STAGED BUT UNPAID | The Reporter Ethiopia

Artists Behind Ethiopia’s BRICS Cultural Missions Take Pay Dispute to Court

Music composer Kamuzu Kassa and a group of over 30 artists are at loggerheads over unpaid performance fees related to an Ethiopian cultural performance tour in BRICS countries. The artists who were part of the Kin Ethiopia tour have accused Kamuzu and his production company, Shakura, of failing to pay them for their work.

The tour featured around a dozen cultural performances overseas, including in China, Russia, and other BRICS countries, as well as several domestic dates. It was organized and led by the Ministry of Culture and Sport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside Kamuzu and his production company.

The tour got underway last year as part of a ‘United Culture Forum’ in which performers from 60 countries have participated,  according to statements from the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry, which has reportedly budgeted hundreds of millions of Birr for the tours, has previously stated that Ethiopia is “lucky” to be part of such a global platform.

As part of the preparations, more than 30 artists and performers entered into contracts with Kamuzu Kassa and Shakura Production, which was hired by the Ministry to organize the performances.

According to its website, Shakura works on audio recording and mixing, music composition and arrangement, and sound design for film and media. It was established in 2006 and is led by Kamuzu Kassa.

The artists have since accused Shakura of refusing to compensate them for their work in full after receiving payment from the Ministry and despite the successful execution of 11 performances. Under an agreement with the event organizer, Shakura Production, the artists were to be paid 217,500 Birr per individual for every four stages performed.

The artists report they notified the Ministry, which confirmed that Shakura and Kamuzu had received the budget. A letter from the Ministry addressed to the production company three months ago acknowledges Shakura’s failure to effect payment.

“The Ministry did not enter into an agreement directly with the cultural and artistic team, but the Ministry entered into an agreement with Shakura Production. Therefore, we urge Shakura Production to answer the demands of the performers,” reads the letter.

Nonetheless, a group of 37 performers say they were forced to take the case to court after their appeals failed to yield results.

The total claim brought forward has been solidified at nearly 31 million Birr. This comprehensive figure includes the accumulated professional fees for the international and domestic tours, damages, and four months of unpaid daily rehearsal allowances. The artists contend that these daily payments were essential for their survival during the intensive preparation phases, yet they remain entirely outstanding.

“We have waited for a year and two months without payment. During all this time, we performed to live up to our oath to the honor of our nation. We received this duty from the Speaker of Parliament and we kept our word. But we can no longer wait for payment. All artists in this group have dedicated themselves to this project and abandoned other jobs in the process, sacrificing other opportunities for the success of this project,” reads the lawsuit filed by the artists.

They claim Kamuzu has repeatedly put off their requests for payment using “flimsy excuses.”

Judges at the Federal High Court have since ordered a 20-day injunction on bank accounts belonging to Shakura and Kamuzu.

A number of commercial banks, including CBE, Abyssinia, Cooperative Bank of Oromia, and Awash, have been notified of the injunction. The court has also ordered a freeze on assets belonging to Kamuzu Kassa.

“We were the faces of Ethiopia rising on the global stage, yet we returned home to empty accounts,” one of the artists told The Reporter. “For months, we were told to be patient. Shakura claimed they hadn’t received the full budget from the Ministry of Culture and Sport.”

​The artists report that while some members received a minor partial payment of 50,000 Birr, the bulk of the 30.8 million Birr remains unpaid.

​Shakura Production Responds

In an exclusive interview, Shakura Production head Kamuzu Kassa denied allegations of a total breach of contract.

“We are paying according to the agreement,” Kamuzu stated. While acknowledging a portion of payment is still remaining, he maintained that the company has already disbursed significant funds.

​Kamuzu emphasized that the project was a collaborative effort with the Ministry, stating, “We provided these artists with work and we will fulfill the payment according to the terms of the agreement.” He declined, however, to specify the exact figures already paid out to the 37 individuals.

The case highlights a growing tension between private producers and the government entities that commission them. While the Ministry of Culture and Sport has previously intervened via written correspondence, they remained unavailable for comment at the time of publication, failing to respond to inquiries regarding the status of the Kin Ethiopia budget.

​As the 20-day freezing order expires and the formal lawsuit moves forward, the 37 artists of Kin-Ethiopia cultural group remain steadfast. For them, the battle is no longer about the applause of an international audience, but the fundamental right to the 30.8 million Birr in wages and allowances earned while representing their country.