SAMPRA joins Muziki Africa to champion performer rights at Fame Week 2025

Scheduled to take place from 1 to 6 September 2025 in Cape Town, Muziki Africa will feature SAMPRA as a key partner across its line-up of conversations, workshops and showcases focused on strengthening the creative sector.

The partnership comes at a time when African music is making major inroads on global charts. However, behind the streams and headlines, many musicians on the continent continue to grapple with persistent challenges around fair compensation, licensing and creative autonomy.

This collaboration puts performer rights at the heart of industry discussions, aiming to raise awareness about intellectual property, royalties and the long-term economic value of creative work.

“We are thrilled to partner with Fame Week Africa to celebrate, elevate and advocate for the incredible talent that defines the African music industry,” SAMPRA Development Fund head Tiyani Maluleke, said.

“This collaboration aligns perfectly with SAMPRA’s mission to protect and promote the rights of our members while creating opportunities for growth, networking, and recognition on a global stage. Together, we’re amplifying the voice of African music and shaping the future of creative excellence on the continent.”

SAMPRA’s involvement will include leading several sessions designed to equip performers with practical knowledge, from demystifying royalty structures and the basics of licensing to navigating performance rights in the streaming era.

These sessions underscore the importance of rights management not just as a legal necessity, but as a crucial foundation for economic empowerment and ownership in an increasingly digital music marketplace.

Fame Week Africa portfolio director Martin Hiller said: “SAMPRA is a leader and guardian of performer rights. They bring deep industry expertise and a commitment to fairness that aligns closely with what we’re building at Muziki Africa, a collective space that empowers African musicians to shape their careers, their income and their creative futures.”

Fame Week Africa’s Muziki Africa programme is expected to draw musicians, rights holders, industry professionals and policymakers from across the continent, fostering new collaborations and reimagining Africa’s role in the global music landscape.