Login
Music In Africa
Artists (48,169) Organizations, Networks & Associations (4,659) Artist Service Providers (4,474) Music Education (3,174) Archives & Media (519) Events & Venues (229)
Solo artists
Composers, arrangers & songwriters
Producers
Bands /groups
DJs
Sound artists
Other
Session artists
Choirs, orchestras & ensembles
Spoken word
News Reviews Features Themes Gig Guide
Ghana: Mr Eazi and MOLIY’s ‘Comfort’ earns Urban Music Awards nomination

Ghana: Mr Eazi and MOLIY’s ‘Comfort’ earns Urban Music Awards nomination

Nigeria: CANEX WKND unveils 2026 programme

Nigeria: CANEX WKND unveils 2026 programme

Lance Stehr brings decades of South African music to ‘Spinners’ Season 2 soundtrack

Lance Stehr brings decades of South African music to ‘Spinners’ Season 2 soundtrack

ACCES unveils stellar programme for 2026 edition

ACCES unveils stellar programme for 2026 edition

R&B collective Both Worlds targets SA market

R&B collective Both Worlds targets SA market

SA: Lelow B explores commitment, loyalty on new single ‘Imizwa’

SA: Lelow B explores commitment, loyalty on new single ‘Imizwa’

Beat FM marks 17th anniversary with industry brunch in Lagos

Beat FM marks 17th anniversary with industry brunch in Lagos

Music Business Awards Africa to honour industry professionals in November

Music Business Awards Africa to honour industry professionals in November

SA: MPASA to host webinar on mental health in the music industry

SA: MPASA to host webinar on mental health in the music industry

Deezer to let users filter out fully AI-generated music

Deezer to let users filter out fully AI-generated music

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

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 / Wamkelwa
Wamkelwa

Wamkelwa

Composers, arrangers & songwriters, Culture development, Other
linkedin
flag-img

Uitenhage, South Africa

In operation since:

2024

Contact person:

Wamkelwa

BIO

Wamkelwa, born in August 1995 in the Eastern Cape, is a visionary artist, renowned for her multifaceted talents as a producer, songwriter, composer, and filmmaker. At the heart of her creative endeavors lies a deep passion for African culture and storytelling, which she masterfully weaves into her music. Her innovative approach to storytelling is characterized by a unique blend of traditional and contemporary elements, resulting in a distinctive sound that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

 

Wamkelwa's music is a beautiful fusion of folklore, traditional music, country, jazz, and contemporary genres, showcasing her versatility and dynamic vocals. Her dominant vocal style, Ukombela, is a testament to her ability to improvise and navigate complex musical landscapes with ease. The unearthly quality of her voice and sound has drawn comparisons to legendary African musicians, including Miriam Makeba, Busi Mhlongo, Letta Mbulu, and Simphiwe Dana, who have all inspired her artistic journey.

 

As a performer, Wamkelwa has graced the stages of several notable events, including the Makhanda National Arts Festival (2018) and the PE Splash Festival (2023). Some of her notable performances include:

 

- Performer at the Woman In Arts Manyano Festival hosted by MBTC (2023)

- Curator and performer of "Orisun: Echoes of Africa" at The One Room, in collaboration with SaraBi

- Collaborator with Ukunyangwa Kwetyala Music Exhibition by Vuyo Giba at WIAMF by MBTC (2024)

- Performer at TBPS Ubuhlanti Exhibition Week (March 2024): "Isingqi Sakwantu By Wamkelwa Nkone" closing performance

- Performer at Makhanda National Arts Festival: The Black Power Station (June 26, 2024)

- Opening act for The Muffins at NAF 2024

 

Through her music, Wamkelwa continues to celebrate African culture and storytelling, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and inspiring audiences with her unique voice and sound.

Photos

No photos available

Music

Coming soon

Videos

Wamkelwa Namanyange - Imimoya #NAF2026

Wamkelwa Namanyange - Imimoya #NAF2026

June 8, 2026
As we prepare for Echoes of Embo on the 30th please pull through to our Pop-Ups around Makhanda💯♥️🔥

As we prepare for Echoes of Embo on the 30th please pull through to our Pop-Ups around Makhanda💯♥️🔥

June 25, 2025
https://tickets.nationalartsfestival.co.za/en/events/1025/wamkelwa-ithongo-malibuye-echoes-of-embo

https://tickets.nationalartsfestival.co.za/en/events/1025/wamkelwa-ithongo-malibuye-echoes-of-embo

June 25, 2025
Wamkelwa - Thokoza , 🥹:https://ceasesilence.bandcamp.com/track/thokoza

Wamkelwa - Thokoza , 🥹:https://ceasesilence.bandcamp.com/track/thokoza

December 10, 2024
Wamkelwa naManyange live at The Black Power Station (opening act for The Muffinz) Makhanda NAF

Wamkelwa naManyange live at The Black Power Station (opening act for The Muffinz) Makhanda NAF

October 1, 2024
Catch you @sheloungeofficial7357 @wamkelwasessions this Soul Sunday

Catch you @sheloungeofficial7357 @wamkelwasessions this Soul Sunday

December 19, 2023
July 18, 2023

July 18, 2023

July 18, 2023
Wamkelwa- Out of Hands (Acoustic, Live @ The Music Kitchen, Newton Park, Gqeberha)

Wamkelwa- Out of Hands (Acoustic, Live @ The Music Kitchen, Newton Park, Gqeberha)

July 18, 2023
Wamkelwa- Qamatha

Wamkelwa- Qamatha

July 18, 2023
Wamkelwa - Thokoza (Live @The One Room on Westbourne, Gqeberha)

Wamkelwa - Thokoza (Live @The One Room on Westbourne, Gqeberha)

July 18, 2023
Wamkelwa ft Mandlovu and The Band - Ubomi Ngumzamo (Soulful Sunday Sessions live @The One Room, PE)

Wamkelwa ft Mandlovu and The Band - Ubomi Ngumzamo (Soulful Sunday Sessions live @The One Room, PE)

July 18, 2023
July 18, 2023

July 18, 2023

July 18, 2023
Wamkelwa - Knocking on heaven's door rendition ( Live at Mendi Arts Centre, KASI Explosion)

Wamkelwa - Knocking on heaven's door rendition ( Live at Mendi Arts Centre, KASI Explosion)

March 2, 2022
Wamkelwa IHILIHILI ep1

Wamkelwa IHILIHILI ep1

February 13, 2021
idol audition for season 17

idol audition for season 17

February 11, 2021

Social Networks and Websites

Disclaimer: Music In Africa provides a platform for musicians and contributors to embed music and videos solely for promotional purposes. If any track or video embedded on this platform violates any copyrights please inform us immediately and we will take it down. Please read our Terms of Use for more.

newsletter banner

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter

Follow us on social media

social icon social icon social icon social icon