12th November, 2013
Kayode Odumosu, otherwise known as Pa Kasumu is one of Nigeria’s very popular Yoruba movie actors who is currently facing a serious health challenge. And typically, the actor is helpless, begging for funds to pay for intensive medicare which is only possible abroad. The ageing and well known actor, joins the list of endangered artistes whose lives are threatened by impoverishment as a direct consequence of overwhelming piracy, the bane of the Nigerian movie industry.
In other climes, where there is sanity in their movie industry and actors get their dues, commensurate to what they have delivered in terms of acting in movies and even being involved severally in the production of films, veterans like Pa Kasumu would be financially secured by now. But until a few years back, a lax regulatory environment prevailed, and pirates reaped bountifully from it for too long, making gains beyond what those who invested their talents and resources in the production can even fathom.
Yet the story has not changed entirely, despite the new consciousness that now pervades the Industry, spurring an intensive piracy battle. Since the the artistes themselves, and not the Federal Government are practically spearheading the fight against piracy, success levels have not been anything to cheer about. Piracy has become a business institutionalised to the extent that most artistes, particularly in the music industry, now deal directly with, the pirates to ensure they make a semblance of gains from their intellectual property, or risk going through proper sales channels and running at a complete loss.
Although the Nigerian film industry is globally acclaimed as big business, this has come at a heavy cost to the artistes, as pirates who have invested nothing in studio time or camera equipment continue to smile to the banks with the bulk of the profits. According to a World Bank report, it is estimated that for every legitimate copy( movie CD or DVD) sold by the producer who is often an actor, another five to ten copies are sold by pirates. Despite artistes and producers having cried themselves hoarse over the years, the piracy cancer continues to fester.
Distribution channels that allows thriving piracy must be blocked by government through very strict regulations that must be properly enforced. Because hundreds of movies are produced in Nigeria monthly, translating to millions of indirect jobs, protecting the sector and the core participants in the creation of movies should be one of government’s top priorities.
The knee-jerk approach of the country’s Copyrights Commission by carrying out raids once in a while will not deter the pirates from sticking to their illegal but flourishing trade. The film market, hijacked by the pirates must be taken back, with a proper distribution structure and network established. Practical assistance towards this purpose can come from government’s direction through proper structuring and funding of relevant agencies and regulatory authorities such as the National Film and Videos Censors Board, NFVCB, strengthening their roles in stemming piracy.
Increased funding can also be directed towards procuring hi-tech surveillance and communication gadgets, recruitment of full-time, undercover field agents and hiring of professional consultants to train and retrain staff on contemporary international methods of curbing piracy. The burgeoning market of imported low cost and usually inferior discs especially from Asia should also be checked, as pirates are fed all the materials essential for their trade through supplies from this avenue.
The cinema culture which is also gradually being resuscitated in some parts of the country through individual or private investments can also receive a boost through government’s involvement in terms of provision of funds. This will increase the returns of legitimate film producers, with a positive impact on the fortunes of artistes.