Music In Africa Live announces 2021 recipients

Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, MIAL was devised as a programme to support the African music industry with funding for digital projects that develop the critical skills of music industry practitioners. It also supports live performance projects that showcase export-ready musicians while providing them with earning opportunities. 

This year, a total of €314 000 is being disbursed through 35 grants awarded to organisations in 20 African countries, resulting in an increase in continental reach, number of grants being awarded and value of grant sizes. The programme is also introducing the new Music Advocacy grant category to support projects aimed at improving the lives of musicians and to afford unheard voices the opportunity to share their challenges with digital audiences.

“It is encouraging to see the support from Music In Africa Live expanding into countries that are yet to benefit from the Foundation – like Sudan, Benin and others,” MIAF director Eddie Hatitye said. “The variety of projects across these grants are as robust as the discussions that went into selecting them. We would like to congratulate all the grantees for being selected for this opportunity to create quality audio-visual content for global digital audiences.”

The successful recipients are:

Category A (Digital Performances)

• Acri (Kenya)
• Akacia Productions (Tunisia)
• Association Bénin Révélation Stars (Benin)
• Association Groupe Somane Taman Tradition Mali (Mali)
• Chocolate Milk & Cookies (South Africa)
• Festival Amani Asbl (DRC)
• Green Ferry Music Ltd (Rwanda)
• Jamuri Events (Kenya)
• Kabann Entertainment Ltd (Mauritius)
• Nzango Artist Residency (Mozambique)
• Post Post Entertainment (South Africa)
• Sunu Kaddu (Senegal)
• Vesta Orchestra Foundation (Nigeria)

Category B (Digital Performances)

• Afrika Diva Collectif (DRC)
• Bengatronics Sound & System (Kenya)
• Cherry Apple Ltd (Botswana)
• Fezah App Ltd (Uganda)
• Kivu Youth Entertainment (DRC)
• Loatad (Ghana)
• Roots International (Kenya)
• Sotact Entertainment (Nigeria)
• Stageworx School of Performing Arts (South Africa)

Capacity Building

• Andariya (Sudan)
• Association Africulturban (Senegal)
• Culture Funding Watch (Tunisia)
• Cultural Arts Centre at Tumaini University Makumira (Tanzania)
• East African Records (Uganda)
• Ntha Foundation (Malawi)
• Pegg Entertainment (Kenya) 
• The Kontentt Live Ltd (Nigeria)

Music Advocacy

• Accountability Lab Liberia (Liberia) 
• Amnesty International Kenya (Kenya)
• Solid Gold Podcasts (South Africa)
• Povo Afrika Trust (Zimbabwe)
• Root Afrika Music Ltd (Zambia)

The Music In Africa Live project is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut. Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and visit the MIAL website for more details on scheduled activities.