Eric Wainaina gets Music In Africa Honorary Award

The award, given out by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF), aims to recognise the outstanding contribution of notable musicians to their home country’s industry and that of Africa as a whole. The 2017 award went to Baaba Maal, the Senegalese legend whose country ACCES visited last year. Outgoing MIAF chairperson Aisha Deme accepted the award on Maal's behalf on Thursday night.

“We don’t do what we do for the awards but it’s great to be recognised," Wainaina said after the awards ceremony. "I’m honored to be counted worthy of the award. Kenya has a lot of talent and I encourage government agencies tasked with promoting art to give a clear guide on the criteria they use. We just came from Broadway where we staged the first Kenyan theatrical performance. Unfortunately, we didn’t receive much support from the government and I feel we missed a major opportunity to really brand Kenya.”

Well known for his politically charged songs, Wainaina has never shied away from using his music to bring those in power to account. His song 'Nchi Ya Kitu Kidogo' has become an anthem for anti-corruption over the years, while his first studio album Sawa Sawa remains one of the highest-selling solo albums in Kenya.

“One of the most significant reasons for tonight is the Music In Africa Honorary Award, in special recognition of an African artist's achievements to uplift their country through music and the African music sector, because before there is an industry there has to be music,” MIAF board member and SAMRO Foundation managing director Andre Le Roux said in his ACCES 2018 opening speech.

“The reason Baaba Maal received the award in 2017 was because we had our first ACCES conference in Dakar, Senegal. In 2018 it goes to none other than a Kenyan legend – Mr Eric Wainaina."

Wainaina also performed with his band on the night to rapturous applause at the Kenya National Theatre, where music industry players from around the world have gathered to network, exchange ideas and align themselves with the particularities of the African music industry. The Kenyan musician will additionally deliver the keynote address on Saturday at the same venue.

Speaking at the opening gala, the chief administrative secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Culture, Sports and Heritage, Noor Hussein Noor, took the opportunity to welcome the ACCES 2018 delegates to Kenya.

“The coming of ACCESS to Nairobi presents a great opportunity to the local industry to showcase its music and also offer a platform for exchange of ideas within and beyond the continent,” he said.

“Our ministry has been keen on supporting ACCES 2018, to ensure our artists and stakeholders are able to expand collaborations. It is our hope that we shall see positive multiplier effects in the region, the continent and the rest of the globe. We are keen to support all music initiatives and we believe that through the Permanent Presidential Music Commission, artists, business community and other stake holders will have a conducive environment."

About ACCES

ACCES is a pan-African 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 Siemens Stiftung, Goethe-Institut, Alliance Francaise, Kenya’s Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC), MagicalKenya and the Kenya Cultural Centre.

ACCES 2018 continues on Friday and Saturday. See the full programme here.