Member Profile: Dudu Sarr (Senegal)
Dudu Sarr, our member from Senegal, is a recognized expert in the music sector in Africa. A major voice in the Francophone Africa Jazz Scene, he holds a postgraduate degree in Information Management Systems from the University of Westminster during the 20 years he spent in London building his career as an artist manager and a booking agent. Dudu came back to Dakar, where he founded the Dakar Music Expo, an international music fair that draws artists and festival goers from across the world, and is also one of the most popular music festivals in Francophone Africa. Artist Manager, Talent Promoter, Culture Exchange Champion Dudu Sarr has been Grammy Award Winning Musician Youssou N’Dour’s international manager for the past 12 years, a position that has allowed him access to the who-in-whos of the global music industry. Dudu uses this access to advocate for African music and the development of new African talent in Francophone Africa in particular and Africa in general. Dudu is a fervent champion of culture exchange between Africa and other parts of the world. The Dakar Music Expo which he founded in 2020, has become a platform to shine the spotlight on talent across Francophone Africa, (which he believes is underrepresented in current mainstream music) and to have conversations on building the African music industry. This year’s edition of the event focused on the development of African Jazz, a genre that Dudu is particular in love with, and was attended by twenty five (25) representatives from the Jazz Festival Network in Europe Dudu also leads The African Music Export platform, a dynamic project in conjunction with by Delicious Tunes, a respected agency based in Germany led by Stephanie Schumann with over 12 years of experience in exporting African music worldwide. This platform aims to amplify the rich, diverse sounds of African music and ensure they reach new audiences globally. With Dudu’s extensive experience and network, combined with Delicious Tunes’ expertise in promoting African talent and managing cross-border music ventures, the African Music Export platform connect artists with global opportunities, building international collaborations and performances. Furthermore Dudu is also the founder and director of Motherland Music, an Events, Artist Management & Booking, and Music Production company based in London, United Kingdom, but with clients all around the world. Moving Forward Dudu Sarr believes that artistes in the Francophone Africa music industry need to be more visible in mainstream music conversations, and thus he continues to use his platforms, most especially the Dakar Music Expo, which he produces, to be a platform to promote genres of music from Francophone Africa. Furthermore he believes in the power of culture exchange to take African music global. For example, one of the music projects he is working on is focused on Turkey, a culture that he believes is as rich musically as Africa and which African musicians can collaborate with in terms of culture exchange. Follow Dudu Sarr on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
Member Profile: Ruddy Kwakye (Ghana)
Ruddy is a serial entrepreneur, media personality, writer, and event producer. He is widely travelled across Africa, and has produced events in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Liberia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and the UK. He honed his leadership skills by previously working as a brand representative for global entertainment giant Viacom’s MTV Base and then as innovations manager for Ghana’s leading media brand, Multimedia Group Limited, the parent company for Joy FM. He has also worked at Media Ghana as COO. He was able to spearhead the repositioning and transformation of its radio, TV and telecoms assets in the UK, Liberia and the USA. While there, he led the development and initial build of Ghana’s first triple-play service. Business Leader, Opinion Shaper, Pan-African Culture Promoter Ruddy currently serves as Chief Executive of The Rave Group, an investment business interest in marketing communications, cross-platform content, production, technology, and experiential and digital marketing services that he founded in 2016. The business is pan-African in outlook with a presence in Accra, Kigali, Johannesburg and London. In the 9 years since its founding, the business has built up a stellar client roster, including Vodafone, Ecobank, Paramount, DSTV, Diageo, AB InBev, Bloomberg and more. In 2021 the business pivoted to focus solely on building Africa’s next integrated live entertainment business that executes large ticket festivals, awards, tours, and concerts. He is also the Executive Producer for AfroNation Ghana Festival, a part of the global AfroNation network, the world’s No.1 urban beach music event targeted at the African urban diaspora. He was the director of the wildly successful 2019 edition of the AfroNation Ghana that brought over 20,000 attendees and 40 artists from all over Africa together over 4 days. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Muse Media Networks, a multi-platform, youth-focused digital publisher with vertical extensions on TV and radio. Having built a name for himself as a producer and creator of artistic and cultural events as well as an administrator and a founder, Ruddy realizes that the talent of its artistes and professionals is not enough to sustain the African cultural and creative industry, but that African cultural promoters must start to treat it as a business, working with corporate organizations to support its growth as well as government agencies to support its growth with finance and policies that favour its development. He himself has been working with government agencies in his country of birth to ensure the creation of policies that support music tourism. Moving Forward Ruddy believes that the only way the creative industry,, not just in Ghana but in Africa at large, can achieve economic impact on the lives of Africans is for it to become a marketable product that can attract individuals and organizations from other parts of the world. His current initiative, Afronation Ghana,, is focused on using music tourism todrive economic growth, cultural exchange, and industry development. It is for this reason that he is also an active member of Arts Connect Africa. He believes that our goals of education for creative industry professionals, cultural exchange, and economic impact are in line with his own goals of economic growth, cultural exchange,, and industry development. Beyond his desire to connect to the youth through experiential events, he continues to invest in youth-led networks in his native Ghana and elsewhere, with the belief that youth are the future of Africa, especially in music. At Arts Connect Africa, we are proud to associate with and to celebrate Ruddy Kwakye as an impact maker on the African continent for his work as a founder, promoter and investor in the African music industry in particular and the creative industry as a whole.
ACA Member Showcase: Jiggs Thorne (Eswatini)
Justin “Jiggs” Thorne is a respected festival director with a strong pedigree in creating, developing, and promoting African arts and culture. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Drama and Politics from the University of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa, and honed his experience as a cultural industry creative and professional by working at the Johannesburg Market theatre and visiting the iconic Johannesburg jazz club Kippie’s during his time in South Africa. Pan-African Cultural Promoter, Entrepreneur, Social Justice Advocate In 2000, Jiggs co-founded House On Fire with his brother Sholto Thorne in his native Eswatini, House on Fire is a creative and community and cultural hub for music performances and live cultural events. One of the events that he started in 2007 became the MTN Bushfire International Festival of the Arts, recognized by the BBC as a “Top African Festival” among its many accolades, and attracts an audience of over 22,000 visitors annually from around the world. The festival is a reflection of Jiggs’ artistic and social development vision and features three days of performances and activations built around a call to social action entitled #BringYourFire. With the MTN Bushfire festival, Jiggs has created an internationally known and respected festival of the arts, built on pillars of inclusivity, tolerance, sustainability and diversity. As the co-Director, He continues to shape it as a creative platform that inspires the growth and development of the arts, and addresses the need to empower marginalized communities in his native Eswatini and in Southern Africa in general. The festival’s #BRINGYOURFIRE call to action encourages a collective contribution towards positive social and environmental change, Bushfire has established sustainable initiatives that empower the youth, women, and LGBTQI communities. Bushfire also raises funds for some of the more critical social needs that face our country through its festival beneficiaries, Young Heroes and boMake Rural Projects. Jiggs is also founder and co-Director of the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival, as well as a founding member of IGODA, the Southern African Music Festival Circuit. a network of festival that also includes the Azgo Festival Maputo founded by our member Paulo Chibanga (Mozambique). Jiggs’ most recently developed project, CollaboNation, funded by the European Union supported Sound Connects Fund, an initiative by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) and Goethe-Institut, is a Pan-African music collaboration project that aims to connect and unite the region through a series of unique music collaborations, supporting the weaving together of Africa’s rich and diverse musical genres and building linkages between cultural industries and networks. The success of CollaboNation has sparked Bushfire Records, a dynamic new label producing the CollaboNation projects. Moving Forward Jiggs believes that a well-packaged creative product can inspire the African economy at large, and that authenticity is what will set Africans apart and gives Africa a competitive advantage in the global culture economy. Through his diverse creative work, and as a leading Festival Director, Jiggs has had a major impact on the artistic landscape of the Southern African region and beyond. With his three main projects Bushfire Festival, IGODA, and Collabonation, as well as some of his other projects, Jiggs continues to develop creative platforms of expression that provide meeting points of culture and that aid in collaborative processes that address the challenges facing Africans all, from local to global communities. At Arts Connect Africa, we recognize and celebrate Justin Jiggs Thorne as an impact maker on the African continent, because his efforts are in line with our own goals as a collective.
Impact Maker Showcase: Sarah Jane Nicholson (Republic of South Africa)
Sarah Jane Nicholson is a prominent figure in the South African music industry. Originally from the Netherlands, She now spends most of her time between South Africa and Berlin. Known for her creative energy, community-first mindset, and fearless ideas, she continues to build platforms that push boundaries and place African creativity at the center of the global conversation, she has successfully connected African music with global markets. With nearly two decades of experience in various sectors, She has evolved into an impactful presence in the African music industry in particular, and the global music industry as a whole. Artist Manager, Techie, and An Advocate for Women in the African Music Industry Nicholson is the Managing Director of Paradise Africa Distribution, an affiliate of the global company Paradise Worldwide – a tech power team with headquarters in Berlin and offices around the world that specializes in protection and independent rights collection – and is committed to developing African music on a worldwide scale, providing a new age model for independent artists and labels, breaking down the traditional management model in lieu of an evolved approach to the music business, authentically tailored to the artist’s needs. Sarah is one of the Founders of Africa Rising Music Conference, an annual female led Independent music conference that takes place in Johannesburg every May. Over the years, she’s supported groundbreaking artists from Zakes Bantwini to Moonchild Sanelly, and engineered cultural collaborations between South Africa, Berlin, Ibiza, New York and beyond. Being a bold advocate for neurodiversity and underrepresented voices in the music business, Sarah Jane is also the founding member of Women in Music South Africa, and also leads Mamas in Music Africa with initiatives that spotlight the role of women and mothers in reshaping the global music industry. With a growing catalogue of globally expansive releases and a rapidly expanding conference, SJ is not just watching the tide change – she’s the one helping to shift it. Her Goals Going Forward S.J. Nicholson wants to be at the forefront of pioneers building a future-facing model for music. Paradise is deeply engaged in AI rights protection, and the brand has been working alongside Allrights Aixchange and as part of the Get Paid Get Played campaign by the Association for Electronic Music. S.J believes AI will play a major role in the future of the African Music industry, but African creators in particular need to be protected, credited, and properly compensated. It’s a space where artists and rights-holders risk losing significant income if they don’t get involved now. Sarah Jane Nicholson also hopes to use her experience as a regular speaker and curator on the global circuit to lead forward-thinking conversations on talent development, cross-continental collaboration, and industry innovation that highlight Africa’s global potential. At Arts Connect Africa, we recognize S.J. Nicholson as an impact maker on the African continent, because her efforts are in line with our own goals as a collective.
Member Profile: Paulo Chibanga (Mozambique)
Paulo Chibanga is an Entrepreneur, Architect, Creative Arts Business Professional. He has a B.Tech in Architecture at Wits Teknikon. and is currently the Country manager and shareholder of Enserve Moçambique, an Industrial maintenance company focused on all solutions for the containment of liquids and gases in the Utilities, Petrochemicals, Food and beverage and Mining Sectors. He is also the Vice President of AIMO, the Mozambique Industrial association responsible for the advocacy and stakeholders engagement with the government. Architect, Entrepreneur, Mozambican Music and Culture Champion In the creative industry Paulo is also the general director of Khuzula, a Mozambican company that operates in the area of Culture and Tourism. As part of its promotion of Mozambican Culture. The brand focuses on events, communication, digital distribution, Business incubation, mentorship, book publishing. The company is also the brain behind the yearly Azgo Festival, one of the the biggest international arts festivals in Mozambique, which it started in 2011, and is celebrating its 12th edition this year. Paulo also leads the XHub Creative Business Incubator, an incubator that supports the development and incubation of Cultural and Creative Businesses in Mozambique. X-Hub also has the distinction of being the first Incubator in Portuguese-speaking Africa in Maputo. Under Paulo’s leadership XHUB has become the leading promoter and supporter cultural artistic and business skills of art makers from Mozambique. The initiative has also been able to partner with international organizations and agencies such as the Goethe Institute, The European Union, Siemens and other global multinationals. Paulo is also the major driving force behind Moçambique Digital– MODIGI, the leading independent distributor that aims to create income for artists through their works, build fan communities for musicians and other creatives and record labels around the world. Paulo Chibanga is one of our active members from Lusophone Africa and has been active in promoting our initiatives in our three key areas, education, cultural exchange projects , and economic impact in the Lusophone region of the continent. He is an active participant in ACA events and collaborates with other members of the ACA. In 2024, his company, Khuzula, was part of the Brushfire Festival in Eswatini, while Justin “Jiggs” Thorne, another of our members from Eswatini will be a guest at the Azgo Festival in Maputo this year. His Goals Going Forward At a time when the United Nations and the African Union put the importance of culture and the development of the music sector at the heart of their concerns, Paulo Chibanga firmly believes that students and future professionals, with their enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to learn are the key to the future of Africa, and thus it is the responsibility of governments and the private sector to support their dream and help them to build Africa’s future. He continues to work from his native Mozambique to contribute to the synergy between Lusophone Africa’s stakeholders—artists, the public, producers, institutions, and its business and technology sector. His belief is that the Lusophone African music and culture ecosystem, an often underrepresented region in the discourse on the African creative industry, will be able to find a virtuous and sustainable economic model in order to promote music from Africa.
Member Showcase: Salym Fayad (South Africa)
Salym Fayad is an 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, armed conflict, migration and human rights. His work has appeared in media outlets such as The New York Times, Boston Review, European Pressphoto Agency, Agence France-Presse, VICE, Mail & Guardian, The Guardian, Sunday Times, Libération, El Tiempo, Arcadia, Gatopardo, El Malpensante, Revista Semana, among others. His photographs have been exhibited in New York, Washington, Helsinki, Berlin, Perpignan, Bogota, Johannesburg and Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. He currently works on a collaborative multimedia project documenting life stories and cultural practices among the Somali community in Mayfair, Johannesburg, and the diaspora. He has also worked in the management of cultural exchange projects between Colombia and South Africa, including the participation of South African group Blk Jks in Rock al Parque festival, and the tours in Southern Africa of Colombian bands Sidestepper, Bomba Estereo and La 33 Orchestra; as well as the participation of independent label Llorona Records at Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition in Johannesburg. Member of the networks of music promoters CCA Cultural Connections Africa and CCLA Cultural Connections Latin America. He is a co-founder of Otro Sur Foundation, an independent organisation promoting cultural exchange between Africa and Latin America, with which he organised the first Colombian film showcase in South Africa and co-directs the MUICA African film festival in Colombia. He is the co-founder of Wallay African film festival in Barcelona Salym Fayad by virtue of his work as a cultural promoter, which has allowed him to be rooted in two continents, leads the ACA’s efforts around sustainable cultural exchanges. in his role as the head of our cultural exchange committee, Salym identifies organizations and institutions that are interested in cultural exchange projects within and outside the continent. His work supports the ACA vision to be a key player in terms of cultural exchanges on the African continent
Profile Showcase: Brahim El-Mazned (Morocco), Festival Coordinator Visa For Music
Brahim El Mazned (born December 31, 1967, in Essaouira, Morocco) is a Moroccan cultural manager and director of World Music Festivals. He has participated in the development of popular musical festivals around the world, with a focus on Moroccan and African culture. He is the founding director of the cultural management organization Anya, which promotes Moroccan and African cultural activities. Promoting Amazigh culture, El Mazned has served as the artistic director of the Timitar Festival of World Music in Agadir,Morocco. Furthermore, he is the founding director of Visa for Music, the first festival and professional market for music in Africa and the Middle East. From Local Cultural Promoter To Global Music and Culture Champion Brahim is a firm believer in African culture, music, and its intangible heritage. As a producer of musical recordings, El Mazned works for the preservation and presentation of Morocco’s culture. An Amazigh by ethnicity, he has a deep love for his local musical tradition, especially that of the Aïta and the Rrways musicians. For this, he founded the Atlas Azawan association and produced musical albums through his Anya cultural management company. In 2004, he also launched the Agadir Timitar festival, designed to showcase Morrocan culture to the world. The Timitar festival is entering its twentieth year and draws over 300,000 people to the city every year. His work in Morocco has made him a global figure. From there, he has worked for different governments and organizations all over the world. He has had artist residencies in France, Spain, Lebanon, Brazil, and so on. El Mazned was featured as one of the hundred best leaders in sustainable cultural development in the guide for cultural diversity, “Les Aventuriers de la Culture.” He also figured on the list of the hundred people who move and promote Morocco, a yearly list published by the Moroccan weekly magazine TelQuel. In addition, Brahim El Mazned was named in the book Those who inspire—Morocco as an inspiring personality in the Moroccan cultural sector. From 2019 to 2022, he was a member of the EU/UNESCO Expertise Bank, the body in charge of promoting the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression. He is also currently a member of cultural institutions like AFRIMA, Arts Connect Africa (ACA), and the Global Music Market Network (GloMMNet). Even with his continental and global commitments. He still continues to engage in the promotion of Moroccan culture, He founded MoMex, The Moroccan Music Export office, in 2016. A Builder of Bridges and Networks Brahim frequently uses his events and platforms to not just promote African music and culture; he also uses them to connect African music industry professionals. The Visa for Music festival, which he created in 2014 in Rabat, has its mission as “to participate in the development of the music market in Africa, to discover new talents, and to promote the creation of partnerships.” Under his direction, the festival has developed two distinct paths: the festival and the market for music professionals. In the decade that the Visa for Music Festival has existed, it has featured 8400 professionals from 85 countries, 2052 artists representing 35 countries, 400 exhibitors, and 332 showcases,41 conferences, meetings, and round tables; 29 workshops and trainings; and 3060 speed meetings. This year, the music professionals’ market will feature the ACA annual congress, where professionals from all over Africa will gather, as well as members of the European Jazz Network (EJN) and Cultural Connections Latin America (CCLA). The major item on the agenda will be how the three networks can build a bridge between Africa, Europe, and South America. His Goals Going Forward At a time when the United Nations and the African Union put the importance of culture and the development of the music sector at the heart of their concerns, Brahim continues to work from his native Morocco to contribute to the synergy between Africa’s stakeholders—artists, the public, producers, institutions, and its business sector. His belief is that the African music and culture ecosystem, in which an initiative like Visa for Music is already a player, will be able to find a virtuous and sustainable economic model in order to promote music from Africa.
ACA Member Profile: Themba Ephraim Dlamini
Themba Ephraim Dlamini is a creative designer, artist manager, and songwriter. He is an Arts Connect Africa member from the Republic of South Africa. Achievements Themba is the founder of Ephraim & Rose Co. Design Group, a creative design agency specializing in corporate identity design, concept development, and 3D architectural rendering. His design work reflects a commitment to innovation and excellence, further enhancing his reputation as a leading figure in the creative sector. Themba has played significant roles in high-profile events such as Macfest International and the Luanda International Jazz Festival in Angola. His commitment to promoting cultural expression is further exemplified through the Women in Song Tour, where he championed female artists and showcased their immense talent. Throughout his career, Themba has collaborated with a host of influential artists, including Pop Idol winner Musa Sukwene, singer-songwriter Musa Mashiane, and music producer Vuyo Manyike, helping to shape their careers and elevate their presence in the industry. Current Projects Ephraim & Rose Co. Design Group continues to grow as it provides creative direction for artists and organizations in the South African music industry and beyond. However, Themba is looking at a return to active artist management and songwriting. Over the past few years, his focus has shifted somewhat towards designing, but I feel the time has come for me to immerse myself in the music industry once again. Furthermore, Themba is working on bringing bring back the Africa Sky Music Series, a two-day annual international jazz festival in South Africa that was originally set to launch in 2020 but which was put on hold due to the Pandemic Africa Sky Music Series is a celebration of music for local jazz and African music lovers in the city of Emalahleni. The festival, which is now projected to occur sometime in 2025, will focus on the cultural and musical heritage in South Africa and Africa at large. What’s Next As a member of Arts Connect Africa, an initiative aimed at uniting music industry professionals and cultural enthusiasts from around the globe to celebrate Africa’s rich musical heritage. Themba Ephraim Dlamini hopes to make a significant impact in the realms of music and design, inspiring the next generation of artists and creatives in South Africa and across Africa. He also hopes to connect with other achievers across the continent to be part of a music industry that will make an impact on the African continent.
ACA Member Showcase: Atlas Duma (South Africa)
Who is Atlas Duma? Atlas Duma is a South African playwright, a music producer, drummer, author, and a member of Arts Connect Africa. As a music business professional, he is the founder and director of the Sagiya Foundation, which comprises various art distribution businesses, such as Sagiya Records, Sagiya Book Publishers and Arts Administrators, and Sagiya Theatre Productions. One of his imperative and prominent Theatre productions is the Dim-Dep Musical (Faces of Environmental Success) theatre production. Duma is the founder and producer of the following festivals: KZN International Jazz Festival, that was first celebrated in 2023; MCCD (Musical Collaboration in Cultural Diversity); Sagiya Celebrates KZN Jazz Legends; and other mini festivals. Mr. Duma, through the Sagiya Foundation, also manages, among other initiatives, the following bands, artistes, and events: Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble, Mthobisi Mthalane, Royalson, Vincent Mtetwa, and Bongani Nkwanyana; Dim-Dep Musical (theatre production); Preparation for University (book); Bishop SK Mngomezulu & Lighthouse Bible Church (book); and Kukude Lapho Sivela Khona (book). Current Projects Sagiya Foundation has spent most of the year repositioning the brand for more success. As part of that repositioning, it has decided that its only major project this year will be promoting a new talent from Lindelani township in South Africa. Mbali Nzama. Ms. Nzama will launch her new album “Qala Kabusha,” which was recorded at the Playhouse Company Music Studios, in various segments of singles between October and December 2024. Atlas Duma himself participates in the project as a music producer. “Qala Kabusha’s” release will also include an official album launch that will be held on the 18th of November 2024 at Lighthouse Bible Church at KwaMashu. The launch will be presented along with a spiritual worship night, which will be a celebration of the LBC Lighthouse Bible Church’s achievements with a theme of “Ebenezer.”. Mbali Nzama’s performance will be accompanied by the LBC Worship Team and a keynote speaker, Dr. Bishop SK Mngomezulu. Apart from the album launch, Atlas Duma is also getting ready to produce the 2nd edition of the KZN International Jazz Festival, which will come up between early and mid-2025. What’s Next for Atlas Duma? Atlas Duma continues to be active in South Africa’s culture and creative industry. Through the Sagiya Foundation, he continues to find and mentor new talented creatives and professionals in the creative industry. He also continues to create cultural materials and events that make economic and cultural impact in the country. He is also a very committed member of Arts Connect Africa and contributes to its vision of creating a network of professionals that will help deliver economic and social impact on Africa through its creative industries.
ACA Member SHOWCASE: Faisal Kiwewa
Faisal KIWEWA is a culture promoter, community organizer, creative industry business professional, and a member of Arts Connect Africa based in Uganda, East Africa. Achievements He is the founder and artistic director of Bayimba Cultural Foundation, a foundation that trains and supports artists and professionals in the culture and creative industry in Uganda. One of the foundation’s most popular initiatives is Bayimba Arts Academy, which runs a comprehensive arts education program for music artists and professionals in Uganda and across East Africa. He is also the founder and director of the East African Performing Arts Market (DOADOA), the meeting place for the East African arts community. Faisal has organized a range of festivals and events, ranging from the internationally acclaimed Bayimba International Festival of the Arts—this year in its 13th edition—and various festivals across Uganda (between 2010 and 2015). Other notable events that Faisal is involved in are the Kampala International Theatre Festival (which he started in 2014) as well as reviving and reinvigorating the Amakula International Film Festival (since 2016). He is a frequently asked programmer/curator, committee member, or jury member for various festivals and events across the continent, as well as a regularly invited speaker and trainer at events all over the world. Current Projects In the over two decades that Faisal has spent in the Ugandan creative industry, a core need he has identified, to help the industry grow, is a space where creatives can get away from the hustle and bustle and be inspired to create. Thus he is building the first of its kind Bayimba Centre for Visual and Performing Arts on Lunkulu Island, a leafy semi-attached island located in the midst of a lush environment at the shores of Lake Victoria in Mukono and Buikwe districts, well away but easily reached from the capital and other urban centers. Lunkulu will serve as an ecologically sensitive creative space to accommodate Bayimba’s growing annual festivals and events, arts education for all, and advocacy activities that will contribute to the long-term sustainability of Uganda’s creative sector. It will also serve artists, peer organizations, and local communities by combining all mediums of art for visitors to get a comprehensive artistic experience. The first phase of the center has already started. What’s Next Faisal Kiwewa continues to be an organizer in the Ugandan and East African creative industries, providing material resources and building human resources by building platforms for both creatives and professionals to thrive. He also continues to play a major role in the ACA network, driving the agenda of building a network of music industry professionals that will continue to deliver value across the continent and on the global stage.