ARTS ROUND TABLE
LIGHT YOUR FIRE
MTN Bushfire and the Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) are joining forces once again to elevate opportunities for artists and arts industry professionals. ARMC is a female-led, executive-focused music industry conference that connects African music to the Worldwide market.
In line with MTN Bushfire’s “Bring Your Fire” call to action for positive social and environmental change, this partnership reinforces the festival’s longstanding commitment to supporting sustainable arts development. This is expressed annually through the MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table arts industry workshops.
MTN Bushfire and ARMC’s collective vision to connect Eswatini and Africa to the world by hosting international delegates through a range of workshops continues to be one of Africa’s leading collaborations, building bridges between the African and European music markets.
The MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table (ART) is Eswatini’s foremost arts industry development workshop programme. Its regional and international reach makes it a powerful platform for creative industry growth through policy and business advocacy. The workshop hosts local, regional and international speakers, all with expertise across various pillars of the music business ecosystem. The Arts Round Table connects aspiring multi-disciplinary artists with a select number of seasoned festival performers to discuss thematically driven conversations around the professionalisation and development of the arts.
The MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table 2025 will be held on Friday, 30 May 2025
MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table Applications open in March 2025
MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table 2025 themes:
- Amplifying Under-represented Voices – Female Leadership
- Building Bridges – Importance of Artist Export, Cross-Continental Collaboration
- Creating For the Future
- Developing Independence – Live Sets & Building a Career as an Independent Artist
- Driving Innovation – Music & AI
- Incubator Hub – DSAC / XHUB / AMPD
Online Workshops
Session Time: 3pm Central African Time (UTC +2)
Format: -> 45 min session, 15 min Q&A = 1 hour in total
MTN Bushfire’s ongoing partnership with ARMC has resulted in an exciting opportunity for creatives everywhere to tune in to a series of arts industry online panel workshops, commencing with the launch of the second edition of the Arts Round Table Online Workshops.
Session 1: Music Publishing and Copyright Masterclass
Topic: Music Publishing and Copyright Masterclass
Date: 6 March 2025
Time: 3pm CAT
Venue: Zoom (Link will be shared with successful applicants)
Interested participants are invited to apply via: https://bit.ly/41cDqZs.
Applications close today, 5 March 2025.
SESSION 1 SPEAKERS:
Tsenolo Ntsane - Operations Manager of the Music Publishing Association of South Africa (MPASA)
Tsenelo blends strategic leadership with deep creative expertise, designing and curating programmes that empower artists, publishers, and cultural stakeholders across Africa.
Juan Aguilar - Composer’s Manager at Paradise Worldwide
Based in Berlin, Juan enables rights holders to monetize their catalogues around the world, ensuring creators benefit across different legal and cultural landscapes.
Mmeli Hlanze - Executive Director of the Eswatini Copyright & Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS)
With over ten years in the music industry, Mmeli directs Eswatini’s first Collective Management Organization, aiming to develop a sustainable creative-cultural economy.
Session 2: How to Monetize Your Music in 2025
Thursday, 10 April 2025 - Stay tuned, more details coming soon!
