The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Handicrafts, through the Fonds de développement des arts et de la culture (FODAC) and the Bureau guinéen du droit d'auteur (BGDA), recently organized a four-day training for cultural actors on copyright issues in the era of artificial intelligence. The training, which took place from October 5 to 9, 2026, in Conakry, aimed to strengthen the capacities of BGDA officials, creators, users of artistic works, government representatives, producers, and labels on issues related to the protection of copyright in the era of artificial intelligence.
The training brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from the government, producers, labels, and users of artistic works, such as television and radio stations. During the four-day training, participants and trainers exchanged views on several issues related to the protection of copyright in the era of artificial intelligence. They also reflected on the challenges posed by this technology for the protection of works, recognition of creators' work, and management of copyright.
The ceremony to close the training was attended by the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Moussa Moïse Sylla. He praised the initiative of FODAC and BGDA, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the two institutions to advance the issue of copyright in the era of artificial intelligence. According to him, the number of views on YouTube and other monetized platforms can only increase creators' income if certain preliminary steps are taken.
Minister Moussa Moïse Sylla emphasized the importance of protecting Guinean cultural creations from the risks associated with artificial intelligence. He announced that the Declaration of Conakry would be presented to the Interministerial Council to strengthen the application of copyright rules. The Minister stressed that the country's cultural resources, including its identity, customs, traditions, songs, and stories, are irreplaceable and must be protected.
The training was organized in collaboration with the Confédération internationale des sociétés d'auteurs et compositeurs (CISAC). Samuel Sangwa, CISAC's Regional Director for Africa and a trainer, stated that the objective was to strengthen the capacities of BGDA officials, creators, users of artistic works, and other stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of documenting works, identifying authors and creators, and collecting their works to guarantee their remuneration when their works are exploited.
Moussa M'Baye, speaking on behalf of the participants, presented the final report and highlighted the importance of creativity as a fundamental wealth of peoples. He recalled that the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence offers new possibilities for creation, innovation, and diffusion of cultures. M'Baye emphasized that Guinea's cultural heritage, shaped by its languages, oral traditions, music, rhythms, stories, and ancestral knowledge, constitutes a collective heritage and a permanent source of inspiration for contemporary creation.
The training covered topics such as artificial intelligence, copyright, and the future of cultural and creative industries. The participants gained a better understanding of the principles of copyright and the importance of documenting works and identifying creators. The training aimed to enable the BGDA to be recognized as a collective management society that respects all the rules in the matter, allowing Guinean artists and creators to benefit from their works and gain international recognition.
Key points
- The training aimed to strengthen the capacities of cultural actors on copyright issues in the era of artificial intelligence.
- The Declaration of Conakry will be presented to the Interministerial Council to strengthen the application of copyright rules.
- The training was organized in collaboration with the Confédération internationale des sociétés d'auteurs et compositeurs (CISAC).
