Angola: Singer Bonga Considers Attribution of Pension to Musicians Important

Angola: Singer Bonga Considers Attribution of Pension to Musicians Important

Angola Press Agency (Luanda)

21 August 2008
Posted to the web 22 August 2008

Luanda

Angolan vocalist Barceló de Carvalho "Bonga" on Thursday here considered opportune and important, for the wellbeing of national singer, the Angolan government's initiative to attribute reform pensions to every musician with over 35 years of career or 65 years of age.

Speaking to ANGOP, Bonga considered valuable and having arrived on time the fact that the government decided to grant this aid to musicians who contributed for the development and divulging of culture, in general, and music in particular.

"We should recognise that, with this initiative, the Angolan government shows its interest in assisting in the wellbeing of creators who along these years contributed and continue contributing in the best way possible in favour of Angola and of the national culture", he said.

The Angolan government, through a protocol between the Ministry of Public Administration, Employment and Social Security (MAPESS) and the National Union of Musicians and Composers (UNAC), will start attributing as from next September a pension to national musicians estimated at USD 600.

In a first phase, UNAC was capable of covering 101 musicians who are all members of the institution.