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 that was hosted at the British Council premises in Harare on August 24.
It featured exhibitions of work produced during the programme and performances by some of the beneficiaries of the programme including afro pop artist Melyssa, afro soul and jazz vocalist SAIIREN, as well as hip-hop artists Paintafresco and Bulawayo-based Noluntu J.
Previously known as Scripts & Bars, the programme has supported over 200 creatives since 2022, and its 2025 cohort, launched in February, is the third since the programme began.
Delivered in Zimbabwe by Kay Media Africa in collaboration with UK-based Reprezent Radio, the accelerator has supported a new wave of Zimbabwean music talent and enterprises with critical skills, market access, and investment.
According to a statement released by Kay Media Africa besides the programme’s success in reaching participants from all over the country, some of the key achievements of the 2025 cohort include the enrolment of 50 participants, with 40% being women.
‘The programme featured six masterclasses facilitated by leading music industry experts from the UK, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, covering topics including branding, contracts and IP monetisation, music distribution and marketing, social media and PR, artist management, touring, and brand partnerships. It also included one creative enterprise online course with 5 modules.’
Officials added that there were seven live showcase events in Harare and Bulawayo that reached 2,000+ audiences and provided market access for 16 music creatives (62% women), and 75% of these performers secured bookings directly as a result of their showcase performances. “At the Recording Camp, 11 creatives produced 14 songs, with eight tracks set for commercial release as a collaborative compilation project. Seed funding grants were awarded to 10 beneficiaries, resulting in 15 audio tracks, seven music videos, and two live performance videos distributed online,” read part of the official statement.
Key beneficiaries include Masa Caroleen, Khwezi, Dorthy Chipo and DJs Tapiwa, DJ Yugoe, and DJ Naida.
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The programme 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 music accelerator programme has demonstrated the incredible potential of Zimbabwe’s music creatives when given the right tools, investment, and opportunities. 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,” Keith Kuhudzai, the project delivery lead, told Standard Style.
The programme will continue for three years until 2028 taking on a new cohort each year while graduates for previous cohorts will continue to be supported through an alumni programme.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, supporting peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
