society

Aug. 23, 2021

KABELO MASOABI

2 min read

A windfall for African music industry

A windfall for African music industry

Lesotho’s International performer, Morena Leraba

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IN a bid to support the development of music, the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) has invited African organisations and performers to apply for grants in the second phase of the Music In Africa Live (MIAL) initiative.

Launched in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MIAL is offering grants between €6 000 (M124 648.22) and €10 000 (M207 747.04) across three main categories: Showcase, Capacity Building and the newly introduced Music Advocacy.
Eligible creative and cultural industry organisations based in Lesotho, Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and others  can apply for the fund.
The press and information officer of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Lesotho, Mookho Makhetha, said the programme aims at accelerating development and increasing the capacity of the cultural and creative sectors in southern Africa.
MIAL is defined as an organisation offering financial support to operators, to enable them to create high-quality performances and promote, market and showcase their content to a wider global audience, primarily via digital means, and to facilitate the creation and dissemination of educational content with a view to upskill and enable professionals to adjust and adapt to the needs of the changing music industry.
In its second iteration, MIAL said in a statement it has introduced a new category – Music Advocacy.

"This category will financially support projects that conduct advocacy aimed at protecting the interests of musicians through the creation of relevant content. It offers an opportunity for musicians who are not often heard, to raise their voices and creatively package their actions in compelling formats that can reach wider audiences," the statement reads.

“Under the Showcase grant worth £6 000, concerts applied for must be held in Africa and completed by December 30. All concerts applied for must feature live performances.

“For clarity, this means that the audio of performances shall not be coming from pre-recorded materials.

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"We welcome concerts of all kinds and there are no restrictions on venues used, as long as the final product is of high quality. Proposed projects must showcase high-quality talent that is ready for regional or international export,” MIAL management explained, adding that application deadline is August 29, 2021 at midnight CAT.
Eligible applications will be reviewed by an MIAL jury. The jury will comprise representatives from all five regions of the African continent. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application by no later than 30 days after the call closes.
MIAL is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut.

To apply visit www.musicinafrica.net/MIAL

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