Don demands stricter copyright enforcement to combat music theft

Afe Adogame, a professor of theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, United States, has called for strict enforcement of copyright law against gospel music plagiarism in Nigeria.

Adogame made the call while presenting a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on African Pentecostalism at the Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual conference was organised by the Redeemed Christian Bible College in conjunction with the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, and Redeemer University, Ede, Osun.

The conference has as its theme “Exploring the Intersections of Music and Culture in African Pentecostalism: Local and Global Perspectives.”

Adogame said that many gospel singers were no longer innovative in composing new songs, instead recycling the old songs of other musicians as their own.

He said that it was unfortunate that copyright law was not being enforced to minimise the act in Nigeria.

“We have copyright laws, but they don’t work and this is problematic.

“Any church out there who sing somebody’s song without crediting the owner is not the best.

“There is nothing wrong in singing somebody’s song, but you have to acknowledge the original owner of the song.

“But here in Nigeria, we call it freelance music. Anybody can put his or her name on any existing songs without crediting the owner.

“Unfortunately, we are in a country where we have laws, but are not being enforced.

“There is need for the enforcement of these laws to checkmate music plagiarism to enhance creativity.

“In Pentecostal tradition, in particular, we don’t have creativity and innovation. New songs are not being composed but what we have is what called freelance music.

“There is creativity and innovation in music, and we need to begin to see how music can help us to understand spirituality better,” he said.

Adogame also called for the regulation of noise pollution in worship centres in the country.

He noted that noise pollution in worship centres was becoming chaotic and needed to be regulated.

In his remarks, Pastor Rotimi Oti, the provost of the college, said that African Pentecostalism was a rapidly growing phenomenon that was shaping the spiritual, social, and cultural landscape of the continent and beyond.

Oti, who described music as a powerful medium that is central to the worship and expression of faith in Pentecostal churches, said it has the ability to evoke emotions, create a sense of community, and facilitate a connection with the divine.

In his remarks, Pastor Sunday Akande, the National Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, described music as a wordless prayer that opens up our “imagination to the divine source of all life”.

Represented by Pastor Josiah Bolarinwa, the Assistant Continental Overseer, Research and Development, Akande described music as the most immaterial and ephemeral of all the art forms.