Kagame urges Africans on obtaining sports broadcasting rights

The Head of State was speaking Thursday in an interactive session with members of the African Union Broadcasting (AUB) gathered in a General Assembly in Kigali

For African broadcasters to be able to broadcast football or other sports, they need to buy rights from European or American companies.

He said that Africans want an African Union that can deliver, and through that aspiration they can’t stand problems like broadcasting rights.

“It is an embarrassment for example that the rights of Africans playing football in Africa is managed by people outside. There is nothing to be proud of in such a situation. For how long can we continue this way?” Kagame questioned.

“Countries are paying for broadcasting rights. So, money really isn’t Africa’s problem. Why don’t we use that money for what is right for us and actually reduce the cost?” he urged.

Kagame said that Africans need to occupy their space; otherwise others will occupy it for them.

“Who in Africa doesn’t know the problems we have? We can’t keep lamenting over our problems. We know what we need to do for ourselves,” Kagame urged.

He said that for people to speak for themselves they need their own mouth.

“You can’t give someone else a signal to speak for you. We need our own content and our own way of transmitting it, not only to Africans but outsiders as well,” he said.

Kagame said that they have to encourage analog to digital migration saying that people are less driven by deadlines than the benefits they will get. He said that they should help each other to understand that the switch-over is beneficial for the continent.

“Analog to digital migration is delayed but we have not forgotten it. I am happy to push for this as chair of the Smart Africa Initiative, and include relevant partners,” he said.