ABOUT ACCES

ACCES MUSIC CONFERENCE & SHOWCASE FESTIVAL 

ACCES is a premier pan-African platform where music industry players connect, share knowledge, showcase and discover new talent.
ACCES serves as a catalyst for growth, placing a significant emphasis on professionalizing the sector and facilitating access to key success drivers, particularly for emerging musicians and industry professionals.
Since its launch in 2017, ACCES has brought together thousands of industry players in cities such as Dakar (2017), Nairobi (2018), Accra (2019), Johannesburg (2021), and Dar es Salaam (2022 and 2023) and Kigali (2024).

Each ACCES event spans three days and offers a dynamic program with panel discussions, keynotes, live performances, networking opportunities, training workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, awards, collaborative songwriting camps and more. The program is designed to benefit local participants and visiting delegates who typically represent the entire music value chain, including music distributors, publishers, promoters, bookers, record labels, musicians, CMOs, funders, policymakers and NGOs.

ACCES also serves as the practical learning ground for participants in the Gender@Work program, the pioneering women-only pan-African training initiative offering music business and technical skills to address gender disparity in the African music industry.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Connect with local, regional and international professionals
• Showcase your music and gain touring opportunities
• Discover pan-African, export-ready talent
• Develop new partnerships and collaborations
• Join an active network of music professionals on the continent
• Promote your services/products to a wider audience
• Gain industry insight and keep up-to-date with the latest trends 
• Share your ideas and knowledge

HISTORY

ACCES started in 2016 as a small feature on the Music In Africa Foundation’s AGM programme in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before being launched as a fully-fledged international event in Dakar in 2017.

After Dakar, ACCES was held in Nairobi (2018), Accra (2019), Johannesburg (2021), Dar es Salaam (2022 and 2023) and Kigali (2024), featuring a strong list of influential artists, such as A’Salfo (Ivory Coast), Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa), Mulatu Astatke (Ethiopia), Baaba Maal (Senegal), Sho Madjozi (South Africa), Eric Wainaina (Kenya), Ebo Taylor (Ghana), Mr. Eazi (Nigeria), Nasty C (South Africa), Blinky Bill (Kenya), Blick Bassy (Cameroon), Sarkodie (Ghana), Sway Dasafo (UK), Stogie T (South Africa), Efya (Ghana), Vusi Mahlasela (South Africa), Samini (Ghana), Skales (Nigeria), Busiswa (South Africa), Abidoza (South Africa), Marioo (Tanzania), Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa) and many more.

HONOURING AFRICAN MUSIC GIANTS

At the 2018 edition, the Music In Africa Foundation introduced the Music In Africa Honorary Award as a way to celebrate the outstanding contribution of notable musicians to their home country’s industries and Africa as a whole. Baaba Maal (Senegal) was the first recipient of the award. His 2017 award was presented to him retrospectively in 2018. Eric Wainaina (Kenya) was given the accolade for the year 2018. Veteran Ghanaian musicians Ebo Taylor and Bibie Brew were each presented the award in 2019. South African legendary musicians Thandiswa Mazwai and Vusi Mahlasela received the 2021 Music In Africa Honorary Award, followed by Saida Karoli and DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra (Tanzania) in 2022. In 2023, the Award acknowledged the outstanding contribution from both the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Sports and BASATA offices in supporting the music sector in Tanzania, and in hosting ACCES 2022 and 2023. In 2024, the Award was received by iconic Cécile Kayirebwa and Muyango, as well as the Ministry of Youth and Arts of Rwanda for their exceptional commitment to the music sector in Rwanda.

LANGUAGE

The ACCES programme is implemented in English, and may offer interpretation services in other languages, depending on the host country.

OVERVIEW

> 2000+ ON-SITE AUDIENCE
> 50+ COUNTRIES
> 100+ PERFORMERS
> 70+ SPEAKERS, FACILITATORS & NETWORKERS
> 150+ TRAINEES
> 2m+ ONLINE AUDIENCE

DATES

ACCES is typically held in November every year.

VENUES

ACCES moves to a different African city every year.

TESTIMONIALS

“This event is an important milestone to discuss and implement effective revenue models, strengthen our copyright societies, and ensure compliance from those that profit from our work. We need governments, organisations and individuals across the continent to join us in this mission.”
Yvonne Chaka Chaka - Artist, activist & philanthropist (South Africa)

“ACCES is shaping up to be the most globally accessible Pan- African music industry conference to gain insight into the opportunities and dynamic music that various African artists have to offer the world.”
Wendy Verwey Bekker - Ditto Music (South Africa)

“The conference reinforced my belief in the power of music to bridge cultures and create eco- nomic opportunities. I left feeling inspired and equipped with fresh ideas to implement at River Oaks Records. ACCES is undoubtedly a must-attend for anyone passionate about shaping the future of music in Africa and beyond. “
David Ashbel, River Oaks Records (Ghana, US, UK)

“First time attending a concert with fire lineup all throughout! A chance to meet some of our favorite artists in person will forever be my highlight! A dream come true.”
Ornella Kayitaba – Sofar Sound (Rwanda)

“The only music industry event that has a specific focus on the entire African continent and not just a region” – Business Daily Kenya

“The most important pan-African event in terms of cross-border cooperation and the exchange of experience and knowledge.” – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

THEY PARTICIPATED AT ACCES 

Ariel Wayz I A’Salfo I Aurus I Baaba Maal I Banky W I Blick Bassy I Blinky Bill I Cheikh Lô I Didier Awadi I Ebo Taylor I Efya I Eric Wainaina I FOKN Bois I Fid Q I Heavy-K I Marioo I Mr Eazi I Msaki I Mulatu Astatke I Muzi I Nasty C I Obrafour I Octopizzo I Pit Baccardi I Samini I Sampa the Great I Sarkodie I Sho Madjozi I Sway Dasafo I Thandiswa Mazwai I Vusi Mahlasela I Yugen Blakrok I Yvonne Chaka Chaka I Vth Season I Africori I Afrikayna I AFRIMA Awards I Airforce1 Records I Akum agency I Atrack I Bassline Fest I Believe I Black Major I Boomplay I Bridges for Music I British Council I CAPASSO I Chocolate City Group I CISAC I Coke Studio I Colorfol I Content Connect Africa I Dakar Music Expo I Dapper Group I Deedo I Ditto Music I East African Records I Empire I Gallo Music Group I gamma. I Georg-Leitner- Productions I Harmattan Rain I Idol I Institut Français I IOMMA I Kina Music I Lighthouse I Linkfire I Makerverse I Mdundo I Media Sound Hamburg I MLC I Momix I Music Imbizo I Nyege Nyege I On the Corner Records I Pan African Music I Paradise Entertainment & Distribution I Pepsi I Reeperbahn festival I Roxanne I SACEM I Sakifo I SAMPRA I SAMRO Foundation I Sauti za Busara I Sheer Publishing I Simfy Africa I Singeli Festi I Sisso Records I Slikouronlife I Sony Music Entertainment I Sony CSL I Sony Music Publishing I Spotify I Stay Low I Str8Up Vibes I Syllart Records I SxSW I The Orchard I TikTok I Trace I Tunecore I UNESCO I Universal Music I Virgin Music Group I Voice of America I Warner Music Africa I Wasafi Media I Womex I Young Music Boss I Yuma Prod and many more!