Empowering African Music and Culture on the Global Stage

From Africa to the world: Experience how we're uniting voices and bridging cultures through music.

Founded in April 2019, Arts Connect Africa (ACA) is a vibrant pan-African initiative dedicated to the enrichment and global promotion of African music and culture. With a robust network spanning over 30 cultural stakeholders across 15 countries, ACA embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation. Our mission is to harness the collective power of our community to overcome the challenges faced by the cultural arts industry, thereby creating a thriving ecosystem for African arts and culture.

Our Mission: A Global Stage for African Talent

At the heart of ACA is a commitment to foster knowledge exchange, enhance capacity building, and create significant opportunities for our members. We are passionately invested in elevating African culture and music, ensuring it resonates globally. Our work is about more than just connecting individuals; it’s about weaving a tapestry of African talent that shines on the world stage, showcasing the diversity, richness, and vibrancy of our cultural heritage.

ACA is driven by the belief that music and culture are powerful tools for bringing people together, transcending borders and differences. We aim to be the bridge that connects African music professionals to global opportunities, facilitating a sustainable and inclusive growth path for the continent’s music industry.

Our Vision: Uniting Through Music

We envision a world where African music and culture are integral to the global arts landscape, celebrated and appreciated by all. ACA’s initiatives are designed not just to spotlight African talent but to provide a platform where artists and cultural practitioners can thrive, innovate, and collaborate.

Our approach is holistic, encompassing the development of resources, networks, and platforms that cater to the evolving needs of the African music scene. From digital platforms that facilitate seamless networking and collaboration to events that showcase the continent’s musical diversity, ACA is at the forefront of creating a unified and vibrant African music industry.

Join the Heartbeat of African Music

Connect with artists and enthusiasts in our vibrant community.

Our Team

At Arts Connect Africa, our strength lies in our diversity. Our team is a vibrant mosaic of cultural stakeholders, each bringing deep expertise and a unique perspective from the global music landscape. United by a shared passion for African music and culture, we are dedicated to fostering connections, celebrating heritage, and nurturing talent across the continent and beyond. Together, we strive to elevate African music to the global stage, ensuring it resonates with audiences worldwide.

USA

Katherine McVicker

Founder and director of Music Works International, and co-founder of CCA. An experienced public speaker and booking agent, in her 30 year career specializing in jazz and world music, she has helped to develop the international careers of a wide range of artists, including Norah Jones, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman, Branford Marsalis, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. She has developed promoter networks in Europe and Scandinavia and is currently working on developing similar networks in South America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Nigeria

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.

Zimbabwe

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.

Zimbabwe

Plot Mhako

South Africa

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.

South 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.

South Africa

Atlas Duma

Art Director at Sagiya Foundation and Dim-Dep Director.

South Africa

Sphe Mbhele

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

Angola

James Titelman

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

Namibia

Gordon Jay

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

Senegal

Dudu Saar

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

Congo

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

South Africa / Colombia

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.

Sierra Leone

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).

Uganda

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.

South Africa

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.

Joining the Network

ACA is your partner in the journey toward global recognition and success. We understand the challenges and aspirations of African music professionals and are committed to providing the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive. Together, we can amplify the voice of African music, sharing its beauty and power with the world.

Whether you’re an artist seeking to make your mark, a promoter looking to connect with new talent, or a music enthusiast eager to explore the depths of African musical heritage, ACA is your gateway to a rich and rewarding experience. Join us as we celebrate and elevate African music and culture, creating a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

Our Partners

At Arts Connect Africa, we are privileged to collaborate with a diverse group of partners who share our passion for promoting and preserving African music and culture. Our partnerships span across event organizers, international music agencies, cultural foundations, and more, each bringing unique value and expertise to our collective mission.