Music excellence on show at Eastern Africa biggest Music Summit
The four day event (February 16-19) drew artists, associations, bands, booking agents, collective management organisations, digital distributors, educational institutions, media houses, record labels, regulators and technical suppliers from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
Popular artist Avril gave a stellar performance at the ONGEA! 2017 Music Summit held at the Sarit Centre, Nairobi
Upcoming artists had a chance to record their demo for free through a studio run by PHAT! Intellectual Property and Artville Music.
Sauti Academy
During the four day event, there was an open mic session which ran from 12.30pm to 2pm, with auditions for the Sauti Academy which offered two one-year scholarships for budding musicians in their Artist Development Program.
ADVERTISEMENT
The one-year program includes singing lessons, performance coaching, event organizing experience, song writing lessons and music business coaching.
The Sauti Academy which started in 2010, nurtures and develops singer's talent to enable them to start and sustain a professional musical career. Among the over 400 alumni and former students are award winning artists H_art the Band, Elani, Willy Paul, Bahati, Phy, Prisca Ojwang' and many others.
Panel discussions
The event also featured two Industry Panel discussions each day during the four days at 2.30pm-4.00pm and 4.00pm-5.30pm.
Thought Leaders of the Eastern Africa Music Industry discussed Broadcast, Digital Distribution, Festival Bookings, Live Sound, Monetising Compositions, Music & Culture, Music Education, and Rights Compliance among many other topics relevant to the music industry in the region.
ADVERTISEMENT
Showcase performances
In the evenings from 6pm to 10pm, the event shifted gears with showcase performances by 29 musicians from Cameroon, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda observed by festival bookers.
The bookers included Jess White of Mozambique’s AZGO and IGODA festival circuit, Eric Karengera of Isaano, Kigali!Up and I am Kigali festivals, Tshepo Nzimande of Moshito in South Africa as well as Herman Kabubi of Bayimba and DOADOA festivals in Uganda.
Key performances included popular group H_art the Band, Johny, Matamu, Frasha, Jay A, Brian Mugenyi and Avril who performed on the last day at the event.
The entire Event was streamed Live, from HD Cameras by Protel Studios via Highway Audiovisual to YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mdundo Awards
The event also witnessed the annual Mdundo Awards where the most downloaded Kenyan music of 2016 were recognised The event also witnessed the annual Mdundo Awards where the most downloaded Kenyan music of 2016 were recognised and feted.
The big winner of the award was gospel musician Mercy Masika who bagged three awards; the Most Downloaded Single 2016 - Mercy Masika (Nikupendeze), the Most Downloaded Female Single 2016 - Mercy Masika (Nikupendeze) and the Most Downloaded Gospel Artist 2016 - Mercy Masika.
Other notable winners included Sauti Sol (Most Downloaded Afro-pop Artist 2016), Timmy Tdat (Most Downloaded Hip-Hop Artist 2016), Willy Paul (Most Downloaded Male Single 2016), Kymo and Stigah -Thitimaa (Most Downloaded Group Single 2016) and Willy Paul-Fanya (Most Downloaded Male Single).
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: news@pulselive.co.ke
Recommended articles
African countries with the highest divorce rate
10 African cities with the highest crime index at the start of 2024
Machoka at 70: Emotions run high during Citizen TV presenter's birthday [Video]
Diwali 2022: Is Monday a public holiday in Kenya?
Akothee finally reveals reasons for separating from Omosh 1 month after wedding
Man, once a ‘billionaire’, recounts how he lost wealth, now sells his book on streets [Video]
Details of Ngina Kenyatta's luxurious restaurant
Zero Chills! Jackie Matubia's advice for Milly Chebby amid the unfollow drama