Global Music Creators Unite at CIAM General Assembly to Shape the Future of the African Creative Sector

The CIAM General Assembly brought together creators, collective management leaders, and industry experts from across Africa and beyond to discuss key issues shaping the future of the creative sector.
The meeting featured the participation of Arriën Molema, CIAM President; Yvonne Chaka Chaka, CISAC Vice President and CAPASSO Deputy Chair; Leslie Sedibe, Chair of CAPASSO; Jotam Matariro, CEO of CAPASSO; Thando Nyameni, CIAM Executive Committee member and CAPASSO representative; and Samuel Sangwa, CISAC Regional Director for Africa.

Throughout the day, discussions focused on major themes including the African music industry, broadcasting in Africa, AI and digitalisation, streaming, and the live music sector in the region. Delegates also emphasised the importance of metadata and the need to raise awareness among African creators about their rights, revenue streams, and the crucial role of collective management organisations (CMOs) in protecting and distributing royalties.

The Assembly was enriched by the participation of renowned African and international authors and artists, including Sjava (South Africa), Cleo IceQueen (Zambia), Hitboss (South Africa), Raspy (South Africa), Lawrence Khwisa, also known as LuLu (Malawi), and Tawaroa Kawana (New Zealand).