CAPASSO to present Focalistic at ACCES 2025 in Tshwane

Taking place in Tshwane, South Africa, from 30 October to 1 November, ACCES is Africa’s leading music trade event, bringing together industry professionals from across the continent and beyond. Focalistic’s participation, supported through this partnership, underscores the event’s commitment to celebrating Africa’s most innovative sounds while advancing conversations around rights management and growth in the local music industry.

Focalistic will take part in a keynote fireside chat at the ACCES Conference on 30 October at the Aula Theatre, University of Pretoria. The session, titled From Pitori to the World: A Conversation with Focalistic, will reflect on his journey from Pretoria to international stages. The discussion, moderated by Lerato Matsoso, General Manager: Operations at CAPASSO, will explore Focalistic’s growth as an artist, the evolution of the African music industry, and the challenges and opportunities of exporting African sound to global markets.

In addition to the keynote, Focalistic will headline the ACCES Showcase Festival on 1 November at 012 Central in Pretoria’s CBD.

Known offstage as Lethabo Sebetso, Focalistic is credited with helping to popularise amapiano beyond South Africa’s borders through collaborations with African and international artists. His work has positioned him among the continent’s most prominent voices in contemporary African music.

“Focalistic represents the energy and ambition of a new generation of African artists who are reshaping global music. At MIAF, we are proud to partner with CAPASSO to bring his story to ACCES 2025, where his experience will certainly inspire all of us,” said Eddie Hatitye, Executive Director of the Music In Africa Foundation.

CAPASSO CEO Jotam Matariro said: “CAPASSO is extremely excited and honoured to present Focalistic at ACCES 2025 which is back on home ground soil and what better creator to led our conversation than with the incredible music giant that Focalistic is. His ability to adapt globally yet still remain true to himself and his roots is one to marvel and that is what makes him stand out. His songwriting skills have placed him at the forefront of the world and we cannot wait to hear from Foca how he has been able to deliver fire lyrics through Sipitori lingo and dazzle the world.”

Other artists on the ACCES line-up include  Thakzin (South Africa), Naledi Aphiwe (South Africa), Frida Amani (Tanzania), Oumy (Senegal), Shandesh (South Africa), Tobi Peter (Nigeria), Charles Gene Suite (South Africa), Claudio Rabe (Réunion Island), Kekelingo (South Africa), Boukuru (Rwanda), Jabulile Majola (South Africa), Mwendamberi (Zimbabwe), Mpho Sebina (Botswana), Bokani Dyer (South Africa), Njoki Karu (Kenya) and FIMFIM (Ghana).

Registration for the conference is free, while tickets for the Showcase Festival are available via the official ACCES website.

About CAPASSO

The Composers, Authors and Publishers Association (CAPASSO) is a mechanical rights licensing agency responsible for collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of its members, who include music publishers, composers and authors. CAPASSO licenses the reproduction or reformatting of musical works. A mechanical right, which forms part of copyright, is generated whenever a work is reproduced or transferred into another format. Through a mandate from its members, CAPASSO is authorised to issue mechanical rights licences, collect the associated licence fees, and distribute these as royalties back to its members.

About ACCES

ACCES is a pan-African trade show for music industry players to exchange ideas, discover new talent, and create business linkages. Held in a different African city each year, ACCES attracts active music industry players from across the globe. ACCES 2025 is organised by the Music In Africa Foundation, a non-profit pan-African organisation, in partnership with the City of Tshwane, the South African National Conventions Bureau, and the SAMPRA Development Fund. See all our sponsors and partners here.