More speakers join ACCES 2023 programme

Taking place at Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre and other venues in the Tanzanian city, the pan-African trade event will welcome international delegates from more than 40 countries. The event is designed to foster connections, talent discovery and knowledge sharing within the music industry.

The new batch of speakers includes artist manager Raphael Benza (South Africa), who boasts a track record spanning 15 years. He is the co-founder of talent management agency Vth Season, which represents the likes of Ami Faku, the late rapper AKA and many other award-winning African artists.

Joining Benza is Sony Music Publishing South Africa managing director Rowlin Naicker (South Africa), who serves on the boards of key music associations like the Southern African Music Rights Organisation, and Tanzanian filmmaker, photographer and curator Nicholas Calvin Mwakatobe, whose work explores the power of stories, representation and identity in shaping our perception of the world. 

Other speaker additions to the ACCES 2023 programme include African Women’s Orchestra co-founder Wandiri Karimi (Kenya), who is known for her legal expertise and dedication to promoting intellectual property law and policies for the creative arts in her country.

The rest are singeli star Mimah and Kenyan creative Emma Mbeke ‘Coco Em’ Nzioka, renowned for her contributions across film, music and multimedia. Nzioka is the artistic director for Norient Festival 2024 and is content manager at Santuri Electronic Music Academy, which involves her coordinating video content and mentoring students. As a DJ signed to Earth Agency, Nzioka has performed in 27 cities worldwide, and her role as a cinematographer is notable through her work on award-nominated films Lusala and No Simple Way Home.

Apart from industry discussions, ACCES 2023 will host workshops, exhibitions and a showcase programme featuring Feli Nandi (Zimbabwe), Alostmen (Ghana), Ngwaka Son Systéme (DRC), Madalitso Band (Malawi), Nour Harkati (Tunisia), Kasiva Mutua (Kenya), Damian Soul (Tanzania), Leo Mkanya (Tanzania), Siti Muharam (Tanzania) and Zolani Mahola & The Feminine Force (South Africa).

Register for ACCES 2023 here. African delegates register for free.

Previously announced ACCES 2023 speakers:

• Percy Yip Tong – founder, Cyper Produktion (Mauritius)
• Abbas Jazza – managing director, Sisso Records (Tanzania)
• Jusnah Gadi – founder, Young Music Boss (UK)
• Islam Elbeiti – artist (Sudan)
• Antoine Mensah – broadcaster (Ghana)
• Ebenezer Akachukwu – founder, SaveFi Tech (Nigeria)
• Damian Soul – artist (Tanzania)
• Theresho Selesho – founder, SHO-SHO Communications (South Africa)
• Siya Metane – CEO, SlikourOnLife (South Africa)
• Fungai ‘Kush’ Zvirawa – executive director, Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zimbabwe)
• Masudi Kandoro – founder, Singeli Festi (Tanzania)
• Brian Scally – CEO, Paragon Music Group (Ireland)
• Shiba Melissa Mazaza – music journalist (South Africa) 
• Marcus Gora – artist manager (Zimbabwe)
• Pete Buckenham – founder, Pete On The Corner (UK)
• Plot Mhako – founder, earGROUND (Zimbabwe)
• Maimouna Dembélé – chairperson, Music In Africa Foundation (Senegal) 
• Eddie Hatitye – executive director, Music In Africa Foundation (South Africa)

About ACCES

ACCES is a pan-African trade show 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 pan-African non-profit organisation, in partnership with Siemens Stiftung, Goethe-Institut, the Tanzanian Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports, the National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) and Alliance Française.

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