Day two of the 2009 Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition was, for many, stolen by the presentation by Equation Musique, which gave life to Moshito's aim to be the portal into the African music business.
One of the most well attended sessions of the day took place in the Plenary Room and used as its focus the impact of the SABC's current challenges on the music business. Also under scrutiny was the protection of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, researching the local music industry and the role of copyright in the digital economy.
Equation Musiques presentation
Taking place in the Breakaway Room, the session introduced most of the 12 members of this innovative approach to creating linkages between African music industry players - producers, educators, festival organisers, label owners and artist managers from Senegal, South Africa, Mauritius, Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya and Mauritius.
Led by Percy Yip Tong of Cyber Produktion in Mauritius, the session gave a fascination insight into this initiative, currently supported by Culturesfrance and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie but intent on eventually being “self-sustaining”.
Group successes
Yip Tong reported on the many successes the group had enjoyed in the 18 months of its existence. “Together we have strength and need to use that to negotiate fair-trade deals for our projects and artists,” he said. “Equation Musique was started to improve relationships between the north and south, but the spin-off has been strengthening relationships in the south-south direction.”
It was clear that the latter has been immensely satisfying for all participants - who all adhere to the notion of ubuntu. “This is not about doing what we can for our artists that we may manage or release, but creating opportunities for artists throughout Africa,” Damon Forbes of the Sheer Group told the session.
Exporting SA music
Also providing food for thought was Phil Tripp's insights into how to export South African music to the world.
Tripp drew on his experience in Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia and pitched a model that saw a public-private partnership yield tangible results for artists in these three areas. He made specific reference to the Austin, Texas-based South By South West Festival, which is also represented at Moshito by Mirko Whitfield who heads up international development for the festival.
