Burundi: Next Marahaba Music Expo to take place in June

Marahaba Music Expo is an annual gathering of music industry professionals from around the world who gather in the Burundian capital for four days to network and exchange information.

Musicians, event organisers, festival bookers, producers and the media, among other industry players, are invited to take part in dialogues aimed at promoting progress and fostering cooperation through music. 

The expo seeks to be the convergence point for the private sector, governments, civil society and the general public to engage in transformative cultural interactions. 

It comprises workshops, discussions, expos and live performances, with more than 20 local and international artists showcasing on two days of the conference (see full artist line-up below).

Running under the theme, Promoting Entrepreneurial Culture and Fostering Job Creation Through Music, this year’s expo will focus on finding ways to spur the growth of the Burundian music industry.

About 50 emerging Burundian artists are set to benefit from training and capacity-building programmes at the Marahaba Centre, where they will be taught, among other things, how to approach music as a profession.

The event will also see artists and music professionals take part in panel discussions and networking sessions. Some of the topics that the panellists will explore are the Role of Cultural Expos in Connecting Artists from the Region to the World and How Burundian Artists Can Earn a Living through Their Music, Art and Creativity.

The event will also feature exhibitions by festival partners such as Burundi’s Youth, Sport and Culture Ministry, Mairie de Bujumbura, the French Institute, PASACC-BU, Visa For Music and the Music In Africa Foundation, among others.

Event schedule

• Opening ceremony and press conference – 21 June.
• Panels, speed ​​meetings and networking – 22 June.
• Live performances – 23 June.
• Live performances – 24 June.

Artist line-up

• Sat-B (Burundi)
• Vichou Love (Burundi)
• Lolilo (Burundi)
• Fredy Massamba (Congo-Brazzaville/Belgium)
• Sarah Bernard (DRC)
• Del Zid (Mayotte)
• Esther Nish (Burundi)
• Zoum Sondy (Cote D’Ivoire/Germany)
• Andy Mwag (Burundi)
• Afrika Mamas (South Africa)
• Ballet National (Burundi)
• DyaLi O (Kenya)
• Archimede (DRC)
• Nicole Obele (Cameroon)
• Veeby Afrosoul (Canada)
• Warumba Wanyakanga (Burundi)
• Tanganyika Jazz Band (Burundi)
• Yves Kami (Burundi)
• Chirba Dia (Senegal/Belgium)
• Jampara the Bata Lion (Netherlands)
• Club Ihunja (Burundi)
• Jasmin Taarab Band (Burundi)

For more information, contact Shabani Ramadhani at info@marahabafestival.com or call him on +257 68 47 5873.

Learn more about the event on the official website.