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UMG sues DistroKid over alleged copyright infringement, deceptive practices

UMG sues DistroKid over alleged copyright infringement, deceptive practices

SA: Free the Jazz to showcase emerging talent on Heritage Day

SA: Free the Jazz to showcase emerging talent on Heritage Day

SA: Bontle Modiselle, Robot Boii and Baba Mthethwa to host Scorpion Kings Live

SA: Bontle Modiselle, Robot Boii and Baba Mthethwa to host Scorpion Kings Live

Sun-El Musician confirmed for ACCES 2026 in Joburg

Sun-El Musician confirmed for ACCES 2026 in Joburg

Nigeria: Yemi Alade drops ‘IT’S YEMI ALADE’ album

Nigeria: Yemi Alade drops ‘IT’S YEMI ALADE’ album

Linda Sikhakhane announces South Africa, US tour for fifth album

Linda Sikhakhane announces South Africa, US tour for fifth album

Nigeria: Rema releases new single ‘Oh No’ ahead of new project

Nigeria: Rema releases new single ‘Oh No’ ahead of new project

SA: Tumi Musiq prepares new single ‘Many Phases’

SA: Tumi Musiq prepares new single ‘Many Phases’

UMG, ElevenLabs announce AI music licensing partnership

UMG, ElevenLabs announce AI music licensing partnership

Sean Paul to perform in Pretoria in December

Sean Paul to perform in Pretoria in December

SA: Khuzani receives Cultural Icon Award at Oxford leadership summit

SA: Khuzani receives Cultural Icon Award at Oxford leadership summit

SA: Digital Maskandi compilation brings established and emerging artists together

SA: Digital Maskandi compilation brings established and emerging artists together

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 / Kunle Ayo
Kunle Ayo

Kunle Ayo

Producers, Solo artists, Session artists
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Johannesburg, South Africa

In operation since:

2002

Contact person:

Kunle Ayo

BIO

Kunle Ayo is a multi-award winning artist and probably one of Africa’s most celebrated guitarists. Ano has earned several musical accolades, comparisons with giants of the contemporary school like George Benson, Earl Klugh and locally based Jimmy Dludlu.

The dazzling live performer has seven albums, Gospel projects and 2 Live DVD recordings shot in South Africa and London respectively. For every show Kunle Ayo performs in, he leaves his fans with positive energy and inspired.

As one of the most sought after performers, he has participated in a number of notable jazz festivals, namely Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Cape Town International Jazz Festival, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, Calabar Jazz Festival in Nigeria, Harare international festival of Arts in Zimbabwe, Go-Jazz Festival at the Jazz Café, London, Safaricom Jazz Festival in Kenya to name a few.

Discography

2002 - “AYO” (JOY) – UNIVERSAL MUSIC, CDRBL 294
2003 - “BEYOND BORDERS” – UNIVERSAL – CDRBL 316
2005 - “SINCERELY YOURS” – BULA MUSIC - CDJOJ 710
2007 - “A TASTE OF HOME” – BULA MUSIC – CDJOJ 718
2011 - “BEST OF BOTH WORLDS” - SHEER SOUND DISTRIBUTION – SLCD 215
2013 – “JAZZIN UP HIS PRAISE” VOLUME 1 – QBYE MUSIC DISTRIBUTION
2014 – Kunle Ayo Live in London Concert (Live DVD Recording) – K COOL PRODUCTIONS DVDKC006
2016 – ATUNSE (THE REVOUTION) – KCOOL PRODUCTIONS – KCOOLCD005
2021 - INNER REFLECTIONS - K COOL PRODUCTIONS ALBUM

Awards

2004 - Kora Awards - Beyond the Borders - Best Male West Artist (West Africa) Category
2005 - Channel O Awards - Slowly But Surely (single), Beyond the Borders (Album) -Best Jazz Video
2009 - Nigeria Achievement Award - Best Musical Group, Kunle Ayo and his band. Awarded by President Goodluck Jonathan.
2011 - Metro FM Award - Best of Both Worlds - Best Contemporary Jazz Album
2015 – AFRIMA Award – Best Jazz Artist in Africa
2017 - Nigeria Community Excellence Award - Best overall Nigerian Music Artist
2017-SAAFMA Awards – Best Afro Jazz Album

Photos

Kunle Ayo
Kunle Ayo
Kunle Ayo
Kunle Ayo
Kunle Ayo
Kunle Ayo

Music

05 Simunye

Kunle Ayo
05:03

Videos

Jamming to Water in Birmingham with guest artist Kate Luxmoore on clarinet

Jamming to Water in Birmingham with guest artist Kate Luxmoore on clarinet

September 8, 2026
Ayo by Kunle Ayo in Birmingham

Ayo by Kunle Ayo in Birmingham

September 8, 2026
Gratitude is the best attitude. Always trust that everything is still working out for your good.

Gratitude is the best attitude. Always trust that everything is still working out for your good.

August 25, 2026
OLELE Live Studio Version

OLELE Live Studio Version

August 18, 2026
AYOBAMI Live Studio Version

AYOBAMI Live Studio Version

August 18, 2026
A short excerpt from Ènìyàn #KunleAyoUKTour #SoulMamaLondon #Guitar #SoulfulSound

A short excerpt from Ènìyàn #KunleAyoUKTour #SoulMamaLondon #Guitar #SoulfulSound

July 29, 2026
Taking a solo on my song AYO #KunleAyoUKTour #SoulMamaLondon #Guitar

Taking a solo on my song AYO #KunleAyoUKTour #SoulMamaLondon #Guitar

July 29, 2026
I thought to rẹ imagine my song "Moderation". This is what we came up with. AfroVibe band

I thought to rẹ imagine my song "Moderation". This is what we came up with. AfroVibe band

June 14, 2026
Jamming with Paul play @pizzaexpress holborn

Jamming with Paul play @pizzaexpress holborn

June 10, 2026
Jamming with the wonderful Mr Genco @Metclub

Jamming with the wonderful Mr Genco @Metclub

May 26, 2026
"Ara" Live Studio Version

"Ara" Live Studio Version

May 23, 2026
Our guest Chidinma decided to do an original "Mystery"

Our guest Chidinma decided to do an original "Mystery"

April 23, 2026
Jamming Jailer with Chisom at Soul Mama

Jamming Jailer with Chisom at Soul Mama

April 23, 2026
Olele

Olele

April 7, 2026
Ko Gbagbara

Ko Gbagbara

April 3, 2026

Social Networks and Websites

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