Recently, Damon Albarn’s Africa Express project has come under fire for offering artists a £1 payment for their contributions.
Since its inception in 2006, the project has brought together Western and African artists for collaborations. Their latest showcase took place on 2 February at The Tennis Club JHB in Johannesburg, and it featured Nabihah Iqbal, Ghetts, Nick Zinner, Petite Noir, Sibot, Spoek Mathambo, Infamous Boys, Remi Kabaka, Dominowe, Jakinda and Otim Alpha.
This week, Petite Noir shared a since-deleted post of his contract, saying, “21st colonization is still alive!” The contract stated: “In consideration of the payment of £1 receipt of which is hereby acknowledged you hereby give and grant us all necessary consents with regards to making recordings(s) of your performance (‘the Recordings”) and to filming you making those Recordings together with any interviews you have have given”.
Furthermore, regular NTS host Nabihah Iqbal also shared an image of her contract, asking, “How is this ‘committed to supporting music in Africa’?”.
Now, Africa Express has released a statement on Facebook. Their post reads: “AE is not run to make a profit. As we pay all the travel, accommodation and other costs for Western artists joining us on trips, we ask them to volunteer their time. They can make a contribution to our costs if they are willing. We do not pay them. All our contracts are negotiated, discussed and agreed, not inflicted.”
“The artists in Africa are treated differently, reflecting often different circumstances. We do pay them for their time.”
It adds: “We ensure that all profits made from recordings – after costs – go to artists and the promotion of African music.”
Read the statements from Nabihah Iqbal and Africa Express below.
