With the worldwide music industry in a state of transformation it is crucial for all its players to be re-thinking their business strategy both locally and internationally. Moshito 2012 will pull together industry leaders, professionals and artists to talk business explore opportunities and build relationships.
The first of these is the collaboration with the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC). Over the years many EUNIC members have supported the conference in their individual capacities. This year EUNIC has taken a more coordinated approach. Engaging with the conference organisers, EUNIC will identify and invite European participants to form a panel with their African counterparts to participate in the Moshito 2012 programme.
"Obviously there is already a great deal of interaction between African and European musicians, music entrepreneurs, and other actors on the music scene, but we believe that EUNIC's support of the Moshito Music Conference will extend the opportunities for networking, collaboration and business partnerships between the two regions," said Wayne Harper, representing EUNIC.
He went on say that there is an enormous mutual interest in music between Africa and the EU both in trade and cultural relations. Music is of particular interest to EUNIC as an art form which can unite people by easily transcending barriers of language as well as differences of culture - reflecting similarities between the two regions in terms of a diversity of culture and multilingualism.
"This partnership holds great value for us as a music sector enabling Moshito's prominence in the African market, as well as extending and consolidating our global footprint," said Moshito chairperson, King Phatudi-Mphahlele.
Other partnerships include aligning Moshito 2012 with the SA French Season, which will see collaborations and performances between and with South African and French artists, as well as supporting speakers.
Moshito 2012 continues to build on the relationship established with Jamaica in 2011, creating cultural and business exchanges between SA, Africa and the Caribbean. To celebrate Jamaica's jubilee, Moshito 2012 intends hosting some of the country's most prolific and iconic reggae artists.
Moshito 2012 joins with Reunion's Indian Ocean Music Market (IOMMA) in an exchange of opportunities between artists and professionals of the Indian Ocean and those from Europe, Australia, America and Asia. A South African delegation will be attending the event in May this year, with Moshito hosting an IOMMA / Reunion Island delegation in September.
Moshito continues its relationship with the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) offering its full support for what it believes to be a "major African and global music business meeting point".
For more, go to www.moshito.co.za.
