Call for applications: MBA Talent Project 2023

The initiative, rolled out in partnership with American music and entertainment company The Orchard, forms the practical aspect of the MBA for Africa training programme for aspiring industry executives. It allows students to gain hands-on experience using what they’ve learnt.

Eligibility:

To qualify, artists must be:

• A resident in an African country.
• Unsigned entirely from any record label, distribution or management deal.
• Between the ages of 17 and 30.

Interested creatives may apply here before 30 July.

The 2022 cohort of the MBA Talent Project, comprising musicians Zaki Amujei, Mightyyout, Jola Bello, Musta4a, Adam Srae, Ekemini Jane, Apartment VII, Taffy Ghazali, collaborated on the Fuel & Flames album, released in December and centred around the theme of empowerment.

Meanwhile, MBA for Africa last month launched its programme in Senegal after signing a strategic partnership with local independent label Vazy Music. Running under the leadership of programme director Elizabeth Sobowale, the move marks the first time the project is going to a Francophone nation. Previously, the MBA for Africa had been implemented in several Anglophone countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania. Initially provided solely in English, the MBA programme will now also be available in French and Swahili, aiming to accommodate a broader range of participants and aligning with this year’s theme of Bridging the Gap across the continent.

The upcoming edition of the programme is scheduled for July to March 2024. The curriculum will encompass modules including management, marketing, and A&R, providing students with comprehensive knowledge of diverse trends and technologies prevalent in the music industry, while emphasising the development of practical skills necessary for establishing enduring careers in music.