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Hay’ kabi, nina ma SAMRO amahle. Hake qale ka ho dumedisa, in that vroom-vroom oration vibe of Senyaka in Moruti Watsotsi.

Kgotsong baratuwa!

Arha ke! ses’lotjhisile angitjho. Now let us shift the gear to the hoarse-spirited preaching of umfundisi wase Zayoni to say.., “Lithi izwi… Leviticus chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-five and thirty-seven. Yona ifundeka kanje, bathwanda…, If your countryman (brother, relative…) becomes so poor that he is indebted to you, you are to support him. You are not to take interest or profit from him.”

Thana Amen kulondawo, haw’. Now, today’s little quick sermon got triggered by information reaching us from a recent social media post. Karabo Motijoane is an authority of over twenty-five years in music publishing. This other day, he wrote on Facebook saying Amigos (songwriter-artist, composers) must stop taking advances against their royalties. “Did you know..,” continues Motijoane in his post, “These companies charge 10% interest that accumulates every 48 months if not recovered. You will never finish paying them.”

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It turns out Motijoane is referring to the South African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) when he says”these companies or them” Eish! As waar of alas, the benevolent words of Leviticus seem to have not reached the ears and hearts of superintendents at SAMRO. The organization did respond to some questions dispatched. The value of the loan, says the music organization, determines the interest rate charged on the advance loan. As long as the loan remains outstanding, the agreed effective interest rate gets charged against the loan.

“Interest gets charged on funds advanced to members at the following nominal rates: R 2 000 to R 49 999 at Prime +1.”

Now, the higher you borrow, the more interest is charged. For example, SAMRO says loans between R50 000 and R100 000 get billed at a prime interest rate plus three per cent more. In case you were not aware. The current South Africa Prime Lending Rate is at a murderous high of 11.750 % pa. Shem di kepsele tsa di songwriter-artists that took an advance, Motijonae might have a point. Ma artist, le masepe..!

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Ukuthula ebandleni! Proverbs chapter twenty-two, verse seven. Yona ifundeka kanje…, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower becomes a slave to the lender.”

Somehow, SAMRO justifies their interest demand as follows:“The interest earned from advance loans is considered as income and distributed to earning members.” Mhh! This is not make sure, or does it? You take from the already financially struggling and give to those earning.

Now, it will be interesting to put to vote the idea of SAMRO levying interest on borrowing artists. You know.., Something like all SAMRO members (not the board) get asked to determine the fate of their fellow songwriters in need. Do they want them to be slaves to the interests of the SAMRO lender? Of course, the loans must be re-paid. The question is, should SAMRO give advances or loans to composer-artists (by the way, using the very artists’ money)at no interest or at a very nominal rate?

Well, umabhalane onguMalume we Showbiz uthi..., SAMRO could have more compassion where the charging of interests -if any at all is concerned. After all, is SAMRO not in business for the benefit of all composer artists. It is heartless and tasteless for the organization to further dig a hole of financial misery for the struggling song-writer artist. Of kanjani zi Amigos tsa Motijoane? The same SAMRO acknowledges its members do not have guaranteed month-to-month income. Such an unstable situation could it hard to keep up with repayments as and when demanded. Come to think of it, there was a whole period – almost two years- when most music artist could not gig and the music quotas continue not to be in favour of domestic songs. Anyway, Bakwethu..,

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