Midem announces Kenya as ‘country of honour’ ahead of Africa digital event

Midem Africa will provide insight into the kenyan music industry in a session sponsored by Magical Kenya, a campaign by the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, which seeks to present Kenya as an ideal tourist destination.

This edition of Midem Africa will be streamed for free via the Midem website between 28 June and 1 July.

Following a recent announcement of a section of its programme, Midem Africa has added a bold line-up of showcasing artists. Confirmed acts include Swahili Papi (Kenya), Bez (Nigeria), Widgunz (Ivory Coast), FOKN Bois (Ghana), HHY and the Kampala Unit (Uganda), Mike Kayihura (Rwanda), Mpho Sebina (Botswana), Rouge (South Africa), Siti and the Band (Zanzibar) and Wamwiduka Band (Tanzania), among others.

The event has also added two more keynotes, which will be delivered by Nigerian artist Joeboy and the vice-president of strategy and market development at Empire, Suhel Nafar.

“We’re in a multi-genre and borderless era,” Nafar said. “Artists and fans are connected more than ever; it’s not about the language, country or genre but about the songs, the artists, their story and their teams. I’m honoured to be on Midem’s panel to discuss the new sounds of North Africa, West Asia and the diaspora.”

Music streaming platform SoundCloud will present an exclusive artist talk session with Uganda’s Nyege Nyege record label, which promotes electronic music by African artists. Confirmed speakers include Uganda’s DJ Kampire, the label’s co-founder, Derek Debru, SoundCloud director of editorial Leon Sherman (UK) and SoundCloud senior manager for artist development Nick Tsirimokos (Germany).

Midem has also partnered with the French Institute Institut and Alliance Française in Kenya to organise physical events in more than 10 African cities.

Commenting on this new partnership, the French Embassy’s head of the music and cultural industries mission for sub-Saharan Africa, Thomas Weill, said: “This new partnership between Midem, the world reference for professional meetings in the music industry, and the French cultural network ... is part of the dynamic support of these operators to the stakeholders of the cultural industries in Africa.”

Registration for Midem Africa is ongoing here.