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Uganda: Nyege Nyege returns to the Nile for 11th edition with Wakaliwood collaboration

Uganda: Nyege Nyege returns to the Nile for 11th edition with Wakaliwood collaboration

Burna Boy to headline halftime show at NFL’s first Paris game

Burna Boy to headline halftime show at NFL’s first Paris game

Suno faces another class-action lawsuit over alleged 2025 data breach

Suno faces another class-action lawsuit over alleged 2025 data breach

SA: Mawhoo to bring Secret Garden live experience to Durban in November

SA: Mawhoo to bring Secret Garden live experience to Durban in November

Pax Nicholas of Fela Kuti’s Africa 70 returns with ‘Mind Your Business’

Pax Nicholas of Fela Kuti’s Africa 70 returns with ‘Mind Your Business’

British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo dies aged 44

British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo dies aged 44

Long Story Short named Apple Music’s Up Next artist for South Africa

Long Story Short named Apple Music’s Up Next artist for South Africa

SA: SOL Distro marks first year with more than 1,000 artists, R1m in royalty payouts

SA: SOL Distro marks first year with more than 1,000 artists, R1m in royalty payouts

Spotify adds control to exclude kids’ music from personalised recommendations, Wrapped

Spotify adds control to exclude kids’ music from personalised recommendations, Wrapped

UMG sues DistroKid over alleged copyright infringement, deceptive practices

UMG sues DistroKid over alleged copyright infringement, deceptive practices

SA: Free the Jazz to showcase emerging talent on Heritage Day

SA: Free the Jazz to showcase emerging talent on Heritage Day

SA: Bontle Modiselle, Robot Boii and Baba Mthethwa to host Scorpion Kings Live

SA: Bontle Modiselle, Robot Boii and Baba Mthethwa to host Scorpion Kings Live

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
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Ami Faku: I'd love to work with Black Coffee

Home/Non classé/Ami Faku: I’d love to work with Black Coffee

Born Amanda Faku, the 27-year-old singer credits The Voice as a launch pad for her career. Faku emerged in the top 16 at the 2017 edition of the TV show and later landed an impressive deal with local entertainment agency The Vth Season.

Ami Faku debuted in 2017 with the ‘Ndikhethe Wena’ single. Her other single, ‘Into Ingawe’, which features Sun-EL Musician, was certified gold. In October, Apple Music featured the singer as part of the streaming platform’s New Artist Spotlight series. This was shortly after the release of Faku’s debut album Imali. In 2019, she topped Deezer’s list of the most streamed South African female artists.

Ami Faku has undoubtedly become a force to be reckoned with. In February, ahead of Valentine’s Day, Deezer curated her personalised playlist, which featured the singer’s favourites.

Music In Africa caught up with Ami Faku ahead of her performances at Untitled Basement in Johannesburg on 12 and 13 March.

MUSIC IN AFRICA: How does it feel to be one of the most talked about singers in South Africa?

AMI FAKU: It feels great and like a dream come true. It has always been my dream to be appreciated for the music I do, so I am very grateful and happy about that.

Who was Ami Faku 10 years ago?

I was Amanda, I was a student and I was recording music in the community I used to live in. I was travelling around Port Elizabeth, I had never recorded music professionally and it’s a recent thing that I decided to actually do as a profession.

When was your breakthrough?

I would say there was no specific breakthrough but I guess it all started when I auditioned for The Voice and I managed to get in there. I made contacts within the show because I never won. I was in top 16 but no one knew me when I got eliminated. The contacts I created at The Voice helped me to be introduced to Benza, the co-founder of The Vth Season. That’s how it started, so creating contacts at the show was a breakthrough for me.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKaCbh8dqC8 width:744 height:446 autoplay:0]

Most of your songs are about love. Why does love take centre stage in your music?

I feel like it explains the kind of person I am because I love love. My songs are not romantic but there is love involved when I write and I guess it’s something that reflects what I feel most of the time.

Which artists did you look up to when you were growing up?

I never really. The thing with me is that I am never obsessed with one person; I love all people that are equally talented. So I never had someone whom I was obsessed with. All I could think of was me listening to different genres so I could take inspirational elements. I remember listening to Chronixx, Caiphus Semenya, Brandy. I am even inspired by Drake.

How is your album Imali doing in terms of streaming and sales?

My album is doing great. It was No 3 recently on iTunes. Even on Deezer I just found out that I am the most streamed female artist in the country. The support is there and I am so grateful. I never thought it was possible and I am very happy about it.

You have collaborated with some of the top artists in the country. Who do you dream working with for your upcoming projects?

I would say Black Coffee is someone who I would love to work with locally. He has been consistent for many years and I feel like he has a lot to teach upcoming artists like me.

Would you collaborate with artists from any genre?

You definitely have to have a list. Even before my album, I had a list of people whom I wanted to work with. You can’t just work with anyone just because they can sing. You have to find people that make you better and complement your work.

What challenges did you face to be where you are today?

I would say getting people to give me advice and knowing when to not take advice. People come and tell you and pretend they know what’s good for you and all that. The challenge for me was knowing when to take advice from someone. Thinking of the right people to work with was challenging but thankfully I managed to find good people.

Should fans expect any collaborations at the Untitled Basement?

They should come and see for themselves. It will be a surprise, but it will be a very emotional moment for a lot of people who know the songs.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91mlVEMIz3U width:744 height:446 autoplay:0]
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