
Zambia’s Film Pong Bandits: Movie pingpongs are just the beginning
The Gambia has banned all music and film performances in the capital, Kinshasa, in an attempt to curb the illegal copying and distribution of popular tunes.
“In order to curb this illegal activity, the government will ban all music performances, including movie pingpounds, film pingponies and fintecks,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The move comes a week after the Gambia was rocked by a string of anti-piracy raids, the biggest crackdown since a failed coup in 1991.
It was also one of the biggest on record.
The country has recorded a rise in piracy of more than $200 million (220 million euros) per year.
The new measures are in line with a strategy put in place by President Samuel Bambang Yoweri to counter the piracy and counterfeiters who use the country’s vast resources to steal the countrys most popular tunes and films.
The Gambia’s new policy also aims to curb counterfeiting of popular films, according to the Interior ministry.
It also comes a day after authorities in neighboring Botswana announced plans to crack down on piracy of films.
The Botswana government also banned films and music performances in March.