The annual Jacaranda Music Festival’s – Music Business Conference and Workshops kicked off yesterday in Harare the capital of Zimbabwe at The Venue in Avondale. 

This, the third edition is a hybrid event featuring a conference, workshops, masterclasses, networking sessions and showcases that are being streamed live on the Jacaranda Music Festival Facebook page as well as being attended physically by a selected group of local and international participants that comprise of musicians, artists, music students, managers, mentors and music industry professionals in observation of covid-19 protocols. 

The purpose of the event is to provide a platform to discuss the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the music industry and possible solutions and interventions that will help now but also prepare the industry in the face of the possibility of future disruptions and pandemics foreseen and unforeseen., to accelerate the participation of local industry players in the use of various digital platforms for music distribution and audience engagement. and to connect artists to digital music distribution service providers, festival and venue bookers, artist managers, mentors, local performance opportunities and financial services etc. 

Some of the topics covered include Stage management for women, a workshop presented by Carine Tredgold who is an experienced production manager based in Zimbabwe, a digital music distribution masterclass by Karabo Motijoane of Sheer Publishing, South Africa and Thomas Sondlo who has managed Zimbabwean musician Bekezela, an instrument making workshop by Wlfred Tichaona Mafrika popular know as Nyamasvisva, the leader of Mawungira eNharira, a financial management workshop by Kudzai Mubaiwa supported by Old Mutual Zimbabwe as well as a gig booking course developed by Music works International from Boston represented by Kathrine McVicker and Alice Feldman. 

Also on the program is a songwriters workshop by hit-maker Alexio Kawara, a panel discussion on how to build bridges between music industry players featuring Josh Georgiou from the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, Brad Holmes, founder of the legendary venue, The Bassline in Johannesburg, Ignacio Priego, an experienced cultural projects manager from Spain, working in Egypt as well as Olukayode Adebayo who organizes AMFEST expo in Lagos, Nigeria and lastly a conversation about the Future of Zimbabwean pop music moderated by Amard of Zifm with artist Bryan K and producers JMP and Rodney Beatz while the same conversation will be taken to Twitter Spaces by popular personality Misred, 2 Broke Twimbos and Plot Mhako from Jibilika Dance Trust and Earground.  

To top of the event, there will be fire-side chats with decorated musician Tendai Maraire, son to  ethnomusicologist Dumisani Maraire and an innovative WhatsApp group workshop conducted by Traver Mudzonga covering intellectual property.  

This year’s Jacaranda Music Festival – Music Business Conference and Workshops program is supported by Africalia (Belgium), Old Mutual, Ngoma neHosho, Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe and Cultural Connections Africa, a network of international music industry players who are hosting their first annual conference in Harare. 

It is part of the Jacaranda Music Festival taking place on Friday the 8th of October and Saturday the 9th of October at the Venue in Avondale and it will feature live performances by Jah Prayzah, Hope Masike, Mokoomba, Bryan K, The Travellers and Mbeu and the Mhozi Tribe. 

The event is organized by Ngoma ne Hosho an innovative arts and culture promotion TRUST working to nurture and market emerging talent and to develop local industry potential across all creative disciplines. Ngoma NeHosho is registered as a Trust in Zimbabwe that is duly registered with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.