We contribute to economy - artists
MBABANE – Did you know that the local entertainment sector can help improve the economical scale of the country?
There is growing international interest in the potential of the cultural and creative industries to drive sustainable development and create inclusive job opportunities.
According to
Industrial Development for Musicians (IDM), which is a research site focusing on pillars that help improve the economical scale of a country, it states that cultural industries can be defined as those whose major outputs have some symbolic value, such as fine arts, film and craft, but also possibly including jewellery design, publishing and fashion.
Creative industries are defined more broadly. These have knowledge as their major input and in addition to cultural goods and services could include things like software design and internet services.
Currently, Eswatini has a big share under the creative industries. There are a number of fine artists and filmmakers.
Promoting
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, the arts, the sciences and culture states the importance of acknowledging the societal value of arts and culture.
“Undeniably, culture and creativity have been the cement that binds not only hearts and souls, but entire societies and nations. It does have the potential to improve the standard of living,” read the UNESCO guidelines.
Eradicate
It also states that support from the state can create more job opportunities and eradicate poverty. In an interview with Fakazi Samuel, who is an award-winning gospel artist, he concurred with the UNESCO findings.
He said the local government could help young creatives who would in turn improve the economical scale of the country.
He went on to share that the entertainment sector was the fastest way of creating job opportunities.
“Government can open avenues that can be used by creatives, especially the youth. Agreements to pay back the money can probably have a time- frame just for accountability. In that way, government can help the society, which in turn will pay tax,” he explained.
Shinely Greenz, who is one of the artists who have recently relocated to South Africa, said that government was not doing enough to help the sector.
She said one of the reasons why she had to relocate was because she felt as though the local government allegedly did not take the entertainment industry seriously and that it was the last sector considered when making important decisions.
Opportunity
“Artists still do not have the proper legislation affording them the opportunity to receive royalties they deserve in an equitable manner. This, despite the Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill being sent back to Parliament to fix in august 2021,” she said.
Earlier this year artists had to voice out their grievances through various social media platforms.
She went on to add that the Entertainment industry supported the economy by its forward and backward linkages to the growth process.
In an interview with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eswatini National Council of arts and Culture, Stanley Dlamini, he also shared that the sector was capable of improving the economical scale of the country.
He said both film and sports events attracted large numbers of people including producers, actors, players, technical staff and spectators from all over the world which raised the level of aggregate demand for goods, services and labour.
“It triggers a chain of activities like demand for tourism, accommodation facilities, food items, transportation services, health services and local labour in a particular economy.
“This increases consumption, which is the first and perhaps the most important component of economic growth. Rise in level of consumption causes an increase in profits and in order to cater for the market demand, invest more to raise the level of production.
“On one side it allows the firms to exploit the economies of scale and on the other side it gives additional employment opportunities,” he explained.
Elevates
Dlamini also noted developed countries that had the entertainment sector as a pillar that elevated their economy.
“Countries like America, India and China are one of the leading countries utilising the sector for the benefit of the economy. We are also capable of using the fastest way of improving the economies of scale. We have the MTN BUSHFIRE Festival, Standard Bank LUJU Festival and the FNB Smooth Fest that can be hosted more than once with an investment from the government,” he said.
It is worth noting that South Africa is increasingly beginning to focus on cultural and creative industries as potential contributors to economic growth and job creation.
This is reflected in the report, Mzansi’s Golden Economy, which sets out ways in which the arts, culture and heritage sectors can contribute to the growth and development of South Africa’s economy.