As the newly elected president of OMDA's board of directors, artist and ethnomusicologist Jimmy Hilarion Rakotonavory aims to strengthen the organization's outreach to artists across Madagascar's regions.

Elected on August 6, Jimmy Hilarion Rakotonavory succeeds Francis Turbo for a three-year term as president of the Malagasy Copyright Office (OMDA). His primary objectives include raising awareness of OMDA's mission and bringing its services closer to regional artists. As both an artist and ethnomusicologist, he believes his experience in the creative field enables him to better understand the challenges creators face, particularly regarding copyright and access to OMDA services.

For the new president, a key priority is establishing mechanisms that allow artists to receive income from their work. "The problem is the law governing artists' money," he emphasizes, while stressing the need to increase OMDA's revenue to better serve creators and fulfill its mandate.

Rakotonavory also wants to improve understanding of how the organization operates. Many artists, he notes, still lack sufficient knowledge of OMDA's collection and distribution mechanisms. When a song is broadcast, particularly in nightclubs, OMDA can collect the corresponding royalties for distribution to rights holders. "We must strengthen artist education," he insists, so they better understand their rights and the necessary procedures to benefit from them.

Awareness campaigns will play a significant role during his tenure. The new president plans to establish an activity calendar to facilitate artist access to OMDA services and improve their understanding of the organization's operations. This approach will include actions across Madagascar's different regions.

He also seeks greater transparency in OMDA's resource management, particularly by improving understanding of expense approval procedures. For him, better informing artists about the organization's operations and management is essential to strengthen their confidence.

A singer from Mandritsara, Jimmy Hilarion Rakotonavory is also known by his stage name Lejim 415. In 2003, he founded the Lejim 415 group, blending traditional Sofia region rhythms with popular music. Nicknamed the "Prince of Bahoejy," he champions the musical genres of the Tsimihety people and has mastered the tsimihety kabôsy since adolescence.

His academic journey progressed from philosophy to social anthropology, then ethnomusicology. After earning a master's degree from the University of Toamasina and a DEA in 2014, he continued his research at the University of Toliara from 2018 onward, defending his ethnomusicology doctorate in 2023. A lecturer at the University of Toamasina, he now serves as associate professor at the Institute of Tourism and Territorial Heritage.

Leading OMDA's board, the artist and academic now aims to leverage his dual expertise toward one goal: better informing and supporting Malagasy creators while bringing the organization closer to those based outside the capital.