Sun-El Musician confirmed for ACCES 2026 in Joburg
Nigeria: Yemi Alade drops ‘IT’S YEMI ALADE’ album
Linda Sikhakhane announces South Africa, US tour for fifth album
Nigeria: Rema releases new single ‘Oh No’ ahead of new project
SA: Tumi Musiq prepares new single ‘Many Phases’
UMG, ElevenLabs announce AI music licensing partnership
Sean Paul to perform in Pretoria in December
SA: Khuzani receives Cultural Icon Award at Oxford leadership summit
SA: Digital Maskandi compilation brings established and emerging artists together
SA: Ndlovu Youth Choir earns five-star reviews at Edinburgh Fringe debut
Suno launches v6 AI music models with new editing and creation tools
Believe partners with Suno months after blocking AI-generated music
Zulu Queens’ Isithembu finds strength in heritage, sisterhood and reinvention
Mudanisi’s Soteria launch finds salvation in sound and community
Davido’s Oriadé finds purpose beneath the crown
Mr Bully Tour shows South African hip hop still has plenty to say
Tyla Brings A*Pop to Life in a Neon-Drenched Atlanta Launch Party
Fatoumata Diawara channels displacement, resilience on new album Massa
Music review: Amy Jones delivers a reflective EDM anthem on ‘Again’
Through The Fire review: The Incredibles redefine gqom
Fatoumata Diawara honours West African history on new single ‘Djanne’
Stogie T’s Anomy is a reminder of how serious rap can be
The Brother Moves On: A Fearless Fusion of Afrocentric sound, political reflection
Pro Heed’s ‘This Feeling’ becomes a Valentine’s season anthem
Beyond the stage: How DOADOA LIVE is championing Uganda’s female music leaders
Building the systems behind the music – Part 2
Building an industry around South Sudan’s music and the talent behind it – Part 1
Matt B explores ancestral identity and the journey home on ‘My Mother’s Song’
Financing Africa’s creative economy: From policy commitments to practical investment
Arashka brings global electronic fusion and Shakti film-concert to Cape Town
Somi on African influences, women in jazz and finding her voice
Bayimba Festival 2026 brings music, film, fashion and visual art to Lunkulu Island
First batch of artists to watch live at ACCES 2026
SAMAs 2026 celebrates South Africa’s musical legacy while looking to the future
Ndibale: 20 Cape Town creatives make music a tool for social change
From Makeba to Tyla: South African women continue to shape the country’s musical identity
ACCES 2025 MUSIC TRADE EVENT IN TSHWANE
GET YOUR TICKETS TO SAMTHING SOWETO & DIZU PLAATJIES CONCERT
ACCES 2024 MUSIC TRADE EVENT IN RWANDA
ACCES 2023 MUSIC CONFERENCE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN MUSICIANS
Apply now for the Sound Connects Fund
ACCES 2023 MUSIC CONFERENCE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN MUSIC PROFESSIONALS
Women in African music
Music education in Africa
Electronic music in Africa
Jazz in Africa
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 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.
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.
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.
Experience the Vibrations African Instruments Exhibition online in 3D
Sun-El Musician confirmed for ACCES 2026 in Joburg
Nigeria: Yemi Alade drops ‘IT’S YEMI ALADE’ album
Linda Sikhakhane announces South Africa, US tour for fifth album
Nigeria: Rema releases new single ‘Oh No’ ahead of new project
SA: Tumi Musiq prepares new single ‘Many Phases’
UMG, ElevenLabs announce AI music licensing partnership
Sean Paul to perform in Pretoria in December
SA: Khuzani receives Cultural Icon Award at Oxford leadership summit
SA: Digital Maskandi compilation brings established and emerging artists together
SA: Ndlovu Youth Choir earns five-star reviews at Edinburgh Fringe debut
Suno launches v6 AI music models with new editing and creation tools
Believe partners with Suno months after blocking AI-generated music
Zulu Queens’ Isithembu finds strength in heritage, sisterhood and reinvention
Mudanisi’s Soteria launch finds salvation in sound and community
Davido’s Oriadé finds purpose beneath the crown
Mr Bully Tour shows South African hip hop still has plenty to say
Tyla Brings A*Pop to Life in a Neon-Drenched Atlanta Launch Party
Fatoumata Diawara channels displacement, resilience on new album Massa
Music review: Amy Jones delivers a reflective EDM anthem on ‘Again’
Through The Fire review: The Incredibles redefine gqom
Fatoumata Diawara honours West African history on new single ‘Djanne’
Stogie T’s Anomy is a reminder of how serious rap can be
The Brother Moves On: A Fearless Fusion of Afrocentric sound, political reflection
Pro Heed’s ‘This Feeling’ becomes a Valentine’s season anthem
Beyond the stage: How DOADOA LIVE is championing Uganda’s female music leaders
Building the systems behind the music – Part 2
Building an industry around South Sudan’s music and the talent behind it – Part 1
Matt B explores ancestral identity and the journey home on ‘My Mother’s Song’
Financing Africa’s creative economy: From policy commitments to practical investment
Arashka brings global electronic fusion and Shakti film-concert to Cape Town
Somi on African influences, women in jazz and finding her voice
Bayimba Festival 2026 brings music, film, fashion and visual art to Lunkulu Island
First batch of artists to watch live at ACCES 2026
SAMAs 2026 celebrates South Africa’s musical legacy while looking to the future
Ndibale: 20 Cape Town creatives make music a tool for social change
From Makeba to Tyla: South African women continue to shape the country’s musical identity
ACCES 2025 MUSIC TRADE EVENT IN TSHWANE
GET YOUR TICKETS TO SAMTHING SOWETO & DIZU PLAATJIES CONCERT
ACCES 2024 MUSIC TRADE EVENT IN RWANDA
ACCES 2023 MUSIC CONFERENCE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN MUSICIANS
Apply now for the Sound Connects Fund
ACCES 2023 MUSIC CONFERENCE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN MUSIC PROFESSIONALS
Women in African music
Music education in Africa
Electronic music in Africa
Jazz in Africa
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 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.
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.
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.
Experience the Vibrations African Instruments Exhibition online in 3D