Midem Africa announces packed programme of exclusive talks

09 June 2021 - Press release

INCLUDING MR EAZI, FOCALISTIC, TRESOR AND NOMCEBO ZIKODE 

YOUTH AND ENTERTAINMENT CHANNELS, MTV AFRICA, MTV BASE AND BET AFRICA OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER TO MIDEM AFRICA 

 

Three weeks ahead of its opening, Midem today unveils highlights  of its online Midem Africa programme, which will feature exclusive keynotes from the  region’s leading players, with contributions from Warner, and data intelligence insights  from MRC Data. Powerhouse artist, Mr Eazi, will also address the audience in a must-see  keynote, and Focalistic, the South African amapiano star. ViacomCBS Networks Africa  are announced as official media partners to Midem Africa with youth culture and  entertainment channels, MTV Base and BET Africa, who will be offering exclusive artist  content. 

Free and open to all, Midem Africa will take place on the Midem Digital platform, from 28  June to 01 July.  

Midem Africa, the first pan-African digital music event dedicated to the continent’s most  vibrant music markets, will run across four days, mapping the African music industries.  The itinerary includes a pan-African conference programme with unique keynotes and  presentations alongside an exclusive business accelerator programme for DIY artists and  execs. 

Alexandre Deniot, Midem Director, says, “Midem Africa, just like Midem, will be the  place where the world’s industry leaders share their vision on the future of the music  business. It’s an honour to reunite the most influential local music players and their  regional and international counterparts with some truly great artists.”

 

EXCLUSIVE KEYNOTES AND PANELS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND POWERHOUSE ARTISTS 

● A Talk with Mr Eazi: Globalising Afrobeats & Empowering the Next Generation 

● A Talk with Focalistic: The Global Rise of Amapiano 

● The Music Industry in Africa Today & Tomorrow: a Perspective From  Warner Music with: Temi Adeniji, MD, Warner Music South Africa & SVP,  Strategy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Warner Music Group (South Africa),  Moe Hamzeh, MD, North Africa & Middle East, Warner Music Group (Lebanon)  & Alfonso Perez-Soto, President, Emerging Markets, Warner Music Group 

(USA).  

Temi Adeniji, MD, Warner Music South Africa & SVP, Strategy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Warner Music Group, says, “This is a great opportunity to talk about what’s happening  in Africa beyond the hype and the headlines. Midem is such an amazing platform for these  types of more detailed discussion. Despite the global pandemic, we’ve seen the industry  grow at pace in Africa – more stars from the region breaking out globally, more deals to  expand the market across the continent, and more steps taken to develop a sustainable  ecosystem. But there are many more challenges to overcome and opportunities to seize  in the years ahead.” 

● Why is Africa a good market to enter for music tech startups? Panel with Juliet Emihuan, Director West Africa, Google (Nigeria), Catherine Lückhoff,  CEO, 20fifty (South Africa) 

EXCLUSIVE DATA ON THE AFRICAN MUSIC MARKET 

The programme will feature presentations sharing exclusive data on music consumption  in Africa, offering an understanding of the business opportunities across the continent and  its impact on the global music space.  

● Africa’s Role in a Global Music Marketplace by Helena Kosinski, VP Global,  MRC Data 

ARTISTS & CREATION AT THE HEART OF MIDEM AFRICA 

With artists and the creative process at the core of the music industry and integral to  Midem’s DNA, Midem Africa welcomes some of the region’s most exciting and influential  talent: 

- Power trio, A'salfo (Ivory Coast), Fally Ipupa (RDC) & Youssou N'Dour (Senegal)  - Nomcebo Zikode, iconic singer of the global smash hit, Jerusalema (South Africa) - Bongo Flava superstar, Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania)  

- Award-winning Afropop, dancehall and reggae artist, Stonebwoy (Ghana) 

- Grime artist, Afrikan Boy (UK/Nigeria)  

- Pop/R&B sensation Shekhinah (South Africa) 

- Afropop, Afrobeats & hip-hop artist & music exec Salatiel (Cameroon)- Tresor, Singer, Songwriter, Producer and Entrepreneur (South Africa), who  comments, “Excited to be joining Midem Africa to discuss our forever evolving music  industry on the continent. Proud to be part of this generation shaping a new marriage  for African music globally. It’s a really exciting time for African music and creative  sector as the world has finally turned its full attention to this incredible source of great  music.”  

VIACOMCBS NETWORKS AFRICA (VCNA) youth culture and entertainment  brands MTV Base and BET Africa will be the official Midem Africa media partner,  presenting exclusive content. “It’s through the power of industry collaborations and  partnerships that we are able to elevate and enable Africa’s music innovation, creativity  and talent,” said Monde Twala, SVP and GM at VCNA, “Through our youth and  entertainment channels we provide local and international platforms to showcase the best  of Africa’s artists and youth culture to the continent and the world.” 

Midem Africa thanks its attending & partnering companies including: Billboard - Boomplay - Downtown Music Publishing - Empire – emPawa - Freeme Digital - Fuga - Google - IFPI - Mavin Records - Merlin - Mdnudo - MRC Data - Music in  Africa - Nyege Nyege - Okay Africa – Patreon – PopArabia - PRS for Music - Pulse  - Sheer Publishing Africa – SoundCloud - Songtrust - Sony Music Publishing - Spotify – The Orchard - TikTok – Trace - Universal Music Africa - VCNA - Warner  Music Group - Women in Music – YouTube