26, 2004. My concern is with the part that raises questions regarding efforts being made by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) to stem the indiscriminate and illegal reproduction of the work of artists.
It is obvious from the write-up that the author is not aware that the SNA is a member-organisation of the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), Nigeria's only collecting society in the print medium.
What REPRONIG seeks to do, and which it has been putting structures in readiness for, is to facilitate the collection of remuneration due to its stakeholders including the visual artists from the exploitation of their works. The task of collecting revenue on this is one big challenge that the SNA might find that it is not adequately prepared to handle. Therefore, SNA must give every support to REPRONIG to facilitate its objective. SNA must take active part in the activities of REPRONIG to ensure that the aims for which REPRONIG was set up are achieved.
Finally, it is worthwhile to know that artists know their rights and are now prepared to do what it takes to secure these rights.
Inyang Ekanem,
Executive Director,
Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG)
Ibadan, Oyo State
