Kenya joined Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa as founding members of a steering committee aimed at establishing a Grammy Recording Academy in Africa, marking a significant milestone for African music.
The inaugural meeting was held in Kigali earlier this week and was chaired by Recording Academy President Panos A. Panay and CEO Harvey Mason Jr.
Kenya’s delegation was led by Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, accompanied by Youth Affairs and Creative Economy PS Ismail Maalim and Director of Innovation and Talent Development Moses Weunda. CS Namwamba hailed the initiative as “long overdue,” emphasizing the Academy’s potential to empower African creatives through skills development, talent cultivation, infrastructure investment, and international exposure.
“This is a monumental step,” Namwamba stated, underscoring the platform’s potential for Kenya to strategize and implement initiatives that will elevate its music to the global stage. He expressed pride in Kenya being one of the four champions of the Pan African Recording Academy, alongside Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Namwamba highlighted several key benefits of the partnership, including empowering emerging talent, leveraging technology to enhance production quality and distribution, preserving cultural heritage, building sustainable ecosystems, and advocating for conducive policies for artists. He noted the immense potential for technology to revolutionize African music production and monetization, a resource the Recording Academy is expected to capitalize on.
The meeting’s agenda, as outlined by Namwamba, prioritized creativity and innovation within the African music industry. He emphasized the importance of a collective effort to ensure African artists receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve.
