ACCES Conference sessions (2025 programme)

As global appetite for African music grows, how can artists and industry players access international markets on their own terms? This panel unpacks evolving export models, strategic partnerships, and network-based approaches that centre African agency in global circulation. From market access to mobility and festival circuits, global experts share actionable insights for building sustainable, future-focused pathways to the world stage.

In this exclusive live interview, global Amapiano trailblazer Focalistic shares insights into his creative journey, from his roots in Pretoria to stages across the world. The session will explore his rise as a cultural force, the evolution of the African music industry, and the opportunities and challenges of exporting African sound to global markets. A dynamic exchange with one of the continent’s most influential artists shaping the new wave.

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) is proud to announce 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 launching a new national programme designed to create jobs, address skills gaps, and strengthen 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 will recruit and train participants, match them with host organisations, and place a minimum of 1 000 workers across the country.

The session will share important information on how stakeholders, both employers and job seekers, can benefit and take part in this initiative.

Africa’s music industry holds immense potential to drive inclusive job creation—especially for youth and women—but unlocking this potential requires targeted investment, informed by robust data and adaptive cultural policies. Bringing together leading voices from development finance, cultural policy, and music enterprise, this panel explores how data-driven insights can guide impactful investments, shape responsive policy, and accelerate industry development and employment across the continent. 

Bridges for Music has taken African talent from township stages to the global spotlight, premiering a dedicated stage at EDC Las Vegas with artists like Uncle Waffles, Sarz, and DJ Lag. The initiative not only won international media attention but also channelled support back into education programs across Africa. Now, as the stage tours the continent, Bridges for Music is partnering with promoters and brands to spark social change and launch new opportunities. Join this inspiring 30-minute session to explore how music can bridge worlds, empower communities, and attract new investment.

Africa’s live music sector holds massive untapped potential—but growth hinges on coordinated ecosystems, infrastructure, and viable touring circuits. This session brings together artists, promoters, and industry strategists to explore how to professionalise the live scene, unlock new markets, and support artist mobility. From festival models to government policies and creative entrepreneurship, the panel will examine what it takes to build a sustainable live music economy on the continent.

South Africa’s house scene keeps moving, and 3 Step is its latest wave. In this live “show & tell” session, pioneer DJ Thakzin breaks down the genre’s foundations, demonstrates how he builds its distinctive rhythms, and shares the creative vision driving the movement. Guided by music expert Shiba Mazaza, the session offers an insider’s look at how 3 Step is shaping the future of global dance music.