Cote d’Ivoire: Musicians accuse national television of discrimination

Some musicians in Cote d’Ivoire are unhappy with the country’s national television station, Radio Television Ivoirienne (RTI) saying that the station has refused to broadcast their music.

On May 22, 2010, the pro-opposition L’Expression, newspaper cited two of the affected musicians, Fadal Dey and Lago Paulin, whose music RTI’s management claimed were “subversive” to the state.

However, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the musicians are being victimized because their music appears to be critical of the administration of President Gbagbo.

 In his latest album “Mea Culpa”, Fadal Dey, a reggae star, asked the late Félix Houphouet-Boigny, the country’s first President to forgive him for calling him a “thief” when President Gbagbo was in opposition. At the time he (Gbagbo) instigated many youths to call the first president as a “thief”. Fadal Dey said under the circumstances things are not different, therefore, Houphouet-Boigny should pardon him. 

In an album entitled: “We are tired”, Lago Paulin, condemned what he described as “excessive increase in the prices of goods” and made reference to the fact that “human rights and social security do not exist” in the country.

The correspondent said the music of pro-government artistes, particularly those who call themselves “patriots”, enjoys massive broadcast.  

For further information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70
Fax: 233-302-22 10 84
Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.ghThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.mediafound.org

- June 1, 2010 by MFWA

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Source: www.mediafound.org/index.php (accessed on 02.06.10)