This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
Singer Laika's Disappointing Return on Investment ¶
Laika, a Kenyan musician, recently took to Twitter to share her disappointing experience with investing in a song. The post, which included a screenshot of an M-Pesa message, revealed that she earned a mere Sh45 from online music distributor Ngomma VAS.
According to Laika, she invested a significant amount of money in the song, totaling Sh405,000. This includes Sh40,000 for video shoot location, Sh200,000 for the video itself, Sh25,000 for the audio, Sh10,000 for makeup, Sh60,000 for marketing, and Sh70,000 for a media tour.
Laika's post sparked a heated debate on Twitter, with many users expressing their sympathy and offering words of encouragement. Some users even suggested that she consider working as a casual laborer, known as 'Mjengo', as it might be more lucrative.
Laika's post comes months after she revealed that she had quit music due to post-partum depression. However, it seems that she has returned to the music scene, albeit with a different perspective on the industry.
As one user pointed out, 'As an artist, I've learned that the money you put in won't always be proportional to what you get out... Wasse wa gengetone wali make it na budget ya kama 5% of that.' This sentiment was echoed by many users, who expressed their frustration with the music industry and its treatment of upcoming artists.
Laika's post has sparked a necessary conversation about the financial struggles faced by musicians in Kenya. It remains to be seen how she will navigate this challenging industry, but one thing is certain - she will not be silenced.
