“We have been neglected by national and county leadership” the voices of Kwale artists

BY FLORA AWINJA

Artists in Kwale County have protested over negligence by both the national and county government for failing to offer them financial and technical support.

Nick Wakwanza, a producer from Corner To Europe Productions, bitterly points out that the challenges most artists that frequent the studio to inquire about music recording rates complain about lack of funds.

He says most of the upcoming artists comes from humble background and face a lot of hurdles in pursuit of their dreams.

The artists also lack funds to brand themselves to enable them get contracted to perform in shows.

He added these situations and due to lack of employment opportunities in the region forces the youth join criminal gangs and indulge in drug abuse.

He says that there is more work to be done especially on the legislation part especially the bodies said to be in charge of artists needs to govern especially on transparency and accountability of artists income and returns especially payments and their rights.

The artists have bitterly expressed that the government both the national and the county has failed in the appointment of certain cabinet secretaries to some artist concern dockets terming the appointments as unfair and derailing to the artists.

“The appointed personnel are given dockets that are not their area of interest hence will not give their all with utmost love and devotion,  thus affecting the artists immensely “adds Khatib Guo alias KT one of the artists.

The artists emphasized on the lack of both the National and County government to recognize the role of the artist in the society terming it as the government’s refusal to set up a ministry that will address art and artists needs in general. Unlike the support their Tanzanian counterparts are receiving from the government makes them feel tossed on the side especially when used only during campaign period.

“The appointed personnel are given dockets that are not their area of interest hence will not give their all with utmost love and devotion, thus affecting the artists immensely.”

The artists are asking for support from the government to help them market their craft both nationally and internationally are seeking for a better audience from the government especially in their contribution as the face of recognition both in cultural heritage.