Somehow we know the right thing in this country, but no one seems interested in actually doing it.

The use of songs in movies is something you cannot get away from. However, there are rules governing the use of someone’s artistic and intellectual property that our industry has no interest in following. A lot of the time you even see them using foreign tracks in their movies.

The movie ‘Beasts of No Nation’ was shot in Ghana, and used some Ghanaian songs to give it that uniquely Ghanaian feel. Whilst we had not heard anything on that front, I don’t think anyone really doubted that those whose properties were used (being artistic or otherwise) were compensated for it.

Shatta Wale, though, has confirmed that he received ‘a couple thousands’ for the use of his song ‘Everybody Likes My Thing’ in the movie. That’s simply how things are done, and an international crew were not going to come into town, abuse people’s intellectual properties and leave; and in the process open themselves up to a lawsuit.

But that’s not how things are done in Ghana, at all. In that same interview he made the revelation, Shatta Wale also bemoaned the fact he has never received any royalties since the start of his music career.

That sounds just about right.