Open call: Afro Beats and Afro Bytes PhD scholarship in the UK

The researcher will be based in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries (CMCI), King’s College London and co-supervised by Prof Roberta Comunian (Professor of Creative Economies in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) and Dr Eka Ikpe (Director of the African Leadership Centre and Reader in Development Economics in Africa).

This project seeks to understand how Afrobeats music producers in West Africa deploy productive forces (knowledge, technology, capital) and inputs to create social, economic and cultural value for domestic and global markets and how this influences socio-economic change.

It, therefore, aims to move beyond visions of Africa as resource-constrained to focus on creativity, ideas and innovation – including in sustainability – emerging across the continent.

The key research question will be: What processes and platforms underpin creation, distribution and revenue generation for West African music producers in domestic and international markets? 

The project is connected to the establishment of the new Africa-Europe CoRE (Cluster of Research Excellence) on Creative Economies at King’s College London, with interdisciplinary collaborations being established across African partners. This project can also benefit from an established collaboration already in place with the University of Lagos (Nigeria).

The PhD research would grow this area of research to gain a deeper understanding of socio-economic and cultural factors and trajectories in this space. The researcher will likely undertake mixed-methods case study research, including, for example, analysis of industry data, surveys, interviews, focus groups and observations. The programme envisages the student focusing on one West African country. 

There will be opportunities for international travel and public communication activities, and applicants are encouraged to develop skills through teaching in the School of Global Affairs and CMCI Department. 

Eligible applicants

Essential criteria:

• An African national and permanently resident in an African country.
• Liable for tuition fees at the higher international/overseas rate (fees are covered funding for four years).
• Plan to commence a full-time MPhil/PhD programme at King’s College London in the 2024-25 academic year (ideally the candidate will start in October 2024).
• Meet the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree in the Faculty of Social Science and Policy at King’s College London.
• You should hold or expect to obtain a high merit or distinction at master’s level (or equivalent) in any subject. Subjects of particular relevance would include but not be limited to: International Political Economy, Political Economy, Business, Development Studies, Culture, Media and Creative Industries, Policy, Sociology, Geography and Social sciences.
• A strong interest in music and the creative economy (academic, professional, personal).
• Good team-working, observational, organisation and communication skills.
• Experience of qualitative and quantitative methods. 

Desirable criteria:

• Professional experience in the music industry in a West African country.
• Professional or personal networks in the music industry in an African country.
• Prior research or publication experience.

Funding

This award will cover your full tuition fees, provide an annual stipend and offer a research, training and support grant per year.

Application procedure

The selection process will involve a pre-selection based on documents:

• CV.
• Cover letter explaining your interest in the project and how your prior experience is relevant.
• A sample of written work (i.e. MA thesis).
• An academic reference letter (from a previous supervisor or personal tutor at MA level). 

Email these documents to Prof Comunian at roberta.comunian@kcl.ac.uk by 19 March 2024. 

If selected, this will be followed by an invitation to an interview which will take place online in week commencing 22 April 2024. If successful at the interview, an offer will be made for PhD study and scholarship funding. 

The selected candidates must then apply via King’s online application system. Details are available here.

Apply for CMCI (MPhil/PhD) and indicate Prof Comunian and Dr Ikpe as your desired supervisor and the project title in your application and all correspondence. 

Details about the PhD programme are available here.

View the original call here.