ACCES confirms curation committee for 2018 edition

The curation committee is responsible for selecting the artists who will showcase at ACCES 2018. It also formulates the showcase programme and plays an advisory role in the broader conference.

The ACCES 2018 curation committee comprises music industry players from across the continent including Ketebul Music boss Tabu Osusa (Kenya), musician and Women in Music Forum's Christine Kamau (Kenya), Afrikayna chairperson Ghita Khaldi (Morocco), Akum Agency founder Jess White (Australia/Mozambique), MIAF director Eddie Hatitye (South Africa) and MIAF chairperson Aisha Dème (Senegal).

The 2018 curation committee members are some of the most influential music industry players on the continent and will employ their vast knowledge and experience to select the talent that will showcase in front of festival curators, promoters, booking agents and record label executives, among others.

The first ACCES conference was held in Dakar, Senegal, in November last year where about 500 participants from more than 40 countries in Africa and Europe as well as the US and Australia came together to learn about the West African music industry through informative panel discussions, showcases and tours to venues and studios. Even more delegates are expected to attend ACCES 2018 where the showcasing artists could find various new opportunities to further their careers.

ACCES recently made a call to African artists who may be interested to perform at the conference. Once the artists have submitted their applications by the 29 June deadline, the curation committee will undertake the tough task of selecting the best of them.

ACCES also recently confirmed iconic Kenyan musician Eric Wainaina as the keynote speaker for the 2018 edition.

About ACCES

ACCES is an annual music conference that hosts industry players from across the African continent and around the world. ACCES 2018 will be held in Nairobi from 15 to 17 November and will see music professionals converge on the Kenyan capital to exchange ideas, discover new talent and accelerate the shaping of the music sector on the continent. The conference will offer training workshops, panel discussions, presentations, networking sessions, exhibitions, showcases, concerts and visits to key music industry hubs in Nairobi.

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 about the conference, visit the official ACCES website.