ACCES announces 2025 jury

The announcement follows an open call inviting musicians from across the continent and diaspora to apply to perform at one of Africa’s leading music trade events. The showcase artists will be selected by a six-member jury of respected industry experts, including media executive Eva Ndumbe (Cameroon), recording artist and Bana Records CEO Blen Mekonnen (Ethiopia), creative entrepreneur Theresho Selesho (South Africa), music teacher and event curator Ornella Kayitaba (Rwanda), multi-award winning musician Msaki (South Africa), and MIAF executive director and cultural administrator Eddie Hatitye (South Africa).

The jury brings together a wealth of experience across the African and international music landscape, ranging from performance, festival programming, music production, and industry development. Serving in an oversight role, the jury will also guide the curatorial direction of ACCES 2025, ensuring that the event reflects the richness, diversity, and innovation of contemporary African music.

“Their collective expertise will help shape a dynamic and inclusive programme, identifying and endorsing talent capable of resonating with a professional audience,” MIAF projects officer Claire Metais said. “The selected performers will showcase their work before a high-profile delegation of festival curators, promoters, booking agents, record label executives, and other key industry stakeholders, offering meaningful exposure and opportunities for growth, collaboration, and access to new markets.”

Launched in 2017, ACCES has evolved into a pivotal platform for the African music industry, combining a two-day conference and a two-day showcase festival with exhibitions, policy seminars, masterclasses, industry awards, songwriting camps, and workshops.

Each year, the event is hosted in a different African city. Past editions have taken place in Dakar, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam, and Kigali, which hosted more than 1 000 delegates in 2024.

ACCES continues to drive networking, knowledge exchange and artist promotion, bringing together music professionals from across the continent and beyond. The 2025 edition in Tshwane promises to build on this legacy by celebrating innovation, creativity, and the empowerment of African music professionals on a global stage.

About ACCES

ACCES is a pan-African trade show for music industry players to exchange ideas, discover new talent, and create business linkages. ACCES is held in a different African city every year, attracting active music industry players from across the globe. ACCES 2025 is organised by the Music In Africa Foundation, a non-profit pan-African organisation, in partnership with the City Of Tshwane, the South African National Conventions Bureau, the British Council and the SAMPRA Development Fund. See all our sponsors and partners here.

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