Harare, Zimbabwe – Music Connects Africa, an accelerator programme by the British Council in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe, concluded its 2025 edition with a showcase event featuring exhibitions of work produced during the programme and performances by some of the programme's beneficiaries.
Melyssa performing at the Music Connects Africa Showcase
The showcase's headliners included Afro pop and RnB artist Melyssa, Afro soul and jazz vocalist SAIIREN, and hip-hop artists Paintafresco and Noluntu J.
Previously known as Scripts & Bars, Music Connects Africa has supported over 200 creatives since 2022. The 2025 cohort, launched in February, is the 3rd since the programme began. Delivered in Zimbabwe by Kay Media Africa in collaboration with UK based Radio station Reprezent Radio, the programme has supported a new wave of Zimbabwean music talent and enterprises, with both knowledge and investment.
This year 50 participants were enrolled, with 40% being women, and the programme's reach included areas like Mutare, Chinhoyi, Marondera, Bulawayo, Zvishavane, Plumtree, Hwange, Victoria Falls and Harare.
The 2025 Music Connects Africa programme featured multiple masterclasses facilitated by leading music industry experts from the UK, South Africa and Zimbabwe, a creative enterprise online course, 7 live showcase events in Harare and Bulawayo, a highly successful recording camp with 8 tracks set for commercial release, and seed funding grants for 10 beneficiaries that included the likes of Masa Caroleen, Khwezi, Dorthy Chipo, TAPIWA, DJ Yugoe and DJ Naida.
The bulk of participants not only stated that they gained knowledge and skills gained will significantly advance their careers, but viewed music as a viable long-term career at the programme's end.
"The music accelerator programme has demonstrated the incredible potential of Zimbabwe’s music creatives when given the right tools, investment, and opportunities," shared project delivery lead Keith Kuhudzai
"The seeds have been sown in the forms of capacity building, new music is being created, artists are securing bookings, and careers are being built. The impact will be clear in the next 3-5 years, and this is a powerful step forward for the industry."
Music Connects Africa was delivered with the support of key partners and collaborators in Zimbabwe and abroad including Ditto Music Africa, Sheer Publishing (now Downtown Publishing), Honey & Blanckenberg, Reprezent Radio, Star FM, Lemon Groove Brands, Sofar Sounds Harare, Haus of Stone and Magitare Trust.
The programme is set to continue for another 3 years until 2028, taking on a new cohort each year while graduates for previous cohorts will continue to be supported through an alumni programme.
Enjoyed reading this news report? Support Greedysouth by buying the team a cup of coffee. Your support assists in the production of such quality reports. Thank you.