Times Of Swaziland: SAMRO TO DEBUT AT NACAS NOMINEES’ SUMMIT SAMRO TO DEBUT AT NACAS NOMINEES’ SUMMIT ================================================================================ Mxolisi Dlamini on 07/01/2025 08:14:00 MBABANE – The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) will headline the upcoming National Arts and Culture Awards (NACAs) nominees’ summit. SAMRO is a copyright asset management society established under the South African Copyright Act, aimed at protecting the intellectual property of music creators. The organisation achieves this by licensing music users, collecting licence fees and distributing royalties to the creators. Additionally, SAMRO plays a crucial role in funding and supporting music and arts education through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives. It also enhances the music industry by hosting regular seminars and workshops, along with supporting conferences that foster creativity across various categories and genres of music. SAMRO is dedicated to being a world-class African copyright administration body that upholds the highest standards of corporate governance, business ethics and management. Its mission is to make a valuable and lasting contribution to the lives of its members, to South African cultural heritage and to the music industry more broadly. During an interview with this publication, Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stanley Dlamini, revealed that SAMRO will be visiting the Kingdom. According to Dlamini, the summit will be hosted in Manzini. “NACAs nominees will attend a summit, which we are preparing for in the last week of this month or early next month. We are now seeking confirmations from our presenters, which include SAMRO. We have a memorandum of understanding with Julios Cinelux, and we are looking to host the summit there,” he stated. Dlamini further disclosed that the NACAs will be held every two years. “We have a goal of empowering creatives through ENCAC. This year, we will conduct regional awards; our plan is to host the NACAs every two years. So, when the NACAs take a break, we will be focusing on the regional awards. By the time we are expected to host the NACAs, we want to have already prepared regional artists who will compete at the national level,” Dlamini said. The NACAs are set to become the first awards in Africa to be held every two years. Most awards such as the South African Music Awards (SAMAs), are hosted annually. Established in 1995, the SAMAs typically have their ceremony in late April or May, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. The nominations are usually announced at the end of March, and winners are presented with a gold-plated statuette known as a SAMA. The establishment of NACAs reflects a growing recognition of the importance of arts and culture within Eswatini and the broader Southern African region. By hosting this summit, ENCAC aims to create a space for dialogue and exchange among industry stakeholders, providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to thrive in the competitive artistic landscape. Anticipated As the kingdom prepares to welcome SAMRO for this pivotal event, it is anticipated that the partnership will strengthen the local arts sector. The involvement of a prominent organisation like SAMRO signifies a commitment to the professionalisation of the music industry in Eswatini, emphasising the protection of creators’ rights and encouraging the growth of artistic talent. Local musician Notik who recently performed in Lesotho during the Maletsunyane Braai Festival, expressed his excitement for the upcoming summit, saying he will get to learn a lot. “Firstly, I’d like to send a special shout-out to the NACAs team; they did well, and the awards ceremony was top-notch, not to mention that it was their first attempt. Personally, I felt privileged to be in such an environment, which shows a great improvement in our industry. Regarding the summit, I think I will learn a great deal because, so far, all the information I’ve gathered has been from the internet and my peers, which still leaves me lacking in some areas. I am looking forward to acquiring knowledge on the day, and this sentiment is not just mine but shared by many creatives in the country. I receive direct messages every day, asking how the industry works, and I sometimes struggle to provide enough informations to those wanting to start their music journey. It is also crucial to emphasise the importance of having your music on all digital streaming platforms,” he said. Talented spinner Bandora Da DJ, also shared his suggestion, citing the council should now move towards funding artists. “It’s about time arts and culture took the music industry seriously. We have great performing artists who need funding to succeed in the international market. We have exceptional talent like Jojo and the likes of Lady Spesh, who can fly our flag high on the international stage, but they need support in terms of funding. Ultimately, Eswatini artists and DJs require financial backing to promote their projects and to make their mark in the international market,” he said.