The music industry in Africa is on the rise, and the Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) is at the forefront of this exciting movement. The conference, which will take place in Johannesburg from May 23rd to 24th, 2023, at Hallmark Hotel in Johannesburg, bringing together music industry professionals from across the continent and beyond.
The conference is excited to announce its esteemed Ambassador Program for 2023. This year the program will recognize and celebrate five women who are making a significant impact within their respective fields. The program highlights their influence and impact on various communities and movements.
The five ambassadors are:
• Megane Quashie (Megatronic)
Representing: Femme Fest (Dubai/London)
• Fundiswa Mbambani
Representing: Bridges for Music (Cape Town South Africa)
• Naimah Global
Representing: New Future Records indie label (Zambia/South Africa)
• Namakau Star
Representing: ARMC (South Africa)
• Phelisa Magoqoza
Representing: Viva Con Agua (South Africa)
The ARMC aims to showcase the diverse and dynamic music scene in Africa and provide a platform for music industry players to network, build bridges and collaborate. The conference will feature panel discussions, keynote speeches, workshops and live performances from some of the continent’s most exciting and innovative artists.
“This conference is all about celebrating the incredible talent and creativity that Africa has to offer,” said conference Communications Lead and Ambassador, Namakau Socika. “We want to bring together the music industry’s brightest minds to exchange ideas, build relationships and explore new opportunities in this fast-growing market.”
This year’s conference will feature a diverse mix of local and international delegates, with a focus on Zambia and Germany. It will offer a dynamic mix of workshops, activations, and performances centered around the hip hop, indie and electronic music industries, as well as the Afro-Euro connection.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the MTN Bushfire Festival, where we will take artists showcasing at ARMC and international delegates to Bushfire. Delegates will also be part of The Arts Round Table, and artists will get a chance to add an additional show to their trip to South Africa from abroad, said Socika.
This year, the key themes are developing independence, building bridges, and amplifying female voices. After last year’s success and support from the likes of Mixmag, Music in Africa, Trace TV Southern Africa, and Paradise Worldwide, we look forward to announcing this year’s partners soon, as well as the innovative program. This is a conference not to be missed. We are on a mission to build bridges and create real change in the music ecosystem. This year, the NAC supports ARMC to create 150 jobs for South African musicians and executives, enabling knowledge transfer and better preparation for international exchange.
Participating in an exchange such as ARMC shows how much value that each of these women selected as part of the ambassador programme bring to the table. We are most certainly excited to keep up with their journeys as they represent their communities.
Tickets are now available here: ARMC 2023 Tickets
