ACCES 2018 unveils programme

Some of the focus areas at ACCES 2018 will be royalty collection challenges in Africa, the continent’s music streaming economy, distribution models and new technologies. Spread over three days (15 to 17 November 2018), ACCES aims to attract attendees from more than 50 countries, who will take part in various activities, including exhibitions, workshops, showcases, speed networking sessions, visits to key music hubs in Nairobi as well as presentations and discussions led by industry heavyweights such as ex-Fela Kuti manager Rikki Stein, music entrepreneur Blick Bassy and many more.

The programme unveiling comes on the back of a recent announcement of this year’s showcasing acts, which comprise about 80 individual musicians from across the African continent. The bands were carefully selected by a curation committee and include Makadem (Kenya), Seun Olota (Nigeria), Sahad and The Nataal Patchwork (Senegal), Maia and the Big Sky (Kenya), Siti & The Band (Tanzania), Kidum and the Bodaboda Band (Burundi/Kenya), Djénéba & Fousco (Mali), Suzan Kerunen (Uganda), Winyo (Kenya), Johnstone Mukabi (Kenya) and Eric Wainaina (Kenya).

Wainaina was announced as ACCES 2018 keynote speaker earlier this year. The iconic activist-musician follows in the footsteps of last year's ACCES keynote, Baaba Maal, and will set the tone for an event that is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and informative gatherings on the African music calendar.

In line with the MIAF’s educational mandate, ACCES will offer training sessions on music production, film music and digital strategies. ACCES 2018 also sees Coke Studio Africa joining the conference in support of a mutual goal to promote pan-African collaborations. This part of the event will feature big-name artists who will be announced in the second and final programme announcements scheduled for late September.

The National Theatre (Kenya Cultural Centre) will be the main venue for ACCES 2018, while Alliance Française will host one showcase night on 16 November.

Music tech at ACCES 2018

ACCES 2018 has added a number of exciting activities to provide a thorough overview of the technological landscape in the African music industry. To this effect, the conference will host a panel discussion titled Africa's Booming Streaming Economy – Opportunities & Challenges featuring representatives from leading streaming platforms such as Mdundo and Spinlet, who will discuss the streaming industry while identifying opportunities available for musicians on the continent.

Adding to the tech theme at ACCES 2018 will be a presentation by Africori's Yoel Kenan, who will discuss music distribution models available to artists and labels in an industry driven by increasing global connectivity. The conference will also feature a presentation on virtual reality and how this technology will likely influence the music industry in the future.

The transferal of tech knowledge to empower music creators will be a central feature of ACCES 2018's programme, with various free workshops on production and digital strategies running throughout the conference. Here delegates can sit in on helpful sessions facilitated by well-known players who will share their priceless secrets with the participants. ACCES will also look at the synergies between traditional and urban sounds in East African music with inspirational presentations from active professionals in the field.

Education at ACCES 2018

ACCES 2018 wouldn’t be complete without movers and shakers sharing their knowledge and achievements with the audience. As Fela Kuti's long-time manager, Rikki Stein is the ideal speaker to talk about the artist management space and how it has changed over the years. The veteran manager will be joined by Cameroonian musician and entrepreneur Blick Bassy, with the two music industry mavens discussing the transformation of artist management in an increasingly cross-border environment.

Education itself will be discussed at ACCES 2018 through a panel titled Music Education in Africa and Africa in Music Education. This captivating subject – starring International Music Council president Prof Emily Achieng' Akuno, Sauti Academy founder Natalie Lukkenaer and other prominent educators in Africa – will examine the state of music education on the continent while evaluating African identity in the expression of musical creativity within institutions of learning.

This year, ACCES partners with Media Sound Hamburg in a session directed at creators looking to tap into the film and gaming industry. The not to be missed session will cover basic sound design and compositional techniques.

The ACCES 2018 programme will be updated regularly on the official website going forward. Businesses that would like to exhibit at ACCES 2018 are urged to book their stands now. Individuals who want to attend ACCES are also required to register. African delegates register for free while non-Africans pay $100.

More about ACCES

ACCES is a pan-African event for music industry players to exchange ideas, discover new talent and create business linkages. ACCES is held in a different African city every year, attracting active music industry players from across the globe.

ACCES is organised by the Music In Africa Foundation, a non-profit and pan-African organisation, in partnership with Siemens Stiftung, Goethe-Institut, Alliance Francaise, Kenya’s Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC), MagicalKenya and the Kenya Cultural Centre.

For more information, including registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit the ACCES website or download the ACCES 2018 brochure here.