Video discussion: Sound challenges in Africa

While on the panel – which included festival producers, event organisers, sound technicians and producers – Makadem sought to understand what happens between sound check and the actual event. In response to the issues of low quality sound raised by Makadem, Event Managers Association of Kenya (EMAK) general manger Martin Mulwa said artists had accepted mediocrity and it was time to demand quality sound.

“Any artist who understands their business must put their foot down and demand for what they want,” he said. Mulwa urged artists not to leave sound check, unless they are satisfied with the sound. He said event organisers were expected to hire qualified sound engineers. Mulwa also spoke about EMAK’s mission to professionalise the Kenyan event organising industry.

Tech riders

Highlighting the importance of technical riders, Azgo Festival coordinator Jess White said a technical rider was not something developed overnight. He said organisers themselves needed to understand the sound capacity of the venues they were working with. At Azgo, for instance, artists had to submit their technical riders five months in advance. White said organisers needed to hire qualified staff to help produce a high-quality show.

Compromising technical demands

Home Boyz Entertainment technical director Antoine Cannella said passion had to be the driving force for both artists and sound engineers. He said that in Europe support structures existed for artists, which was not the case in Africa, where artists could not afford to turn down any opportunity that came their way. With no regulations in place to protect artists and technicians, both music professionals tended to work on events with low budgets that did not deliver value.

Panellists:

Makadem– Kenyan artist

Martin Mulwa – EMAK general manager

Jess White – coordinator of Azgo Festival, Mozambique, and director of Akum Agency

Antoine Cannella – Technical director, Home Boyz Entertainment

Moderator: Eric Musyoka – founder of Decimal Records

Watch the discussion in the video below: