Ethiopian artists sue over unpaid fees for BRICS cultural performances
via The Reporter Ethiopia4 min read
Music composer Kamuzu Kassa and over 30 artists are in a dispute regarding unpaid performance fees from an Ethiopian cultural tour in BRICS countries. The artists, who participated in the Kin Ethiopia tour, accuse Kamuzu Kassa and his company, Shakura Production, of failing to compensate them for their work. The tour, which included performances in China, Russia, and other BRICS nations, was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with Shakura Production. The artists claim that despite successful performances, Shakura Production has not fully paid them, even though the Ministry confirmed that Shakura received the allocated budget. A letter from the Ministry to Shakura Production acknowledged the payment failure and urged the company to address the artists' demands. Consequently, 37 performers have filed a lawsuit seeking nearly 31 million Birr, which includes professional fees for international and domestic tours, damages, and four months of unpaid daily rehearsal allowances. The Federal High Court has issued a 20-day injunction on bank accounts belonging to Shakura Production and Kamuzu Kassa, and has also ordered a freeze on Kamuzu Kassa's assets. Kamuzu Kassa, head of Shakura Production, denied a total breach of contract, stating that payments are being made according to the agreement, but acknowledged that a portion remains outstanding. The Ministry of Culture and Sport was unavailable for comment.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
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