Music In Africa Foundation celebrates 10th birthday in Joburg

Founded in 2013, the MIAF has been a catalyst for development in the African cultural and creative industries (CCIs) by promoting information exchange and talent discovery.

Held at AMPD Studios in the heart of Johannesburg, the event brought together esteemed artists, industry leaders and music enthusiasts who were eager to commemorate the MIAF’s remarkable journey.

The event hosted inspiring speeches from MIAF executive director Eddie Hatitye, Siemens Stiftung senior project manager and MIAF board member Jens Cording and Goethe-Institut Sub-Saharan Africa director Dr Andreas Ströhl. A panel discussion with Hatitye, IKS Cultural Consulting boss Andre Le Roux, musician Spha Mdlalose, Matchbox Live CEO Theresho Selesho and AMPD Studio operations manager Nosisi Ngakane also discussed the state of the CCIs in Africa.

The true essence of the event lay in the electrifying live performances by Mdlalose and Sibusile Xaba’s 15-piece experimental ensemble IzangoMa. The two acts’ captivating melodies transported the audience on a soul-stirring journey through the diverse sounds of Africa. Mdlalose, with her powerful vocals and soulful tunes, showcased the essence of African jazz, while IzangoMa mesmerised the crowd with a fusion of traditional rhythms and contemporary sounds. The performances were a testament to the extraordinary talent that Africa has to offer and the MIAF’s role in supporting these artists towards global recognition.

“The event served as a reminder of the MIAF’s transformative work and commitment to music communities across the continent over the past decade,” Hatitye said after the event. “Apart from developing www.musicinafrica.net, the biggest information and exchange web portal on the continent, the MIAF has implemented a number of key ‘offline’ projects that have been instrumental in championing African music.”

Just in the past five years alone, the foundation has invested close to €10m towards making a positive difference in the sector through projects such as the ACCES music conference, which takes place for a second year in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this November, the Sound Connects Fund (SCF), a funding facility worth more than €4m dedicated to the creative economy in Southern Africa, the Gender@Work training programme for female music professionals, the Instrument Building and Repair programme aimed at professionalising indigenous instrument making, the Revenue Streams for African Musicians project, which was run as a pilot in South Africa in 2020 to improve the earning potential of music makers, the Music In Africa Live digital content production project, and the MusicXwords training and exchange initiative targeting musicians and spoken word artists.

Through these programmes, and many others, more than 7 000 music professionals have directly benefited from programmes conducted by the MIAF since its establishment 10 years ago. In the same period, the Foundation has offered jobs and learning opportunities to over 1 000 journalists and researchers across the continent, developing useful information that is shared with thousands of users free of charge.

“With performances that showcased the essence of African music, discussions on past achievements and a vision for the future, the Music In Africa Foundation’s 10th anniversary celebration was not just a moment of reflection on the achievements of the past decade but a resounding declaration that this is just the beginning. As African beats echoed through AMPD Studios, there was a reminder of the importance of supporting African music for a better tomorrow,” Hatitye said.