MIAF director Eddie Hatitye to speak at JMI Global music conference in Zimbabwe

Music Crossroads Zimbabwe will host the conference from 18 to 23 September, which will bring together music industry professionals from around the world to discuss relevant industry topics, network and witness performances from some of Zimbabwe’s top acts.

The event is held annually in different countries and Zimbabwe will be the third African country to host the event after Ivory Coast and Tanzania in 1998 and 2010, respectively. Other countries that have hosted the conference include Austria, Spain, Croatia, Germany, Canada, Poland, Argentina, Israel, China, Uruguay and the UK, among others.

Hatitye, who has played a pivotal role in the conception and implementation of numerous continental arts programmes, will present a keynote speech titled The State of Music in Africa. His speech will offer an in-depth picture on how tech is affecting the music industry in Africa, the state of the industry from a distribution and streaming perspective, some of the success stories in different African markets, Africa’s challenges in coping with tech, opportunities for the industry and tips for creators.

In addition to his strong background in the arts and culture sector, Hatitye has received invitations to make presentations at prestigious music platforms including MIDEM (France), WOMEX (UK), Music Exchange (South Africa), Moshito (South Africa), Musikmesse (Germany), Canadian Music Week (Canada) and the Pan-African Creative Exchange, among others.

Other music professionals who will speak at the conference include Ouafa Belgacem (Culture Funding Watch, Tunisia), Namakau Star (artist, South Africa), Walter Wanyanya (Jacaranda Music Festival, Zimbabwe), Tamanda Mbendera (The Festivals Institute, Malawi), Brahim El Mazned (Visa For Music, Morocco), Yusuf Mahmoud (Sauti Za Busara Festival, Tanzania), Alexandra Costa (Sustenidos, Brazil), Will Ramsay (Global Music Academy, Germany), Ricardo Van Mildert (MoonJelly, Netherlands), Clive ‘Mono’ Mukundu (artist, Zimbabwe), Trust Mutekwa (mbira specialist, Zimbabwe), Carine Tredgold (music trainer, Zimbabwe) and Mahsin Basalama (Dhow Countries Music Academy, Tanzania).

“The JMI Global is an annual international event that brings together the world of youth and music to explore the future, build bridges, strengthen collaboration and create all kinds of awesome,” JMI Global music conference said. “The JMI Global provides something for everybody, sparking collaboration and exchange in order to make a greater impact on the world through music.”

Meanwhile, the JMI Global music conference programme will also feature workshops, panel discussions, round-table talks and the JMI Global annual general assembly, which is only open to JMI members.

The full programme is available here.