ACCES 2021 to bring global music industry to Johannesburg

ACCES is the leading pan-African music business event organised by the Music In Africa Foundation in a different African city every year. This year’s edition takes places at Constitution Hill and Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg from 25 to 27 November. 

Organised in partnership with Europe’s leading club festival, Reeperbahn Festival, ACCES will offer an exciting programme including keynotes, panel discussions, live performances, exhibitions, workshops, awards and networking sessions.

The conference programme features a dynamic roster of global musicians and industry experts including global superstar Master KG, Busiswa, Slikour, Msaki, Gigi Lamayne, Priddy Ugly, who are among more than 50 speakers and workshop facilitators confirmed for the music trade show. 

Other high-profile music industry players at ACCES 2021 are event producer and journalist Rashid Lombard (South Africa), Nø Førmat! founder and CEO Laurent Bizot (France), Black Major’s Sevi Spanoudi (South Africa), award-winning jazz musician Moreira Chonguica (Mozambique), Afro Nation Ghana producer Ruddy Kwakye (Ghana), Content Connect CEO Antos Stella (South Africa), Vth Season co-founder Ninel Musson, Dakar Music Expo founder Dudu Sarr (Senegal), TuneCore Germany head Colin Schrinner (Germany) and Ongala Festival director Aziza Ongala (Tanzania), among many others.

ACCES is free to all Africans. Online registration is mandatory on a first-come, first-served basis.

View the conference programme here.

Showcases

ACCES, in partnership with Reeperbahn Festival and Bassline Fest, will feature an eclectic line-up of showcasing artists from Africa and the diaspora. Confirmed artists are Sampa the Great (Zambia), Msaki (South Africa), Dendri Stambeli Movement (Tunisia), Thandiswa Mazwai (South Africa), Wamwiduka Band (Tanzania), Urban Village (South Africa), Yugen Blakrok (South Africa), Stogie T (South Africa), Tommy WÁ (Nigeria), Thobile Makhoyane (eSwatini), Diamond Thug (South Africa), Worlasi (Ghana), Buhlebendalo (South Africa), Laliboi (South Africa), Ikati Esengxoweni (South Africa), Moonga K (Zambia/South Africa) and Morena Leraba (Lesotho).

The full ACCES 2021 showcase programme can be viewed here.

Workshops

As with previous editions, ACCES will offer highly interactive workshops targeting musicians, producers, sound engineers and independent music marketers. The ACCES workshop programme reflects the conference’s vision to embolden music professionals with new knowledge and skills. This year, the conference will offer four carefully designed workshops led by producers 37mph and Muzi, Ditto Music’s Wendy Verwey Bekker, Akum Agency’s Jess White and hip hop artist Gigi Lamayne.

Interested participants can register for the free workshops here.

Honouring South African music legends

ACCES 2021 will kick off on 25 November with the Music In Africa Honorary Award ceremony where South African legends Vusi Mahlasela and Thandiswa Mazwai will be awarded for their outstanding contribution to their home country's music industry and that of Africa as a whole. They will join previous award recipients Baaba Maal (2017), Eric Wainaina (2018), Ebo Taylor (2019) and Bibie Brew (2019).

Exhibitions 

ACCES 2021 will host a curated exhibition area at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre where innovators and service providers in the music industry will get to present their products and ideas throughout the duration of the music conference. This year sees the continuation of the Exhibitor Hubs – an innovative, tech-oriented space where companies and organisations will present their new products and services.

ACCES will also programme a number of Pitch Sessions, which are ideal opportunities that startups can use to present their ideas to an audience of potential partners, collaborators, clients and funders. Pitchers get 10 minutes to present their concepts, answer questions and get feedback from the audience members, many of whom are industry leaders on the lookout for the next big idea.

View the full ACCES 2021 programme here.

About ACCES

ACCES is a pan-African trade event for music industry players to exchange ideas, discover new talent and create business linkages. ACCES is held in a different African city every year, attracting active music industry players from across the globe. ACCES is organised by the Music In Africa Foundation, a non-profit and pan-African organisation, in partnership with Reeperbahn Festival International, Siemens Stiftung, Goethe-Institut, Joburg Tourism, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Ditto Music, SACEM, Pro Helvetia, Tuerk Music, Kaya FM and Bassline.

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