Call for registration: Aspiring music professionals workshop in Ghana

Future Insiders forms part of the Music Community Pillar of YouTube’s Black Voices Fund and aims to create opportunities for learning and the exposure of young people globally. The initiative has partnered with community organisations in New York, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Houston, Atlanta, London, Lagos, Rio de Janeiro, and more recently, Accra.

The organisers say the event aligns with their vision to amplify the next generation of black voices, giving young professionals who are interested in a career within the music and technology fields an opportunity to learn from industry experts. The day-long, in-person event forms part of the activities designed around this year’s edition of Afrochella Festival. It will comprise two production masterclasses facilitated by Ghanaian producers Juls and Guiltybeatz.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers during a three-part panel series, which will offer the audience insight into a range of musical topics including Future Voices of Africa, which is a conversation with the next generation of leaders in the African music industry, A Queen Leads, which will focus on innovative women in the music industry, and The Diaspora Effect, a discussion on the diaspora’s influence on the growth of African music.

“We’re so proud to join #YouTubeBlack to bring musical education resources to Ghana. With the help of this programme, we can continue to inspire and influence the next generation of young African artists,” Afrochella CEO and co-founder Karim Abdullah said. “Afrochella has always been a platform that elevates up-and-coming creatives, and through this collaboration, we’ll be able to continue this impactful work in new and meaningful ways.”

YouTube’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, Addy Awofisayo, said: “We’re very excited to bring together the meaningful work of the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund with The Culture Management Group’s long-standing efforts to support the artistic aspirations of African creatives. Afrochella has long been a beacon of light for young talent in Africa and we are thrilled to partner with them to further strengthen our commitment to empowering the next wave of Black voices.”

About 54 international artists, songwriters and producers, including eight Africans, have been inducted into the 2022 #YouTubeBlack Voices Music Class of 2022. The African inductees include Nigeria’s CKay, Omah Lay, P.Priime and Telz, Uganda’s Azawi as well as Major League DJz, DJ Lag and Elaine from South Africa.

The 2021 Future Insiders programme will be held at the Afrochella Music Museum at BBnZ Live from 12pm GMT. Entry to this event is limited to 100 attendees Apply for the workshop here.