Video summary
Shanky Radics opens his live appearance on YMASHARIKILIVE by expressing deep gratitude to the fans across East Africa, acknowledging the enduring love he has received from Nairobi, Tanzania, and beyond for over two decades. He reflects on how the Kenyan music industry has evolved from a time when social media was non-existent and artists relied on physical CDs and radio stations for distribution, to the current digital era where the entire world is accessible through smartphones. Radics emphasizes that while technology now allows artists to market their music globally with ease, they must actively capitalize on these platforms rather than letting opportunities slip away.
Despite these technological advancements, Radics highlights a critical struggle facing artists in Kenya and across Africa: the lack of transparency and proper structures for collecting royalties. He points out that even after sixty years of independence, there is no effective formula to ensure creators receive fair compensation, leading many talented individuals to give up because they are not getting their due. He notes that while developed nations like the US and Europe have robust systems where artists can live off their music, local markets are plagued by cartels and piracy, with massive organizations like MCSK failing to produce any billionaires from their vast membership base, which serves as proof of the systemic problem.
Beyond financial challenges, Radics passionately discusses his role as a peace ambassador for Kenya and Africa, recalling his efforts during the post-election violence of 2007 and 2008 when he stood by his country to prevent division based on tribalism, race, or gender. He stresses that women suffer the most from gender-based violence and reiterates his commitment to fighting for a nation where everyone lives in harmony regardless of their background. Although he clarifies that he is not a politician but a musician dedicated to unity, he urges both political and private sector leaders to take full responsibility in protecting the creative sector and promoting love and peace as the general elections approach.
In conclusion, Radics calls for a united front among all stakeholders, including DJs, female artists, and corporate heads, to work together towards a better future for the African continent. He warns that issues like xenophobia and tribal conflicts paint Africa in a negative light globally and must be addressed by leaders within the creative sector as well as government officials. His message is one of hope and action, urging everyone to promote unity and love within their communities and across borders so that Africa can rise together without being divided by internal strife.
Read the full video transcript
Yes, sir. Blessed man. All
>> good.
Bless.
First and foremost, big up to all the
Jenz.
Yeah. come to all over East Africa,
Nairobi, Kala, you know, Tanzania, all
over Africa
way back.
Much love you guys.
Much love. Much love.
The reception
20 years ago.
Oh everything like everything everything
from my status
>> uh my circle you know uh the way I see
life
>> uh the music of Kenyan music industry is
one of the prominent
>> Kenyan song Kenya on the global map
>> all those characters
up to date and it is all over the world
from Kenya I'm glad Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, actually that's a good question.
That's a very good question.
>> When we guys were starting
>> like social media wasn't that prominent.
>> Yeah.
>> Like the Facebook, the Twitter, the
Instagram.
>> So like we guys we could deliver like
music
>> like oneonone. We take like serious. The
house was so real back in the days.
>> It was so so real.
CDs
radio stations
basic
>> but lately um looking back to where we
are today the social media era social
media era whereby
>> you can market your music anywhere any
spot
make use of these platforms.
>> Make use of them. Like the whole world
is in the palm of your hand.
>> The entire world is in the palm of hand.
If you have a smartphone, you can do
anything with your smartphone. But take
it. So like
>> take advantage of it. take advantage.
So make use of it, utilize and
capitalize on social media.
There were no structures to make sure
how they supposed to collect it.
People
go back to map outies.
I want to know. Yes.
It's a big song.
How is it for you?
Yeah, actually you have very good
questions.
>> Royalties are very important.
>> Royals are very important.
>> Yeah.
to struggling artist
>> that's when we get motivated to you know
like to work much harder and harder and
harder
>> so like
royalty is very important but it is
still universal struggle
>> still universal struggle like it's it's
global struggle
>> globally Spotify
all all those platforms in the name of
>> collecting like stream lines and all
that
>> but still there's a big big big
challenge cuz there's no transparency
>> there is no legit transparency
>> yes
>> and when we come back to the local
market today you see like a it's been
like over 60 years
>> ever since Kenya gained independence
>> and up to date we're still struggling as
artists because there's no proper
formula in this country mas royalties
and all that
>> you see that's the reason
uh are giving up.
>> Yeah.
>> Because they're not getting out of
they're not getting right for
>> theirs. So there's so many cartels in
the middle.
What can I say?
>> So like my play is like I'm adding and
I'm calling on to the government first
and foremost
>> all the government of East Africa,
Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and all over.
>> You need to come out in full throttle.
We need to come out in large scale
towards piracy and fight against this
how do you call it the
for example like
>> MCSK
>> let me just go straight to the point
like MCSK
>> members like 15,000 almost like over
15,500 members
>> get out of all these members I've never
heard about an ads becoming a
billionaire Yeah.
>> Out of world no matter how big the music
is. So what does that tell you? It tells
you it's a problem.
>> I would take it. While the artist all
over like when you go to America, Europe
and
>> you know developed nations out there,
>> they have some proper ways of collecting
the royalties and artists are living out
of the music. But anyway, I don't want I
don't want to sound like I'm complaining
and all that, but
>> yeah, like I said and I strongly stand
what I'm saying. The government and the
corporate heads,
>> the private sectors and the government
need to come out in full throttle
>> in protecting the creative sector.
That's it.
True.
Yeah.
I was in in fact let me just add on top
of that
>> back in 2007 2008 I was the only Kenyan
artist
>> Shankeradics
>> who stood by my country
>> all over the country fighting for peace
>> you know when we had the post-election
violence in this country
>> I put everything aside
We don't want our nation to be divided
over tribalism.
>> We don't want our nation to be divided
over races,
>> over gender.
So, I'm fighting against gender based
violence.
And the biggest percentage it is women
who suffer the most.
>> And as a as a as a as an African child,
I have a mother.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, I love my mama. I love my
sisters and I love my women. So like my
biggest plea and
>> my biggest motive is to fight for my
nation to live in peace and harmony.
>> Yeah. Yes. And speaking of
right now
actually okay uh first and foremost Let
me say this right. I am not a
politician.
>> I'm a musician
>> and I'm I'm a peace ambassador
>> of this country
>> and I'm a peace ambassador of Africa.
I'm advocating for one Africa.
>> I'm advocating for oneness.
>> Yeah.
>> Whether you're black, whether you're
white, as long as in Africa, I'm
like we having like differences in
Africa so much.
in a bad way just in South Africa.
Remember xenophobia
remember back in4.
So like Kenya
207 208
post election violence. So all these
things are putting Africa in in a bad in
a bad picture out there. So as
>> ambassador
I'm urging all our leaders and when I
say leaders political leaders
every leader within the creative sector
like we have our DJs here we have you
guys. We have our beautiful sisters all
there. These are all creative leaders.
See, I'm talking about
private sector leaders, not just
political leaders
in a good manner. So, it's about time
towards promoting this love of unity and
I'm calling onto the government. I
repeat again
>> the private sector I repeat again
>> Kenyans
so as we all understand we're heading
towards our general elections
all the leaders
let's promote peace love unity in our
country
in our community
to tun
Yeah.
Love and harmony.
Take it over. Do what you do best.