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AFRIMA Seeks Covid-19 Palliatives for African artistes, Culture Industry Stakeholders

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International Congress of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has lent its voice to the advocacy for COVID-19 palliative measures for artistes and other practitioners in the music, culture and entertainment industries of Africa.

AFRIMA Seeks Covid-19 Palliatives for African artistes, Culture Industry Stakeholders

 Mr. Rikki Stein, international advisor of AFRIMA

This is in awakening to a new economic and social reality as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the African culture and creative industries.

This decision was reached during the two-hour Conference/Meeting of the International Congress of AFRIMA held via Zoom on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, with the theme; Post COVID-19 Developmental Gaps and Challenges in the African Music and Entertainment Industries: African Regions and Countries Perspective.

The entertainment industry of Africa is among the worst hit industries in the coronavirus crisis.

Stage and concert performances have been suspended, thereby affecting performance artistes, the technical production and support businesses where users can access entertainment without restriction thereby causing millions of dollars in ticket-sales losses and generating an unprecedented level of financial anxiety for artistes, event organizers and other behind-the-scenes workers who rely on events to make ends meet.

 Mr. Rikki Stein, international advisor of AFRIMA who joined the Zoom conference from his base in the United Kingdom, opined that it would not be easy to predict when things would return to normal, even after the pandemic, “the world has undergone a major paradigm shift in the way of doing business especially in the entertainment industry.

Therefore, virtual shows won’t be a perfect financial substitutes for artistes who have lost touring income in the short term, buts online events provide a similar sense of co-presence and community for both artistes and fans”.

In his submission, Mr. Mike Dada, president and executive producer, AFRIMA stated, “The quickest, most direct way to support artistes and industry workers affected by shows, festivals and events cancellations is for both national and regional level funding programs to open to contributions from the general public.

Such programs can usually deliver funds to qualifying artists and other production support businesses for growth and sustenance”.

Other Congress members also voiced their support for creative industry focused solutions to support and help needy musicians and other stakeholders.

Reacting, Ms.Angela Martins, head of Culture Department, African Union Commission, (AUC), who joined the meeting from the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa revealed some of the plans underway to support the industries.

“I wish to inform the meeting that the African Union held a virtual forum of Ministers for Culture and Creative Industries in Africa and there are some countries providing support to artists already.

The final communiqué of the Virtual Meeting of Ministers includes a call for all AU Member States to provide this much needed support to artists.

She added, “The African Union Commission is currently in collaboration with the African Export and Import Bank (AFREXIM Bank) in developing a scheme to request Member States to provide these grants for artists and relevant creative industry stakeholders”

Ms.Martins concluded that the AU would be open to work with AFRIMA to bring much needed relief to the creative and culture sectors of Africa

The conference saw the turnout of members of the International Congress of AFRIMA who collectively make up the International Committee of AFRIMA, the International Jury of AFRIMA and the International Production Committee of AFRIMA.

These distinguished professionals in various sectors of the music, culture and production industries of Africa and other parts of the world linked into the conference from countries such as Benin Republic, Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, United Kingdom, USA and Zimbabwe, among others

In partnership with the African Union Commission, AFRIMA is a youth-focused music property that celebrates Africa, recognizes and rewards the work and talents of myriad of African artists across generations.

AFRIMA is committed to the stimulation of conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the world about the potentials of the cultural and creative economy for real enterprise on the continent, contributing significantly to social cohesion and continental integration as well as sustainable economic growth and development in Africa by lending its voice to promotion of education and campaign against extreme poverty and preventable.


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EFCC Re-Arraigns Echefu, TStv CEO for Allegedly Defrauding Ex-Minister of N1Bn, $1.3m

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Bright Echefu, chief executive officer, Telecom Satellites Limited (TStv), and three co‑defendants appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday on an amended twelve‑count indictment brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges allege money laundering, tax evasion, and investment fraud involving approximately ₦1 billion and $1.3 million.

EFCC Re-Arraigns Echefu, TStv CEO for Allegedly Defrauding Ex-Minister of N1Bn, $1.3m

Bright Echefu, chief executive officer, TStv

In addition to Echefu, the defendants are TStv Executive Director, Felix Igboanuga, Telecom Satellites Limited itself, and Briechberg Investment Ltd.

According to the April 5, 2025, amended charge sheet the EFCC accuses the quartet of defrauding Mr. Tanimu Turaki, Managing Director of Kalsiyam Global and former Minister of Special Duties, alongside BYI General Limited, out of a combined investment of ₦1 billion and $1.3 million. The commission has also included a ₦66 million alleged tax default.

The revised indictment lists:

Count 2: ₦33,909,542.47 in unremitted Company Income Tax

Count 3: ₦13,519,382.00 in unremitted VAT

Count 4: ₦19,488,860.00 in unremitted PAYE

Counts 5–12: Various fraud‑related transactions, including ₦380 million from Kalsiyam Farm, ₦400 million from BYI General Ltd and $1.35 million in loans secured under false pretences.

All defendants pleaded not guilty once again. At the hearing before Justice Mohammed Umar, Echefu’s lead counsel, Senior Advocate Eyitayo Fatogun, informed the court of ongoing settlement discussions with the complainants.

“There are moves to settle this matter and there was a meeting on Saturday between myself and the Nominal Complainant as it is about investment,” Fatogun stated.

“The Defendants have paid some money and I was thinking that the matter be adjourned for report of settlement.”

EFCC counsel A.S. Tomwell confirmed receipt of those payments but emphasized the necessity of entering a plea before considering any adjournment. The court thus ordered the formal reading of the charges and adjourned the trial to October 15, 2025.


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More Woes for MultiChoice as Ghana Orders 30% Price Cut

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The government of Ghana has ordered MultiChoice Ghana to reduce DSTV subscription costs by 30%, noting the significant appreciation of local currency and growing dissatisfaction with current rates.

This comes as Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria ₦766,242,500 for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

According to Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, head Legal, Enforcement & Regulations, NDPC, the investigation, which commenced in the second quarter of 2024, was triggered by suspected breach of privacy rights of Multichoice subscribers and illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians.

MultiChoice, which operates across Africa, continues to lose revenue and subscribers.

Ghana’s minister of communication, digital technology, and innovation, Samuel Nartey George, made the call last week during a meeting with a DSTV team led by Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng, group executive for regulatory and corporate affairs.

According to a ministry statement, George said the government’s responsibility is to respond to Ghanaians’ concerns over high DSTV pricing and outdated content offers.

The Minister pointed out that despite a 30% increase in the cedi’s value over the past five months; DSTV prices have not reflected the positive economic trend.

‎The statement went on to say the minister is therefore calling for a 30% price reduction to match the cedi’s appreciation and to pass on economic benefits to consumers.

According to the statement, while MultiChoice has implemented promotional packages, people prefer a direct price reduction over temporary discounts.

George said feedback from public engagements revealed that many users are dissatisfied with DSTV’s content, describing it as outdated save for Premier League football. They also believe that the current cost is not justified.

‎”To address the concerns, he said MultiChoice Ghana has until July 21 to formally respond to the government’s request. The Minister expects a concrete proposal by this date, allowing time for further engagement before the end of July,” the statement said.

‎In response, Dr. Modimoeng acknowledged the government’s concerns and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to dialogue.

The MultiChoice team reacted positively to the minister’s request and committed to provide input by July 21st. They emphasised the need of balancing public interest and business sustainability.

This is the continent’s latest pricing conundrum for the pan-African pay-TV business, following fee disputes with Nigerian and Malawian authorities.

In Ghana, the demand for price cuts comes as MultiChoice is under pressure, having lost revenue and subscribers in the financial year that ended March 31, 2025. Last month, the company announced its financial year-end results.

In a statement to shareholders last month on the Stock Exchange News Service, the company said the past two financial years have been a period of significant financial disruption for economies, corporates and consumers across Sub-Saharan Africa due to challenging macro-economic factors.

Combined with the impact of structural industry changes in video entertainment, such as the rise of piracy, streaming services and social media, this has materially affected the overall performance of the MultiChoice Group, it noted.

Over this period, MultiChoice said the group lost 2.8 million active linear subscribers and had to absorb a R10.2 billion negative impact on its top line due to local currency depreciation against the US dollar.

For the year, the company reveals that linear subscribers were down 1.2 million, or 8% year-on-year, to 14.5 million active subscribers, with the loss evenly split between South African (600 000) and rest of Africa (600 000).

 


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NDPC Slaps Multichoice with ₦766M Fine for Data Privacy Violations

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Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria ₦766,242,500 for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

NDPC Slaps Multichoice with ₦766M Fine for Data Privacy Violations

NDPC is a public institution that processes data in furtherance of its mandate as Nigeria’s data protection authority and relies on recognised lawful bases for data processing, such as consent, legal obligation, and contract.

The fine was contained in a statement signed by Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, head Legal, Enforcement & Regulations, NDPC.

According to him, the investigation, which commenced in the second quarter of 2024, was triggered by suspected breach of privacy rights of Multichoice subscribers and illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians.

“The NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers.

The Commission also found that Multichoice carries out illegal cross-border transfer of personal data relating to data subjects in Nigeria.

The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate.

This is a grave affront to fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In line with its standard remediation procedure, the Commission directed Multichoice to carry out appropriate remedial measures.

However, the Commission found the measures undertaken by Multichoice in this regard unsatisfactory.

For want of cooperation, the Commission has directed Multichoice to pay ₦766,242,500 for violating the Nigerian Data Protection Act.

“Nigeria is entitled to protect her citizens and data sovereignty under both international and extant municipal laws, as these have far-reaching implication for rule of law, national security, and economic growth.” the statement said.

Babatunde also revealed that, Vincent Olatunji, national Commissioner, NDPC, has directed that all outlets through which Multichoice is collecting personal data of Nigerian citizens should be investigated for non-compliance.

He added that any outlet that processes personal data in violation of the NDP Act is liable to penalty under the Act.

 


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