AGP Executive Report

Women in Leadership: Nairobi’s Suhba Series “Becoming Her” drew 300+ women, with Harriette Chiggai urging women to shape decisions—not just fill leadership seats. Music Exports & Hits: Davido and Musa Keys’ “Unavailable” hits UK gold certification, while South Africa’s MOE wins a Chinese TV singing contest after performing in Mandarin. Global Stages for African Sound: Ndlovu Youth Choir rocks London with Queen legends, performing an isiZulu “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Emmerson Bockarie lands in Africa’s top 30 artists list. Celebrity Culture, Big Moments: Tiwa Savage accepts Teni’s ₦1.5bn boxing challenge (“Pick a date”), and a viral SA vs US Times Square dance-off puts Mzansi moves in the spotlight. South African Music Loss: Tributes continue for veteran Babsy Mlangeni, remembered for songs that captured South Africa’s social and political life. Media & Trust: A Nigeria journalism book review spotlights why truth and trust remain journalism’s future.

Cultural Heritage: Zimbabwe’s Hwange leaders and cultural practitioners are being trained to document and safeguard intangible cultural heritage under UNESCO’s 2003 convention, with a five-day workshop aimed at closing the documentation gap. Performing Arts & Hip-hop: Sharjah’s Perform Sharjah 2026 runs Oct 11–Nov 29 with free shows, including hip-hop-led dance work, audience-participation theatre, and large-scale puppetry. EU Creative Funding: The EU says it’s expanding support for Nigeria and Africa’s creative sector—backing festivals, partnering with film events, and planning more artist co-creations and training. Music & Records: Ghana’s EchoWave is raising the bar in live sound after handling audio for Women in Worship’s 10th anniversary. African Music Spotlight: Zimbabwe’s Chimurenga legend Thomas Mapfumo says he’ll still perform for Jah Prayzah’s rescheduled wedding deal tied to Wicknell Chivayo’s commitments. Dance on the World Stage: Limpopo’s Ndlovu Youth Choir just wowed London with an isiZulu take on Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” featuring Brian May and Roger Taylor. Nigerian Music Abroad: DJ Jimmy Jatt is set to headline the “Rewind UK Tour” in London on Oct 17 with Sir Shina Peters, 9ice, African China and more.

Music for healing: Experts at Tanzania’s EAPCON palliative care congress say music can ease pain, stress and anxiety while supporting patients’ emotional and spiritual needs. New album drop: Fireboy DML confirms his fifth studio album, “ZUKO!”, arriving Oct 16, with hints of a bolder direction. Afro-pop spotlight: A profile marks Nigerian legend King Sunny Adé at 80, celebrating how jùjú shaped contemporary African pop and global reach. Fashion-meets-culture: South Africa’s iAccelerate SA held a Heritage Day community event at Mzoli’s, blending entrepreneurship with music, food and roots. Creative industry push: Ghana’s National Theatre leadership urges corporate investment in performing arts to preserve culture and create jobs. Oil sector update: Nigeria’s petroleum minister says Tinubu-era reforms lifted crude output by 80% to about 1.824m bpd. Sports with a music angle: Fireboy’s release and DJ Zinhle’s Era store opening in Newcastle, KZN, keep the entertainment buzz rolling.

Stokvels Go Concert Mode: South African creator Neo Mahlangu is turning the old savings club into “Groove Fund” so fans can buy tickets fast when mega-stars drop dates with little notice. Music Losses: South Africa mourns legendary blind singer-guitarist Babsy Mlangeni, 83, whose soul hits like “Sala Emma” defined a generation. Ghana Live Classical + Afrobeat: Ghana’s National Symphony Orchestra dazzled at the National Theatre for International Music Day, mixing Mozart and Game of Thrones themes with local works and Afrobeat medleys. Dance Music Abroad: Shimza’s Pacha residency is helping African dance music take root in Ibiza, with his team spotlighted behind the scenes. Eswatini Gospel Spotlight: Make Buhle Gee’s journey from social work to Eswatini gospel music highlights faith, healing, and community purpose. Theatre With a Beat: Eswatini’s Mbabane Theatre Club kicked off the October International Theatre Festival, with creatives calling for more sharing and unity through art. Lagos Nollywood Farewell: Nigeria bid farewell to veteran actor Olu Jacobs, with tributes underscoring his mentorship across decades.

South Africa Music Loss: Legendary guitarist and composer Babsy Mlangeni has died at 83, leaving behind classics like “Sala Emma,” “Botsotso” and “Umadlembathini,” and a legacy that shaped South African soul across generations. Afrobeats Release Watch: Fireboy DML has set 16 October 2026 for his fifth album “ZUKO!”, teasing a bigger global sound after recent singles and collaborations. Artist Spotlight: Makhadzi is trending again after sharing photos of her new R1.5 million Audi RS3 Sportback, a luxury milestone fans are celebrating. Zimbabwe Music & Politics: Wicknell Chivayo has been granted Provincial Hero status after his death in a helicopter crash, underscoring how celebrity, philanthropy and power remain tightly linked in the country. Kenya Sports-to-Story: Commonwealth finalist Naomi Korir spoke about reducing her training due to congenital fistula, highlighting resilience that also connects back to her early love of music.

Music Loss: South Africa mourns veteran singer Babsy Mlangeni, who died at 83 after a short illness; blind since childhood, he built a near-six-decade career and wrote classics like “Sala Emma.” New Releases: Guinea’s Takana Zion drops three albums on Independence Day—“Few Words” plus “Black Mafia 10” and “Black Mafia 11”—with roots reggae and cross-language collaborations. Live & Streaming: Spotify’s Surround Sound brings Tems and Runtown into an intimate Lagos in-the-round experience, turning performances into full music films. Festivals & Culture: Eswatini’s Vulamasango School Choir and South Africa’s Edendale Technical High School Choir unite for “Nations in One Voice,” performing African and Western pieces together. Regional Spotlight: Black Coffee is announced as the first headliner for Africa Is Not A Jungle in Durban on 7 November, with a Johannesburg follow-up on 28 November. Cross-Atlantic Notes: King Promise teams up with Chelsea for “Can’t Tame Us,” released as an official club anthem for Africa.

Gospel Meets Clean Water: Kenya’s gospel outreach is getting a boost as Come and See partners with Bucket Ministry to use The Chosen to spark discipleship—while delivering water filters to villages. Ubuntu in Action: South Africa reaffirmed ties with Nigeria at Heritage Day in Abuja, pointing to tourism, Nollywood, and music as living bridges. Creative Economy Push: Zimbabwe’s VP Kembo Mohadi will headline the KUZANA Creative Economy Conference in Bulawayo, aiming to turn sport, arts, and culture into investment and jobs. Music Culture Spotlight: OkayAfrica’s Culture Cafe (with Hennessy) returned with Gyakie, live sets, and community energy. Independence Day Soundtrack: Nigeria at 66 reignited debate through Professor Onye Egwu’s “Which Way Nigeria,” a protest song asking what direction the country is taking. Tragic Celebrity News: Zimbabwe tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and his wife died in a helicopter crash in Marondera. Tour Update: Tyla adds a second Pretoria date for her A Pop World Tour in January 2027.

Zimbabwe Music & Tragedy: Prominent businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke were killed in a helicopter crash near Marondera, with authorities confirming six deaths and investigations ongoing. South Africa Music Spotlight: Robot Boii opened up about keeping his “Mosquito” identity secret on The Masked Singer SA, while Idols SA winner Karabo Mogane returns from a six-year break with R&B/neo-soul single “Only 4 U.” Pan-African Creativity: Angélique Kidjo urged Africans to “create together” in Johannesburg during Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Live Music Abroad: Ben Cristovao brought African rhythms into a Czech orchestral show with Red Bull Symphonic in Prague. Music Business & Media: A Lagos Business School roundtable pushed journalists to go beyond routine news as AI reshapes media, and a Zimbabwean Bulawayo “Live Concert” promo spotlights uBhila’s upcoming performance.

Music & Unity: Angelique Kidjo urged Africans to “create together” and set aside differences at a Spotify event in Johannesburg, pointing to youth energy and the need to take ownership of Africa’s global image. Afrobeats & Live Culture: Tyla added a second Gauteng date, upgrading to Pretoria’s SunBet Arena for Jan 8, 2027, after fan demand and venue considerations. Ghana Fashion Spotlight: Ghana launches maiden Black Star Fashion Week with a summit and fashion celebration across Accra and Senchi, aiming to grow talent and the creative economy. Digital Future: The AU Innovation Festival in Addis Ababa pushed a youth-centered approach to build inclusive digital ecosystems, citing finance, skills, regulation and connectivity gaps. Botswana Conservation Backlash: Botswana faced criticism over authorising the killing of 23 elephants for Independence celebrations, with activists warning it could fuel poaching and raise health concerns. South Africa Screen News: Zwai Bala apologised as hopes for “The Bala Family” Season 3 were dashed, saying the decision wasn’t made by the family. New Releases: Nigerian singer Oscar Bankz dropped “On My Way,” leaning into contemporary Afrobeats as reports swirl about an international partnership.

Cross-border Music Collaboration: Zimbabwe’s Ndwe on Her is exploring a studio partnership with South Africa’s KZN Philharmonic Orchestra after a Bulawayo exchange that blended contemporary African sounds with classical instrumentation. New South African Sound: Cape Town singer Internet Athi says his debut album Polymorphism grew from a tech-to-music leap, with love as the core theme. Creative Economy Push (Nigeria): Nigeria is positioning CANEX Weekend 2026 in Lagos (Nov 5–8) as a trade-and-jobs engine, aiming to turn music, film, fashion and other creative sectors into export-ready businesses and investment deals. Pan-African Fashion Spotlight: Maxhosa Africa made a splash at Paris Fashion Week with a runway show celebrating pan-Africanism and South Africa’s textile ambitions. Arts Funding in SA: Wits plans a R341m cultural precinct in Johannesburg’s Braamfontein, backed largely by a donation of Sabvest shares from Chris Seabrooke, including a new music hall. Culture & Community (Eswatini): Organisers announced the Eswatini Fashion Expo to give local designers a platform beyond “hobby” perceptions. GBV Update (South Africa): Cabinet condemned rising gender-based violence and femicide, noting arrests in recent Ekurhuleni cases.

Creative Economy Push: BRICS+ nations are betting big on the creative economy, with IP, digital tech and cultural talent driving growth and exports—though investors still treat it as less “independent” than traditional sectors. Afrobeats Spotlight: Davido publicly praised Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré after the country launched its first gold refinery, turning a major economic milestone into a global Afrobeats moment. Guinness-Style Dance Culture: Nigerian dancer Ben Dancer (Made Kuti’s collaborator) kept moving for 176 hours in Lagos, chasing a new Guinness record with Afrobeats and Makossa powering the marathon. Music + Tech Global Reach: YouTube VP Pedro Pina told Iberseries & Platino Industria how the platform evolved from viral clips to a global creativity engine—shaping fandom, artists and even sports storytelling. South Africa Live Music: Tyla adds a second Pretoria date for her A*POP World Tour, moving the shows indoors at SunBet Arena for better fan comfort. Nigeria Creative Trade: Nigeria plans to use CANEX Weekend 2026 in Lagos to boost creative exports, jobs and IP commercialization.

Creative Economy Spotlight: Ugandan entrepreneur Julius Kyazze (LIVE54+) is the only creative-sector honouree named among Africa’s 100 most influential, underscoring how music, media and experiences are becoming real business infrastructure. Festival Energy: Eswatini’s Mlawula Camp Fire Festival hit 1,200 attendees, while South Africa’s Joy of Jazz kept Johannesburg moving across stages with fresh discoveries. Global Music & Culture: The Feel the Rhythm of the Drums International Festival returns Oct 3 with 100+ artists across the African diaspora, and Namibia’s San Cultural Festival in Tsumkwe put language preservation and cultural tourism front and centre. Industry Talk: Asa Asika urged Western labels to do real research and visit scenes like Lagos before treating Afrobeats as a passing trend. Music in the Spotlight: South Africa’s Nadia Nakai and Toss faced backlash over “Chomi,” while House music fans in Eswatini celebrated a 20th-anniversary tribute night. Fashion Meets Sound: Maxhosa Africa made a Paris Fashion Week runway splash with pan-African themes and Sjava’s soundtrack.

Nigerian Hip-Hop Meets the Courts: A U.S. judge ruled rap diss lyrics can be “non-actionable opinion,” a backdrop to Nigeria’s own messy beef culture, with Blaqbonez’s “ACL” reigniting debate over how far lyrics should be taken. Amapiano Goes Global: Scorpion Kings’ stadium-scale show at FNB Stadium drew 70,000+ fans, and the duo hinted at a London O2 target next. Nollywood Big Screen Moment: Funke Akindele celebrated “Black Market” setting a Guinness record for the largest single-film screening audience in Lagos (51,000 counted). Music Meets Community: Portsmouth’s “Read to the Beat” Summer Reading Challenge ended with African drum workshops and music-themed activities at Southsea Castle. Culture Night Energy: Fermanagh and Omagh’s Culture Night 2026 brought free music, dance, storytelling and heritage events across the district. Global Music Business: Warner Music U.K. & Ireland named Sonny Takhar as its new CEO and chairman, effective Jan 2027.

Music & Fashion Spotlight: South Africa’s Tyla turned heads at the 2026 MTV VMAs in a daring blue snakeskin bra-and-low-rise skirt look, stepping out as a presenter and leaning into her A*Pop style. Pan-African Gospel Win: Mercy Chinwo won Best Gospel at AFRIMMA 2026 in Dallas, adding another major continental trophy to her growing awards haul. Live Music Calendar: Black Coffee lands in Jeddah for a one-night headline show at Onyx Arena on Oct 23, with Saudi electronic duo Dish Dash also on the bill. Afrobeat Culture Push: Yeni Kuti says Nigeria’s Felabration returns Oct 12–18 at the New Afrika Shrine, with music, debates, dance and the “Dress Fela” fashion show. Industry Buzz: Davido’s manager Asa Asika doubled down on the star’s influence, calling him “like the president of Nigeria” and describing how brands fund his music videos. Culture Exchange: Kenya’s SGR Nairobi terminus hosted auditions for “Sing for Africa,” tied to China-Africa youth people-to-people exchanges. Jazz Weekend Recap: Joy of Jazz’s “Jazz Reignited” edition in Sandton featured Angélique Kidjo, Judith Sephuma and more across four stages.

Afrobeats & Culture: Timaya credits Fela Kuti as the foundation for today’s African artistes, calling him “Baba” and saying his legacy can’t be disrespected. New Music Release: lordkez drops “Kazet (lordkez Revisit),” a contemporary Afropop reimagining of Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens’ 1987 classic “Kazet,” released on Heritage Day. Live Music & Events: South Africa’s Joy of Jazz festival drew huge crowds across four stages, with standout sets like Tank and the Bangas. Entertainment Buzz: Bontle Modiselle wins The Masked Singer SA Season 3 as “Spotty,” and hints she may pursue music next. Industry & Society: Lagos Deputy Governor Hamzat says traffic is a “lifestyle” that’s helped fuel Lagos’ creative and podcast boom. Road Safety Tragedy: A minibus taxi crash after a Maskandi festival in KwaZulu-Natal killed 11 and left up to nine critically injured.

Afrobeats & cross-border collabs: Rema links up with French-Congolese star Tiakola on the new single “BEST,” adding another Francophone bridge to Nigeria’s sound. Big-stage announcements: AFRIMA’s 10th edition is set for Lagos in May 2027, with entries opening Oct. 11, 2026 and a full awards calendar rolling through 2027. Industry business talk: Nigeria’s NECLive returns with “Home Advantage,” focusing on how local demand can turn into global creative power. Live music & culture: Vesta Orchestra brings Wole Soyinka’s “The Trials of Brother Jero” back to Lagos on Oct. 11, while Zambia hosts the Music Meets Football Summit in Lusaka (Oct. 15–16). Royalty drama: South African singer Nomsa Mazwai has opened a criminal case against Black Coffee over alleged unpaid “Traveller” royalties. Language & heritage: Oxford’s latest update adds East African terms like azmari and berbere, spotlighting music and everyday speech.