Breaking barriers: How women are reshaping Africa’s music industry

From Sampa the Great and Oumou Sangaré to Tiwa Savage and Sho Madjozi, women are making inroads and rewriting the fundamentals of African music. These trailblazers, alongside influential female executives, are proving that gender should never be a barrier to success. Their presence is not just growing, it is reshaping the industry at its core.

Despite their undeniable contributions, women in Africa’s music industry continue to face significant challenges. Studies indicate that female artists earn significantly less than their male counterparts, with gender-based pay gaps prevalent across various music sectors.

In festival line-ups, women are often underrepresented, making up only a fraction of headlining acts. Furthermore, access to funding and music distribution networks remains a major hurdle. A 2022 UNESCO report on the global music industry highlighted that only 3% of music producers worldwide are women, reflecting the industry’s structural inequalities, including in Africa. 

Yet, in the face of these challenges, African women are leveraging digital platforms, community-driven initiatives, and advocacy groups to claim their rightful space. The rise of streaming services such as Boomplay, Audiomack, and Spotify has given female artists direct access to audiences, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. Social media platforms have also become powerful tools, enabling women to build their brands, engage with fans, and secure lucrative sponsorship deals. 

However, breaking barriers requires more than just talent, it demands systemic change. This is where organisations such as the Arts Connect Africa (ACA) are making a difference. As a hub for African music professionals, ACA is fostering a more inclusive industry by mentoring emerging female artists and equipping them with the skills needed to navigate the competitive landscape, advocating for equal representation in festivals, and record labels, and creating opportunities beyond performance to ensure that women have access to leadership roles in production, sound engineering, and music business management.

The future of African music must be built on equity. Women must have equal access to resources, decision-making positions, and global platforms that amplify their voices. The industry cannot afford to overlook the wealth of female talent driving Africa’s cultural evolution. Studies have shown that diverse industries are more innovative and financially successful, meaning that empowering women is not just a moral imperative, it is an economic advantage.

If the industry aims to excel beyond thriving, it will have to harness the irrepressible power of women's talent transforming Africa's story and eradicating prejudices which have prevented many African women from advancing to the global stage.

As the world watches, Africa has the opportunity to set a new global standard, one where women’s voices are not only heard but celebrated at the highest levels regularly. The time for change is now, and the music industry must rise to meet it.

Mantwa Chinoamadi is the CEO of Tmusicman, producer of Standard Bank Joy of Jazz and a member of Arts Connect Africa (ACA).