Login
Music In Africa
Artists (48,142) Organizations, Networks & Associations (4,634) Artist Service Providers (4,445) Music Education (3,171) Archives & Media (519) Events & Venues (227)
Solo artists
Composers, arrangers & songwriters
Producers
Bands /groups
DJs
Sound artists
Other
Session artists
Choirs, orchestras & ensembles
Spoken word
News Reviews Features Themes Gig Guide
Gambia: Suntou Susso announce UK tour for ‘The Path of a Griot’

Gambia: Suntou Susso announce UK tour for ‘The Path of a Griot’

Plea for support: Zim music studio damaged by hailstorm

Plea for support: Zim music studio damaged by hailstorm

Dlala Thukzin to make Ghana debut at Accra House Fest

Dlala Thukzin to make Ghana debut at Accra House Fest

Zimbabwean Afro-house artists unite for ‘Inner Visions’ compilation

Zimbabwean Afro-house artists unite for ‘Inner Visions’ compilation

CAPASSO backs global principles for fair generative AI music licensing

CAPASSO backs global principles for fair generative AI music licensing

SA: MUSA shares new album ‘UHAMBO’

SA: MUSA shares new album ‘UHAMBO’

SA: CAPASSO names 10 recipients of second CSI funding round

SA: CAPASSO names 10 recipients of second CSI funding round

Goethe-Institut Kenya brings Ghanaian and Kenyan artists together for MobiArts concert

Goethe-Institut Kenya brings Ghanaian and Kenyan artists together for MobiArts concert

SA: 2026 Music Exchange to focus on rights, AI and the entertainment economy

SA: 2026 Music Exchange to focus on rights, AI and the entertainment economy

Ghana: Mr Eazi teams up with MOLIY on new single ‘Comfort’

Ghana: Mr Eazi teams up with MOLIY on new single ‘Comfort’

NAAK and Vumaala to take SA electronic sounds to Amsterdam

NAAK and Vumaala to take SA electronic sounds to Amsterdam

South African music veteran Babsy Mlangeni dies aged 83

South African music veteran Babsy Mlangeni dies aged 83

NEFCISA
NEFCISA

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) is proud of its partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) as a Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP) for its Social Employment Fund (SEF). Through this collaboration, MIAF is running a national programme that is creating jobs, addressing skills gaps, and strengthening South Africa's creative industries — in line with the SEF's overarching goal to generate work for the common good and build community value through employment, social contribution, and inclusive economic participation. Operating under the banner NEFCISA (National Employment Facility for Creative Industries in South Africa), the initiative is recruiting and training participants, matching them with host organisations, and has already placed 1 500 workers across the country — surpassing its original target of 1 000. NEFCISA is delivered through a network of 20 host organisations spanning five provinces, who are actively hosting participants and contributing to work for the common good across South Africa's creative and cultural industries. Key Objectives: Support employment and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. Offer skills development and training programmes. Foster partnerships between public and private creative sectors. Promote South African creativity at both provincial and national levels Foster community development through social contribution.

ACCES
ACCES

ACCES Conference and Showcase Festival is Africa's leading music industry gathering, bringing together the people shaping the future of the continent's music business. Artists, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, policymakers and cultural leaders from across Africa and around the world come to ACCES to build partnerships, exchange ideas, discover talent and create new business opportunities. Since its launch in 2017, ACCES has become the continent's premier platform for professional exchange and music market development. Combining a high-level conference with a curated showcase festival, networking, exhibitions and industry programmes, ACCES offers a unique space where creativity meets business and where African music connects with the global industry.

Gender@Work
Gender@Work

Music In Africa Gender @ Work is a three-year training programme aimed at upskilling and increasing the participation of female professionals in the African music sector. Launched by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) in April 2019, the programme is connected to the MIAF’s ACCES music conference – a pan-African event held in a different African country every year. This connection enables the programme to reach new participants in a different African country every year. The programme marks the beginning of a more concerted effort by the Foundation to support the participation and inclusion of women in all facets of its programmes and the music sector in Africa as a whole. Over the three years, the programme will aim to address gender imbalances in the sector through training, lobbying, facilitating knowledge exchange and dialogues that foster the interest of women. The broader objectives of the programme are to: Provide industry training for women on critical music industry skills, focusing on: Stage management Electronic music production and recording Music business management Technical knowledge Provide an opportunity for both professional and aspiring women to benefit from the Music In Africa network and its broad range of activities in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Provide a solution-based platform in the form of a round table at ACCES with a view to identify challenges, discuss opportunities and lobby for the interests of female practitioners. Offer participants the opportunity to benefit from programmes offered by MIAF’s partners. Increase access to educational materials. Integrate participants in the broader ACCES programme to maximise experience and exposure to the industry. Record and present training materials on the www.musicinafrica.net, including but not limited to tutorials, templates and other best-practice materials. Communicate women-based themes that support the initiatives and messages of the programme. MAIN TRAINING ACTIVITIES Training in first country (Ghana): In the first year, participants will be trained on all aspects of stage management by a team of experienced stage managers from 10 to 17 November 2019. The programme will offer robust classroom training as well as practical, hands-on training in which participants will also be given the opportunity to manage various aspects of the ACCES performance programme. Training in second country: The second training iteration will take place at ACCES 2020 when the programme will diversify its course to include music production lessons and training on other music business topics. A round-table platform will also be introduced to coincide with the ACCES programme. Training in third country: The third training iteration will take place at ACCES 2021 in a different country, offering an advanced course. HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?  As a participant, facilitator or trainer: The programme enrolls up to 12 trainees every year. All opportunities are advertised publicly on this website, and will be added to this page. Please keep checking this page for new calls (below under UPDATES & CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES). As a partner Please contact Claire Metais at [email protected]. APPLY The call for applications for 2020 will be announced soon. The Music In Africa Gender @ Work programme is made possible with the support of the Prince Claus Fund, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut.

Sound Connects Fund
Sound Connects Fund

For cultural and creative practitioners and organisations operating in southern Africa, access to funding remains a major challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a massive impact on government policy, spending and the economy in general, and has seen spending on culture being moved further down the list of priorities. Further, the cultural and creative industries repeatedly cite four main areas where investment is needed for growth, which are increased visibility, mobility including access to new markets, finance and support structures.

Instrument Building And Repair Project
Instrument Building And Repair Project

Experience the Vibrations African Instruments Exhibition online in 3D

Music In Africa
Home / Magazine / News
News

Nigerian artists dominate Rest of Africa nominees at SAMAs 2025

Music In Africa Foundation By Music In Africa Foundation

12 Sep 2025 - 09:29

cc-img flag-img

The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) have announced the nominees for the Rest of Africa Award ahead of the 31st edition of the ceremony. The category recognises non-South African artists whose music has gained significant traction across the continent.

Nigerian artist Ayra Starr is among the nominees.

This year’s nominees are Ayra Starr (The Year I Turned 21), Bensoul (The Party & After Party), Wizkid (Morayo), Tems (Born in the Wild), and Fireboy DML (Adedamola).

The Rest of Africa Award was established to highlight music that transcends national borders and contributes to a shared African soundscape. Nigerian artists make up the majority of this year’s shortlist.

The 2024 award went to Zimbabwean artist Edgar Muzah for his album Son of a Tribe (Royalty Edition), which combined African rhythms with global influences.

“The win by Edgar was more than an award-it was validation that the Rest of Africa Award truly reflects the vibrancy and innovation of music from across the continent,” SAMAs spokesperson Unati Gwija said. “The interest in this category is growing, and the domination by Nigerian musicians this year might just be a humdinger of things to come.

“On behalf of RiSA and the SAMA office, we extend heartfelt thanks to the judges, whose tireless listening and deliberation honour the integrity of this process. Their work ensures that the Rest of Africa category is celebrated with the respect it deserves,”

Below are the 2025 Rest of Africa nominees:

  • Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
  • Bensoul (Kenya)
  • Wizkid (Nigeria)
  • Tems (Nigeria)
  • Fireboy DML (Nigeria)

Please log in to post a comment.

facebook twitter linkedin whatsapp email

Most popular

Open call: 2026 Gender@Work music industry training in Johannesburg

09 Oct 2026
Sam Deep.

Top amapiano songs of 2026

16 Feb 2026
Asake and Wizkid.

Top Naija songs of 2026

31 Mar 2026

Call for applications: ACCES 2026 Emerging Artist Spotlight Competition

01 Oct 2026
Burna Boy. Photo: Maja Moan

Top Afrobeats songs of 2026

19 Mar 2026
Rema emerged as the most decorated artist of the night, taking home three awards.

AFRIMA 2026: All the winners

12 Jan 2026

Disclaimer: Music In Africa provides a platform for musicians and contributors to embed music and videos solely for promotional purposes. If any track or video embedded on this platform violates any copyrights please inform us immediately and we will take it down. Please read our Terms of Use for more.

newsletter banner

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter

Follow us on social media

social icon social icon social icon social icon