Bridging Gaps: Why African Nations Must Bolster Financial Support for Local Music Professionals
By Kayode Adebayo, Arts Connect Africa (ACA) Board Director and founder and Chief Executive of Ckrowd
Understanding Africa’s Music Landscape
The music scene across Africa is both diverse and dynamic, capturing a wide range of genres, from Afrobeats and Afro-jazz to reggae, hip-hop, and traditional folk music. This variety enriches the continent’s cultural landscape and has fueled its appeal globally. However, structural issues hamper the full realization of the industry’s potential. Limited local funding often forces musicians to rely on informal channels for support, while insufficient resources make it difficult for them to produce and distribute music at scale.
Even when their music reaches international markets, these artists face the additional challenge of inequitable revenue sha...