Call for applications: REMA 2020 showcases in Burkina Faso

8 Sep 2020 - 16:17

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Les Rencontres Musicales Africaines (REMA), or 'African Musical Meetings', invites African musicians to apply for an opportunity to showcase at the event in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 22 to 24 October 2020.

Ismaël Lô has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for REMA 2020.

The annual event brings together artists, music promoters, festival directors, media experts, producers, record label owners and representatives from distribution companies to exchange ideas about the African music industry.

This edition will run under the theme, Music, Digital and Local Economies – How to Develop Adaptive Tools. Award-winning Senegalese musician and actor Ismaël Lô will deliver the keynote address.

Musicians exploring the following styles of music can apply:

Traditional
Fusion
Soul
Afropop
Hip hop
Reggae
Electro
Jazz

Requirements

Interested musicians should submit the following:

Artist profile/biography.
Links to the latest audio and visual release.
Two hi-res promotional photos.
Stage plan and technical rider (if available).
Artists from outside the region are usually required to find travel sponsors.

REMA will provide the following:

Modest honorarium, towards performance fees.
Accommodation and meals.
All local transport related to the performance.

The application form is available in French here.

The application deadline if 15 September 2020.

Meanwhile, African startups in the field of music distribution or broadcasting operating in the cultural and creative digital space are encouraged to register for an opportunity to present their projects or participate in the REMA 2020 panels. Delegates from English-speaking countries are encouraged to register.

"By attracting industry figures at this level, we're establishing REMA as a place where music industry leaders go to talk about the future," REMA founder and musician Alif Naaba told Music In Africa. "With this edition we are looking at sharing opportunities available for artists and music professionals in the digital space, especially now that international travel is halted. There is very little cooperation between English and French-speaking counters. But initiatives such as REMA, DOADOA and ACCES provide networking opportunities, which are ideally meant to bring together professionals from different regions for the possibility of co-creation and co-production."

Note: There will be translation for delegates from English-speaking countries.

View the full programme here.