Mr Eazi takes talent support project to Zimbabwe

The project seeks to find and support up-and-coming artists across Africa, including acts from Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania.

The process of selection will take place mainly via Instagram, with Mr Eazi and other industry figures judging the entries. Each of the selected acts will be financed and supported to shoot a video costing $3 000. A chosen 10 will have a session with Diplo, Guilty Beatz, EKelly, Sarz and other music professionals in South Africa for a month starting February 2019.

“This project goes beyond the music videos,” Mr Eazi said at a press conference in Lusaka yesterday. “These artists will be exposed to the wider community of the music industry in Africa and abroad. They will not only get to work with top talents but also receive mentorship from business lawyers on how to protect their talent and music.

“I will be giving these artists the tools, in-depth industry knowledge, network, and funds necessary for them to not only achieve their full potential but to also sustain the independence they need to become music entrepreneurs.”

At the conference were Zambia Association of Musicians president Tivo Shikapwashya and National Arts Council of Zambia director Adrian Chipindi.

The former spoke about the appropriateness of the move by the Nigerian act. “Mr Eazi’s dedication to African musicians is commendable and we can only hope that corporate organisations and any other entities will emulate his dedication to grooming African talent,” Shikapwashya said before naming Mr Eazi a honorary member of the Zambia Association of Musicians.

Candidates are to submit their entries until the 15 December deadline. Interested persons can follow the campaign via Instagram using the hashtag #Empawa100 and #Empawa100Zambia.