Music In Africa Foundation sets up Sound Connects Fund for the development of creative Industry in Southern Africa

To promote the creative industries in Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, Sound Connects Fund was established in Southern Africa. The fund’s objectives are to hasten regional development and boost practitioners’ capabilities.

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF), in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, carries out the SCF. It is funded by the ACP-EU Culture Programme, an initiative run by the Organization of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) and supported by the European Union (EU).

23 organizations in Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have received grants totaling over €2 million from the fund to date. The fund aims to assist initiatives and endeavors in the field of culture and the arts that:

• Help the Southern African region produce and distribute commodities of high quality quickly both inside and outside of its borders.
• Strengthen professional abilities.
• Encourage the quick movement and interchange of creators.
• improve entry into new markets.
• Cultivate visual literacy (especially among underrepresented groups).
• Encourage activism aimed at defending the rights of creators.
• Encourage the development of sustainable finance models.

A pan-African non-profit organization with headquarters in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and satellite offices in East, West, and Central Africa, the MIAF was founded in 1992. The MIAF’s goal is to support the African music industry by fostering knowledge sharing and giving music professionals opportunities and resources. The Foundation accomplishes this in two ways: online through the Music In Africa website, and offline through training initiatives, programs for artist mobility, workshops, performances, lobbying, conferences, and other associated projects.

The Federal Republic of Germany’s Goethe-Institut is a cultural organization with a global presence. The institute supports worldwide cultural collaboration while promoting German language proficiency overseas. By including details about Germany’s cultural, social, and political life, it presents a complete picture of the country.