‘Time to go national’

IT’S time to go national so we can be recognised by the Government of the day, says Vude King Seru Serevi during the Suva Musicians Association annual general meeting on Saturday.

The legendary musician raised his concerns to the members regarding the lack of appreciation and monetary value in Fijian music and said it was time local musicians take a step further onto the national stage to be recognised and supported by the government and for their music to be licensed.

“If I have to share what I’ve taken from the last five years since we started this association, it’s time to go national,” Serevi said.

“We have no reason to be Suva musicians. Someone has to take the bull by the horns and it’s time to do it now.

“Legally, there’s money out there to be claimed for our music, but we need to get organised and be legally registered in order to be nationally recognised.”

Serevi added that under the Fiji Copyright Law, musicians have the right to get paid for the use of their music.

“Let’s prepare ourselves for this, and the rest of the musicians in Fiji will follow. Whoever wants to join can join but we should take the first step.”

Fiji Performing Rights Association (FIPRA) chairman Eremasi Tamanisau Jnr said Fiji would need to review the Copyright Act so that it takes fully into account the digital domain, which was the internet.

“We have been advising Government on that regard,” Tamanisau said.

“Particularly the incorporation of the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the WIPO Performances and Phonogram Treaty (WPPT), these are modelled laws that are already created by WIPO.

“They’ve done that to help countries like Fiji and all the government have to do is get the relevant sections from there and incorporate it into the Copyright Act and that’s it.

“They don’t have to reinvent the wheel and we’re hopeful that Cabinet will do that this year.”

Legally, there’s money out there to be claimed for our music but we need to get organised and be legally registered in order to be nationally recognised – Seru Serevi

Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU Saimoni Vuatalevu raises his view during the Suva Musicians Club annual general meeting at the Fiji Arts Council room in Suva on Saturday, March 02, 2024.

Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU Members of the Suva Musicians Association during the AGM on Saturday.

Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU Seru Serevi stresses a point during the Suva Musicians Association annual general meeting on Saturday.

Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU Eremasi Tamanisau Jnr at the Fiji Arts Council in Suva on Saturday.

Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU Left: Suva Musicians Association president Waisiliva Baleidrokadroka during the AGM.