ABUJA – Some stakeholders in the entertainment industry on Tuesday urged artists to use local music and dance performance for development purposes at the grassroots.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Mr James Ibrahim, the Coordinator, Gbagyi Youths Farmers Association (GBAYFA) dance group, Karu, FCT, said the association was determined to contribute its quota towards the welfare of the indigent in the society.
Ibrahim explained that the association does not only entertain but also seen as a medium of raising funds to solve some basic needs of the community.
“We help our youths that are level headed to develop themselves in vocational skill, education and farming, among others.
“As we make money from the different occasions we exhibit our local music and dance, we make sure our community benefits from it,’’ Ibrahim said.
Mr Matthew Sarki, one of the beneficiaries of GBAYFA’, said the association was a source of inspiration and encouragement to him.
Sarki told NAN that he was happy and marvelled at the efforts of the association since it was established towards promoting the welfare of the people.
“Every music and dance performing troupe should see beyond just making money for itself but use the platform to positively affect the lives of people,’’ he said.
An Abuja based music analyst, Mr Stanley Bentu, said music, dance or life performance should be a channel for correcting flaws or societal ills not just for the sake of entertainment.
Bentu urged entertainers to carry the poor along in their music, citing example with the coming together of black musicians across the world to sing“ Make the World a Better Place”.
According to Bentu, the money realised from the song, led by late Michael Jackson, went into charity work. (NAN)