The Marape/Rosso government is serious in taking the Ministry for Tourism, Art and Culture to the next level by considering and including music as an integral part of it.
How far have we thread the road of music as musicians and how far have we benefitted from music are the questions that I as Minister responsible have to answer.
Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture Hon, Isi Henry Leonard expressed these views at the tribute concert hosted for the late PNG music icon and artist Steve Lahui at Elevala village on Wednesday 19th.
The late Lahui who was a household name in the 80s and 90s, had passed away several weeks ago, and Mr Leonard as Minister for Tourism was attending the event to show the government’s support and share in this time of loss with the family of the late musician from Central Province.
“The passing of late Steve Lahui has prompted me and allowed me to come into this occasion to make known to our people and musicians that it is about time now we all have to work together to position the music industry to where it must be and where it supposed to be.
“For me as Minister, I consider it very differently at this time, today we come here to mourn but at the same time we come here to celebrate the life of Steve Lahui as a musician,” Mr Leonard said.
Stressing that musicians and lyrical content makers had to be compensated for their creativity and the material they produced as artists among other content makers.
He said artists needed to make money and as a responsible government, it was willing to provide the necessary platforms.
As Minister, he was taking music seriously, while expressing the need to give recognition to artists and the music industry in the country.
Mr Leonard paid tribute and respect to the late Steve Lahui and his family, who he described as an outstanding singer and artist from the Southern region of PNG.
Minister Leonard presented Ten-Thousand-Kina (K10,000.00) from his office to the family of late Steve Lahui to help with costs and expenses of the hauskrai.
Other artists that performed at the tribute concert featured, Makali, Dokona Manoka, Dika Dai and Incense Gospel band among others.
Meantime, the body of the late Steve Lahui was laid to rest in his village of Barakau last week.