Boomplay to host Africa Day industry seminar

Africa Day, observed annually on 25 May, commemorates the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) and celebrates African unity and heritage.

Boomplay says the talk will serve as a precursor event to an in-house campaign highlighting African music across all its channels and assets.

Running under the theme Amplifying African Music, the seminar aims to profile the continent’s music landscape, review the challenges faced by the continent, and discuss opportunities and ideas to sustain and amplify local achievements.

It will be moderated by Boomplay East Africa director Martha Huro and will feature a panel industry experts, namely Lanre Masha (Nigeria), Ernest Agbewhe (Nigeria) and Dennis Njenga (Kenya).

Masha, who serves as West Africa director at The Orchard, is also co-founder of the sub-label MARS, focused on developing emerging African talent. His previous roles included stints at TRACE Urban and ART X Live!

Njenga, co-founder and managing partner of Kaka Empire, leads one of Kenya’s foremost artist management firms, home to artists like King Kaka, Femi One and Arrow Boy. Njenga provides advisory support and consulting services to various firms and has over 12 years of corporate experience in retail banking, sales and brand and talent management.

Agbewhe, meanwhile, is a seasoned digital content and media specialist with over six years of experience in digital distribution, music marketing and strategy. He leads distribution and release strategies for African distro firm Mad Solutions, handling artists such as Flavour, Shatta Wale, Simi and Mercy Chinwo.

According to a statement, Boomplay’s seminar and the broader campaign underscore Boomplay’s dedication to promoting African music and fostering opportunities for artists.

Last month, the platform launched Boomfest, its first live music festival asset for Africa, in Kenya. The festival is scheduled to be hosted in other countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania, reinforcing Boomplay’s commitment to the African music industry.

Earlier this month, rival digital streaming platform Apple Music announced Africa Month initiatives, including the Afrobeats Hits and Viral Afrobeats playlists and The Story of Afrobeats in 20 Songs editorial feature. Google and the African Union have also teamed up on the #DiscoverMyAfrica Shorts Challenge, which celebrates African culture and heritage throughout May.