ACCES Conference sessions (2022 programme)
Conference sessions
Friday 25 November
Panel: Urban sounds of Tanzania: youth, culture and pan-Africanism
Major voices from one of East Africa’s most exciting urban music scenes will share their views on the sounds that are rattling Tanzania’s radios and dancefloors. They will talk about their personal experiences and the influences that led them to redefine Tanzania’s music scene. The discussion will also explore current trends, performance circuits and strategies for breaking through as an artist, and what it takes to make your music resonate across the continent and the diaspora.
Panel: Breaking boundaries: platforms for African sounds
Taking note of the exciting African music boom happening around the world, our panel of top change-makers will delve into the available digital and physical platforms that can provide valuable exposure to rising African music makers and create opportunities.
Keynote: In conversation with Maua Sama and Barnaba
As some of the most promising artists in Tanzania, Maua Sama and Barnaba will talk about their career, collaborations and strategies while sharing their views on the current East-African music scene.
Presentation: Rebuilding mobility for African artists
How do African music artists benefit from new digital formats and opportunities to export since the COVID-19 pandemic, and what are the realities, complexities and shifting trends in terms of access, geography and touring markets?
Interactive musical presentation: The ins and outs of Bongo Flava
Join DJ Joozey on an engaging musical journey into Bongo Flava – the prevalent sound of Tanzania today. From its humble beginnings to infusing South African Amapiano, Nigerian Afrobeats and American Trap, DJ Joozey takes you through the history of the genre, its signature sound and its noteworthy game changers.
Keynote
Octopizzo will be discussing what it means to be a veteran artist in East Africa, how the industry has changed over the years, the strategies he has adopted to meet those changes, and how technological advancements, namely the advent of streaming, has impacted and elevated his career.
Panel: Untapped revenue streams for music creators in Africa
The expansion of digital, while disrupting established music revenue streams, comes with unmatched industry intelligence tools and services to support music creators in expanding their earning capacities and becoming more self-sustainable. From live performance to brand partnerships, royalties, sync and publishing deals, music executives from across the continent will share insight into the trends, challenges and best practices for African music creators to monetise their work.
Saturday 26 November
Panel: Music business education: building up an organic African industry
This session will focus on the strategies, tools and knowledge that African music players, whether musicians or company executives, need in order to be competitive on the continent and beyond. Capacity-building initiatives, collaborations, networks and access to global services are some of the key areas that our panel of experts will explore during this important discussion.
Panel: Understanding artist management in the DIY era
Artist management has changed drastically due to rapid transformations in the music business. With the digitisation of music, communications and publishing, managers have had to take on more tasks and responsibilities to be effective in developing their artists' careers. In this panel, well-known artist managers on the continent will share their views on the intricacies and nuances of the profession and talk about the new business models and opportunities that exist for music players in the DIY era.
Keynote: In conversation with A'Salfo
Besides being a co-founder and the frontman of popular Ivorian Zouglou band Magic System, A'salfo is known for his social activism on many fronts. He chairs the Magic System Foundation, which is involved in a number of health, education and peace initiatives, and was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2012 for his contribution to the promotion of literacy and his engagement against discrimination and injustice. He is also the creator of Abidjan’s Anoumabo Urban Music Festival (FEMUA), which is designed to provide inclusivity and access for the general public to be exposed to the arts while advocating for strong social action. During this keynote address, the inspirational musician will talk about his international career, his social commitments and the role of education in the development of the continent's music industries.
Interactive musical presentation: Afrobeats and its discontents: the rise of African Altè
This 30-minute sonic history explores the sounds, history, aesthetics and social relevance of Altè: from its Lagos roots to becoming a label for genre-pushing music from all over the African continent.
Panel: Digital music rights and access to global royalty collection
Despite growing demand for African music worldwide, more efficient collection systems and a substantial increase in revenues, the work of African artists is still undervalued, with African publishers and songwriters still making less than 1% of global royalty collections. What are the key steps and collective efforts needed to improve African creators’ royalty earnings? What do African publishers and songwriters need to do to navigate this space? These are some of the questions our panellists will interrogate.
Keynote: In conversation with Diamond Platnumz
Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz will share his knowledge of the evolution of the music industry on the continent. Arguably East Africa’s most successful musician, he will talk about his latest projects, collaborations and the strategies he has employed as a leading entrepreneur in the music business.
Panel: Bridging the gap to global markets: digital routes for African music creators
Experts across the industry unpack the digital music economy in terms of strategies and best practices for African music creators to reach international audiences while thriving in an increasingly digitised global market. This discussion will also look at how Africa’s music industries can leverage on tech and innovation to bridge the gap towards more global opportunities.
