9th AFRIMA Africa Music Business Summit Set to Drive Monetisation of African Music

9th AFRIMA Africa Music Business Summit Set to Drive Monetisation of African Music

Lagos is set to host one of the continent’s most significant music industry gatherings as stakeholders prepare for the Africa Music Business Summit (AMBS), a key event of the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). The summit will take place on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites.

Themed “Connect, Build, Own: Monetising Africa’s Music Revolution,” this year’s summit will explore strategies to grow, protect, and monetise Africa’s rapidly expanding music industry. Admission is free, but registration at www.afrima.org is mandatory, organisers announced.

The summit will be hosted by award-winning international broadcaster and CNN African Voices Changemakers host, Larry Madowo, alongside television personality Mojibade Sosanya. Panel discussions will be moderated by industry professionals including Landry Gnamba (Cote d’Ivoire), Nde Ndifonka (Cameroon), and Victoria Nkong (Nigeria). The keynote address will be delivered by the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Anna Westerholm.

Confirmed speakers include top music executives and influencers from across Africa and beyond, such as Sipho Dlamini, CEO of Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa; Karima Damir of Universal Music MENA; Francis Doku (Ghana); Mustapha Ettouil (Morocco); Georg Heritlitz (Sweden); Olisa Adibua (Founder, Storm Records); and Bizzle Oshikoya (Nigeria). Music stars joining the summit include ID Cabassa, Innoss B, Juma Jux, Stonebwoy, and Didi B.

The summit will feature panels addressing critical areas of the African music industry, including:

• Creative Economy Infrastructure: Examining policies, systems, and platforms to turn musical talent into steady income.
• Ownership and Monetisation Strategies: Practical insights on rights protection, branding, and revenue generation.
• Recipe for Global Stardom: Guidance on talent development, global positioning, touring, and sustainable careers.
• Global Media and Music: How media exposure and storytelling can open international markets for African music.
• Financing the Industry: Fireside chat on investment models, access to funding, and scaling creative businesses.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Mike Strano, Co-Producer and Director of AFRIMA, said, “African music is one of the continent’s strongest cultural exports today, but talent alone is not enough. The Africa Music Business Summit helps creatives and industry players understand ownership, structure, and sustainability so they can fully benefit from the value they create.”

The summit underscores AFRIMA’s commitment to turning Africa’s creativity into long-term economic value while fostering a sustainable and globally competitive music industry.