Elevating African Music to the Global Stage

Katherine McVicker

Kayode Adebayo

Olukayode Adebayo is a seasoned Culture and Creative Industry Professional with over 12 years of diverse expertise in Creative & Culture Industry, Media, Events, Technology, and Consultancy. Convener of the African Music and Cultural Expo (Amfest Expo) for nearly 8 years, orchestrating bespoke culture professionals gatherings across the African Continent and beyond,fostering enterprise development, and facilitating invaluable networking opportunities for culture industry practitioners.

Founder/CEO of Ckrowd.com, A Music Business Education & Digital Profiling Platform for Music Industry Professionals. The platform facilitates trainings, verifications & endorsements for African Music Professionals, helping to enable international music industry earning opportunities & career growth for them.

Walter Wanyanya

Co-Founder
Music and technology entrepreneur based in Zimbabwe. Founder of multiple tech and music production firms, accomplished artist manager, and Director of the Jacaranda Music Festival.

Plot Mhako

Creative Social Entrepreneur, Arts Journalist, and Cultural Activist based in Germany.
Founder | Jibilika.org.zw  
Founder |  Skate Zimbabwe Project  
Co-Founder | Mafuwe International Festival of Dance
Co-Founder | Kuenda Productions  
Co-Founder | Zim Hip Hop Summit | Zimdancehall Summit
Founder | EARGROUND Radio
Writer | Zimbojam.com 
Contributor | NewsDay

Andrew Josh Georgiou

Experienced entrepreneur in the music and entertainment industry. His 30-year trail blazing career includes working for Sony Music (South Africa) as International Marketing Manager, opening a venue and production company, and managing Hugh Masekela. He now sits on the Board of Directors of the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation and Cultural Connections Africa.

Brad Holmes

Highly experienced, versatile and accomplished producer, promoter and venue owner. With the advent of democracy in South Africa, he played an integral role in developing and sustaining the domestic and African music industry primarily through the founding of the Bassline Jazz Club in 1994. More recently, in his role as Managing Director of Bassline Live, he has formed Bassline Artist Management whose current clients include Vusi Mahlasela and Nakhane.

Atlas Duma

Art Director at Sagiya Foundation and Dim-Dep Director.

Sphe Mbhele

Founder and project manager of The Music Imbizo, a fast growing international music business conference based in Durban, South Africa.

James Titelman

Founder Poola MBoombo Productions. Experienced Senior Sales Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the music industry.

Gordon Jay

Co-Owner at MindScape Events Management
Executive Producer of African Music & Arts Festival

Dudu Saar

Manager to Youssou Ndou with thorough knowledge of the music industry and worldwide festival circuit.

Sylvie Mavoungou Bayonne

Director of the Pointe-Noire CONGO French Institute. Previous experience as Artistic and Communications Director at Espaces Confluence and Soul Power Kongo

Salym Fayad

Cultural promoter, independent reporter and documentary photographer from Bogota, Colombia, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, since 2008. He has worked extensively in Sub-Saharan Africa covering issues related to music and popular culture, migration and human rights. Co-director of MUICA African Film Festival in Colombia and co-founder of Fundación Otro Sur, an independent organisation working on projects of cultural exchange between African and Latin American countries.

Ignacio Priego Jimeno

Ignacio Priego is a music development specialist with creative, economic and social focuses. In 2001 he founded Loop Circus, working internationally for over a decade as music promoter, event producer and DJ in forums such as Venice and Havana Biennales or SXSW. Creator of the touring programme Music Mobility Fund (Concerts SA, SAMRO), he has in-depth knowledge of the African live music sector, having supported 200 tours in over 20 different countries. He is the co-director of POST POST music agency and record label with BLK JKS drummer Tshepang Ramoba. He is Program Manager at NewMusicSA, Managing Director for the ISCM World New Music Days 2023 and Curator of Oluzayo Festival (Germany & South Africa).

Faisal Kiwewa

Faisal KIWEWA is the founder and Artistic Director of Bayimba Foundation. Together with a skilful team of he has worked hard to transform the arts scene
in Uganda from a rather static state to its current level of vibrancy. During the past years, under his guidance, Bayimba has trained, supported and created
numerous platforms to celebrate the arts in Uganda. As such, Bayimba has developed into a house hold name among artists and professionals, not only
within Uganda but also within the East African region and other corners around the world.

Dan Chiorboli

Currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa, percussionist and producer Dan Chiorboli was born in Ferrara, Italy and grew up in Durban, South Africa. Dan is a Musician and Producer, Event Conceptualiser and Festival Director with extensive experience in the Business Sector.