Melanesian Music

Was on the Internet and came across this .pdf of protocols for the use of indigenous Austrlaian music. What one has, another does not have. Arguably, instances of PNGn expressions of culture are now embodied in musical works and yet there is no legislation to safeguard their customary use. The National Cultural Commission has already started workshopping a Regional Framework for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture. Perhaps those of us (musicians, writers, composers) should consider taking it a step further by examining the implications for traditional owners.

The existing Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act 2000 lists and protects exclusive economic and moral rights in favor of both copyright owners and owners of derivative works, and for the past 8 years, these rights remained dormant in the absence of a legal framework and entity to regulate compliance. This is about to change fundamentally under the proposed Copyrights and Neighboring Rights (Collective Management) regulations 2008.

PNG music legend and John Wong died on Sunday, May 25 of a heart attack. It was reported in the National on May 27, 2008 (although I can't find the story online). There is also a letter to the Post Courier (you need to click on the viewpoint link) at http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080527/tuhome.htm

To survive into the future, historical recordings of PNG music must be made into digital format. BALTHAZAR MORIGUBA writes ... link to National article

Article in The National about Aaroan Choulai and his work mixing jazz and Peroveta:

http://www.thenational.com.pg/030708/wkender1.htm

THE stage of the Moresby Arts Theatre at Waigani will play host to an incredible ensemble of talent next weekend, when Aaron Choulai, a Melbourne jazz band and a 16 voice Tatana village choir perform “Ai Na Asi A Mavaru Kavamu” (We Don’t Dance For No Reason)

Balopa Cultural Festival
Baluan Island, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea, December 2006
By Tony Lewis

Image gallery

In December 2006 I was fortunate to witness part of the Balopa Cultural Festival held in Baluan Island, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea. The Festival’s title is taken from the local electorate of Balopa within the Manus Province, and is made up of a kind of double-barrelled acronym of the three major islands which comprise it: Baluan, Lou and Pam.

Chin H Meen and Hitron in PNG have broadcast a short film without permission. Discussion at:

http://masalai.wordpress.com/2007/10/25/chm-the-hypocrites/#comments

Great attendance recently (Mid Oct) at a concert organised in Honiara to promote awareness of copyright issues in the country. More are planned for the provinces apparently. 2000+ attendance apparently.

The gathering in Brisbane went very well - good turn out from Melanesia and other parts of the Pacific, and a series of interesting overviews, papers, and discussions. A considerable amout of drafting of relevant legislation has been done, and Scott Morris of APRA announced the start of APRA's licensing deal with FM stations in PNG. PNG musicians need to join APRA at the moment to benefit from this, but the ultimate plan is to have a PNG collection agency like APRA or FPRA (http://www.fpra.com.fj/) in Fiji.

There is a revised program - see the attached file below. CHM have been added to the program in the afternoon on Wednesday.