Music In Africa Foundation Annual Report for 2021-22

I am delighted to report on yet another successful year for the MIAF. It is exciting to see the Foundation continuing to deliver on its objectives year on year, while expanding its reach into new territories across the continent with purposeful initiatives such as the Music In Africa portal, ACCES, Gender@Work, Music In Africa Live, the Sound Connects Fund, and other ad hoc activities.

We all know how increasingly challenging it has become to find resources for cultural work in Africa. So, I want to acknowledge the key role that the Foundation is fulfilling in the area of support and development in the African music industry. The Music In Africa portal is now easily the largest source of reliable information for the African music sector. In addition to providing well-researched information on the different music industries, it is the central online meeting point for African music professionals, where it disseminates hundreds of opportunities in English and French every week. Over the years, we have become a strong collaborator with festivals who benefit from our well-curated and balanced electronic press kits, which are developed for artists at no charge via the portal. As a festival director myself, I have seen how important this work is and I urge all African musicians, event organisers, artist managers, and the industry at large, to see Music In Africa as a partner in their work. In the coming year, our Directorate will begin a critical project to update the website and improve its offering to the sector and its players.

With the growth of the Foundation comes new risks and opportunities. I am happy to report that risk management has remained at the centre of the Board’s priorities throughout the year under review, with support from our Risk Management, Human Resources and Membership committees. This year, the MIAF will elect a new Board at its 10th AGM in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in November. This anniversary is something to be celebrated as we look back at what has been an impressive formative decade and gear up for more exciting work in the coming years.
 

Mr. Yusuf Mahmoud - Chairperson