NEFCISA
NEFCISA

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) is proud of its partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) as a Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP) for its Social Employment Fund (SEF). Through this collaboration, MIAF is running a national programme that is creating jobs, addressing skills gaps, and strengthening South Africa's creative industries — in line with the SEF's overarching goal to generate work for the common good and build community value through employment, social contribution, and inclusive economic participation. Operating under the banner NEFCISA (National Employment Facility for Creative Industries in South Africa), the initiative is recruiting and training participants, matching them with host organisations, and has already placed 1 500 workers across the country — surpassing its original target of 1 000. NEFCISA is delivered through a network of 20 host organisations spanning five provinces, who are actively hosting participants and contributing to work for the common good across South Africa's creative and cultural industries. Key Objectives: Support employment and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. Offer skills development and training programmes. Foster partnerships between public and private creative sectors. Promote South African creativity at both provincial and national levels Foster community development through social contribution.

ACCES
ACCES

ACCES Conference and Showcase Festival is Africa's leading music industry gathering, bringing together the people shaping the future of the continent's music business. Artists, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, policymakers and cultural leaders from across Africa and around the world come to ACCES to build partnerships, exchange ideas, discover talent and create new business opportunities. Since its launch in 2017, ACCES has become the continent's premier platform for professional exchange and music market development. Combining a high-level conference with a curated showcase festival, networking, exhibitions and industry programmes, ACCES offers a unique space where creativity meets business and where African music connects with the global industry.

Gender@Work
Gender@Work

Music In Africa Gender @ Work is a three-year training programme aimed at upskilling and increasing the participation of female professionals in the African music sector. Launched by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) in April 2019, the programme is connected to the MIAF’s ACCES music conference – a pan-African event held in a different African country every year. This connection enables the programme to reach new participants in a different African country every year. The programme marks the beginning of a more concerted effort by the Foundation to support the participation and inclusion of women in all facets of its programmes and the music sector in Africa as a whole. Over the three years, the programme will aim to address gender imbalances in the sector through training, lobbying, facilitating knowledge exchange and dialogues that foster the interest of women. The broader objectives of the programme are to: Provide industry training for women on critical music industry skills, focusing on: Stage management Electronic music production and recording Music business management Technical knowledge Provide an opportunity for both professional and aspiring women to benefit from the Music In Africa network and its broad range of activities in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Provide a solution-based platform in the form of a round table at ACCES with a view to identify challenges, discuss opportunities and lobby for the interests of female practitioners. Offer participants the opportunity to benefit from programmes offered by MIAF’s partners. Increase access to educational materials. Integrate participants in the broader ACCES programme to maximise experience and exposure to the industry. Record and present training materials on the www.musicinafrica.net, including but not limited to tutorials, templates and other best-practice materials. Communicate women-based themes that support the initiatives and messages of the programme. MAIN TRAINING ACTIVITIES Training in first country (Ghana): In the first year, participants will be trained on all aspects of stage management by a team of experienced stage managers from 10 to 17 November 2019. The programme will offer robust classroom training as well as practical, hands-on training in which participants will also be given the opportunity to manage various aspects of the ACCES performance programme. Training in second country: The second training iteration will take place at ACCES 2020 when the programme will diversify its course to include music production lessons and training on other music business topics. A round-table platform will also be introduced to coincide with the ACCES programme. Training in third country: The third training iteration will take place at ACCES 2021 in a different country, offering an advanced course. HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?  As a participant, facilitator or trainer: The programme enrolls up to 12 trainees every year. All opportunities are advertised publicly on this website, and will be added to this page. Please keep checking this page for new calls (below under UPDATES & CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES). As a partner Please contact Claire Metais at [email protected]. APPLY The call for applications for 2020 will be announced soon. The Music In Africa Gender @ Work programme is made possible with the support of the Prince Claus Fund, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut.

Sound Connects Fund
Sound Connects Fund

For cultural and creative practitioners and organisations operating in southern Africa, access to funding remains a major challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a massive impact on government policy, spending and the economy in general, and has seen spending on culture being moved further down the list of priorities. Further, the cultural and creative industries repeatedly cite four main areas where investment is needed for growth, which are increased visibility, mobility including access to new markets, finance and support structures.

Instrument Building And Repair Project
Instrument Building And Repair Project

Experience the Vibrations African Instruments Exhibition online in 3D

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Kampala, Uganda

In operation since:

2022

Contact person:

Apple Fruit

BIO

Apple Fruit (born: Kadafi kabanda Joseph) is an Ugandan singer-songwriter and musician who embodies the vibrant spirit of Afrobeat and contemporary African music. Since launching out in 2022, Apple Fruit has rapidly risen to prominence with his unique sound. A sound that blends traditional Ugandan rhythms with modern Afrobeat, Pop, and R&B.

Early Life: Apple Fruit was born in rural Uganda, where he grew up in a poor household with his family. Despite the challenges, his parents struggled to provide for him and his siblings.
Education: Apple Fruit's education was cut short due to financial constraints. In primary four, he made the difficult decision to run away from school, unable to bear the shame of being sent home repeatedly for unpaid school fees.
Life on the Streets: At just 10-11 years old (estimated), Apple Fruit fled to Kampala, seeking a better life. He ended up on the streets of Katwe, where he faced countless struggles, including hunger, homelessness, and exploitation.
Survival: To survive, Apple Fruit was forced to steal from others, taking their belongings to sell or exchange for food. This painful experience has left emotional scars, and he still grapples with the guilt of his past actions.
Loss of Identity: During his time on the streets, Apple Fruit lost touch with his family and his own identity. He doesn't know his exact age or his parents' whereabouts, leaving a void in his life.
Accident and Memory Loss: An accident on the streets further complicated Apple Fruit's life, leaving him with no official identification and memory loss.
Music: In 2022, Apple Fruit discovered his passion for music, particularly love music. He began singing, finding solace in the melodies and lyrics that spoke to his soul.
Breakthrough: Apple Fruit's big break came when a family man, facing the pain of infidelity, commissioned him to write a song about cheating. The man's story resonated with Apple Fruit, who poured his heart into the song "Cheating on Me". The song's lyrics, "You asked for time, I gave you time. But why do this to me?" captured the man's anguish and Apple Fruit's own experiences with pain and betrayal.

Career: With the payment from the family man, Apple Fruit began to see music as a viable means of supporting himself. He continued to write and sing, eventually releasing "Mpaana" and collaborating with Joylor T on "Akawala".
Personal Life: Apple Fruit's journey serves as a testament to resilience and determination. Though his past still haunts him, music has given him a voice, a purpose, and hope for a brighter Future.

After "Cheating on Me", Apple Fruit's talent caught the attention of a prominent lady entrepreneur. She approached him after a performance, driving a brand-new Benz, and commissioned him to write and sing a song about women's empowerment. She paid him to create a single, "Abakazi" (meaning "Women" in Luganda),. She shared her concern about the rampant domestic violence against women in Uganda and requested Apple Fruit to write and sing a song empowering women.

Inspired by her passion, Apple Fruit wrote "Abakazi" (meaning "Women" in Luganda), a powerful anthem advocating for women's rights and respect. The song's lyrics emphasize that women are powerful and deserving of love, care, and respect, not violence.
erously paid Apple Fruit for the song, further supporting his music career.

string of hit singles like "Mpaana", "Ndoga", "Leero lwasanyu", "Nerira Mbuzi", "Cheating on Me", "Rebuke Devil", "Akawala" (feat. Joylor T), and "Eno Weekend" (feat. Junks), Apple Fruit has established himself as a leading voice in the new generation of African artists. His music is a fusion of traditional and modern styles, reflecting the diversity and creativity of African music.

Apple Fruit's live performances are a testament to his energy, passion, and connection with his audience. He has performed at various shows, sharing his Afro-centric sound with a global audience.

By celebrating African culture, music, and identity, Apple Fruit's performances are a testament to the power of Afrobeat and contemporary African music to unite and inspire us all.

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