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ACCES unveils stellar programme for 2026 edition

ACCES unveils stellar programme for 2026 edition

SlikourOnLife to present Toss, Touchline and Mad Buddies at ACCES 2026

SlikourOnLife to present Toss, Touchline and Mad Buddies at ACCES 2026

Berlin’s HKW to host concert and discussion honouring Fela Kuti

Berlin’s HKW to host concert and discussion honouring Fela Kuti

Gambia: Suntou Susso announce UK tour for ‘The Path of a Griot’

Gambia: Suntou Susso announce UK tour for ‘The Path of a Griot’

Plea for support: Zim music studio damaged by hailstorm

Plea for support: Zim music studio damaged by hailstorm

Dlala Thukzin to make Ghana debut at Accra House Fest

Dlala Thukzin to make Ghana debut at Accra House Fest

Zimbabwean Afro-house artists unite for ‘Inner Visions’ compilation

Zimbabwean Afro-house artists unite for ‘Inner Visions’ compilation

CAPASSO backs global principles for fair generative AI music licensing

CAPASSO backs global principles for fair generative AI music licensing

SA: MUSA shares new album ‘UHAMBO’

SA: MUSA shares new album ‘UHAMBO’

SA: CAPASSO names 10 recipients of second CSI funding round

SA: CAPASSO names 10 recipients of second CSI funding round

Goethe-Institut Kenya brings Ghanaian and Kenyan artists together for MobiArts concert

Goethe-Institut Kenya brings Ghanaian and Kenyan artists together for MobiArts concert

SA: 2026 Music Exchange to focus on rights, AI and the entertainment economy

SA: 2026 Music Exchange to focus on rights, AI and the entertainment economy

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

Music In Africa
Home / Artists & Industry / Avala
Avala

Avala

Solo artists
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Lagos, Nigeria

In operation since:

2005

Contact person:

Avala

BIO

Avala (born Saidat Balogun) is a US-born singer and songwriter based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Avala fell in love at a tender age and began singing at a local church. She started her professional journey as a contestant on Nokia First Chance (a music competition series aired in Nigeria). After making it to the final round, Avala was forced to leave the show for treatment of a severe food allergy that crippled her voice.

In 2007, she moved to the US to attend university. This saw her signing a deal with Sony Music imprint. Avala became a regular performer in New York. Her deal with Sony Music ended owing to artistic differences that materialised between her music and the label .

She returned to Nigeria and began recording new material. She worked with artists such as Black Magic, Burna Boy, Dr. Sid and Skales.
Avala has performed at Industry Nite, a premiere music event where brand ambassadors, top media personnel and fans watch some of Africa’s top artists.

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Music

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Videos

Heartbreak and vibes! 🔥❤️ #newmusic #music #lookingforavala #singersongwriter #femalerapper

Heartbreak and vibes! 🔥❤️ #newmusic #music #lookingforavala #singersongwriter #femalerapper

December 14, 2025
HEARTBREAK N VIBEZ (Visualizer)

HEARTBREAK N VIBEZ (Visualizer)

October 22, 2025
“LALA LAND” OUT NOW !!! Go run it up 🔥🔥🔥 #newmusic #nowplaying

“LALA LAND” OUT NOW !!! Go run it up 🔥🔥🔥 #newmusic #nowplaying

July 22, 2025
LOOKING FOR AVALA - ALL I WANT

LOOKING FOR AVALA - ALL I WANT

April 24, 2025
It’s my anxiety #avala #music #doechii #anxiety

It’s my anxiety #avala #music #doechii #anxiety

March 19, 2025
Promo Love - Live performance Glitch Africa

Promo Love - Live performance Glitch Africa

February 9, 2025
I’ve been moving first class, no delay… Glitch Africa performance coming soon #glitchafrica #avala

I’ve been moving first class, no delay… Glitch Africa performance coming soon #glitchafrica #avala

February 8, 2025
Is it a crime - Rema (cover) 🔥#rema #isitacrimecover #afrobeats #music #gele #covers #afrocentric

Is it a crime - Rema (cover) 🔥#rema #isitacrimecover #afrobeats #music #gele #covers #afrocentric

December 15, 2024
My interview with Inspiration 92.3FM Lagos #fypage #newmusic #lookingforavala

My interview with Inspiration 92.3FM Lagos #fypage #newmusic #lookingforavala

December 10, 2024
Left a “Piece Of My Heart” on this cover #wizkid #pieceofmyheart #fyp #fypage #wizkidayo

Left a “Piece Of My Heart” on this cover #wizkid #pieceofmyheart #fyp #fypage #wizkidayo

December 1, 2024
Performing my song “Soul Food” from my EP Truly Independent. Thank you for having me AktivatedTV 🦋

Performing my song “Soul Food” from my EP Truly Independent. Thank you for having me AktivatedTV 🦋

November 1, 2024
Last night’s Felabration performance was absolutely amazing 🤞🏾💙

Last night’s Felabration performance was absolutely amazing 🤞🏾💙

October 21, 2024
Star Signs is what I see in your eyes 🤩🎶 #fyp #fypage

Star Signs is what I see in your eyes 🤩🎶 #fyp #fypage

October 17, 2024
Now they got me, I’m “Truly Independent” 🔪 #music #afrofusion #fyp

Now they got me, I’m “Truly Independent” 🔪 #music #afrofusion #fyp

October 13, 2024
🎶Omo, I’m not that guy o 🎶 Premiered my song Bam Bam at Obi’s House on a Monday! #dance

🎶Omo, I’m not that guy o 🎶 Premiered my song Bam Bam at Obi’s House on a Monday! #dance

October 9, 2024

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