The MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table supported by FNB, is Eswatini’s foremost arts industry development workshop promoting skills sharing, digital media development, and best practices throughout the continent. Taking place on Friday, 26^th May 2023, local and international music industry professionals will come together for and exciting creative collaborative exchange.

Now in its second year, MTN Bushfire’s partnership with the European based Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC), as well as the support from FNB Eswatini, enables direct networking and connections between the European and African music markets.The partnership also seeks to create a synergy that lays the foundation for an annual opportunity to meet, engage, showcase, and activate a dynamic range of topics and outputs. This year, FNB Eswatini is supporting the arts development aspect of MTN Bushfire with R600,000, of which R200,000 will go directly to support the Arts Round Table conference.

MTN Bushfire’s Arts Round Table 2023 will host speakers from the region and around the world, all with expertise across various pillars of the music business ecosystem. The themes will centre on:

• Empowering Female Voices: Amplifying them in the music business
• Developing Independence: Unpacking ways in which we are developing the music sector from a creative and professional perspective in Africa and how we exchange ideas and resources to make this possible
• Building Bridges: Creating a common ground for international and local music professionals which encourages a valuable cultural and knowledge exchange.
• Night-time Safety: Night-time communities are pivotal to our music industry as they contribute to the advancement of culture as we know it. How are we ensuring that they remain accessible and safe for all?

The following confirmed speakers will take part in this interactive and engaging event:

Jonas – Performing Artist, The Planetoids (DE)

Namakau Star – Performing Artist (ZA/ZM)

Sebastian Spring – Head of Publisher Affairs at Mint Digital Services (CH)

Sarah-Jane Nicholson – Founder of ARMC (DE/ZA)

Alexis Waltz – Groove Mag (DE)

Christine – Music in Africa (ZA)

Lution – XLR Media (SZ)

Khulekani ‘KarlyB’ Mamba – Platinum Concepts (SZ)

Gaurav Narula – WOMEX (DE)

Jiggs Thorne – MTN Bushfire (SZ)

Marcus Gora – Mokoomba Band Manager (ZW)

Sharon Ramashoba – ARMC (ZA/DE)

Sibusiso Simelane – Upscale Live (SZ)

Megatronic – Performing DJ (GB)

Alex Flitsch – Owner, Connaisseur Recordings (DE)

Slawjana Ulrich – Co-Founder Stil vor Talent (DE)

Sizo Hlophe – Antidote Music (SZ)

Qibho Intalektual – Performing Poet (SZ)

Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt – International Music Managers Forum (GB)

Martha Mangwani – Performing Artist (ZA)

Venoir – Performing Artist (FI/DE)

AKA KELLZ – Performing Artist (GB/DE)

Velemseni – Performing Artist (SZ)

Karin Mueller – Music Academy – Berlin (DE)

Thilini Jayawickrama – Performing DJ (DE)

Phetsile Masilela – ECASWA President (SZ)

ZAMO – Performing Artist (SZ/ZA)

Musonda Chimba – Arts Industry Professional (SZ)