The 9th All Africa Music Awards Africa Music Business Summit identified policy reform, technology adoption and stronger collaboration as key areas needed to deepen the growth of Africa’s music industry.
The summit was held on Thursday, January 8, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. It brought together artistes, industry leaders, policymakers, diplomats and other stakeholders to discuss ownership, investment, distribution, copyright and the future of African music on the global stage.
With the theme “Connect, Build, Own: Monetising Africa’s Music Revolution,” discussions focused on how African music can be better structured, protected and monetised beyond performances and popularity.
In his welcome address, AFRIMA President Mike Dada said the industry must pay closer attention to its business foundations to achieve sustainable growth.
“African music is not only about the songs and vibes but about building the business aspect of the industry,” Dada said.
He added that the Africa Music Business Summit was created to connect creatives with decision makers.
“Africa Business Summit is designed to expose African artists to business leaders within the sector on the continent,” he stated.
In her keynote address, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, spoke on the rise of African music and urged young creatives to believe in their abilities regardless of background.
“Talent knows no bounds, whether you are born into affluence or poverty,” she said.
She added, “The most exciting music talents globally are not in America, Sweden or the UK but in Africa, especially in Nigeria.”
Westerholm also shared Sweden’s experience in building a strong music industry since the 1990s and said African countries can use music as a tool for economic development. She reaffirmed Sweden’s interest in partnering with African creatives on monetisation and global promotion.
Speaking on behalf of the African Union Commission, Head of Culture Division Angela Martins described music and the creative economy as important drivers of development, unity and job creation.
She said, “At the African Union Commission, we recognise music and the creative economy as powerful engines for development, job creation and social cohesion. We will continue to prioritise culture as both an economic asset and a tool for African identity, unity and global influence. We remain firmly committed to supporting policies and frameworks that strengthen intellectual property rights, ensure fair remuneration for creators, and allow industry professionals to own, control and monetise their creative outputs across the value chain.”
On investment, Mark Smithson, Country Director at the British Deputy High Commission Lagos, said Africa must first look inward for funding and solutions.
“African problems need to be solved by African solutions, with the support of the international community,” he said.
He cited figures showing that about 1.1 trillion dollars of institutional capital on the continent could be leveraged through pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance funds to support infrastructure.
Media professional Lucy Iladoh spoke on the role of local structures, using Nollywood as an example.
“Nollywood grew because of the locals. They found a formula that fits the Nigerian context,” she said, adding, “We cannot reinvent the wheel, but we cannot copy and paste.”
She also called for a unified African streaming platform, saying, “It is possible to have an African streaming platform that caters for African content and pays artists well.”
Technology was another focus area. Congolese artiste Innos’B shared his experience using artificial intelligence in music creation.
“Technology is helping us a lot in terms of creativity,” he said.
“To me, AI is the next big thing. It is not something we should run from. It is something we should use.”
On collaboration, Ivorian artiste Didi B urged stronger unity across language divides.
“To be heard all over the world, we must first be united in Africa,” he said.
The Lagos State Government also restated its support for the creative sector. Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Toke Benson-Awoyinka said the state invested N8.4 billion in creative industries in 2025 and remains committed to creating an enabling environment for growth.
Other speakers, including ID Cabasa and Olisa Adibua, encouraged artistes to treat music as a career, embrace learning and originality, and remain resilient.
