Minister meets with artists in music industry

By Kim Saulse
12 September 2009

The Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Lulu Xingwana and the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile met role players in the music industry at Bassline, Newtown yesterday.

The meeting was attended by prominent artists such as Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbulu, Arthur Mafokate, Sibongile Khumalo and Mara Louw, among others.

Facilitated by the Director-General of Arts and Culture, Mr Themba Wakashe, the meeting focused on challenges facing the sector. The artists expressed the slow pace of transformation in the sector and limited air play that South African music receives. Artists also complained about lack of funding and training opportunities.

Minister Xingwana urged artists to unite to build a sustainable industry. She further stated that the department would support artists with regard to training and funding. However, she acknowledged that the department had limited resources.

With regard to the issue of transformation, Minister Xingwana admitted that a charter for the sector was long overdue. This was the first, in a series of ongoing discussions, that the Ministry of Arts and Culture will be having with cultural industries.