In a powerful show of unity and progress within Africa’s music industry landscape, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) brought together a formidable assembly of industry stakeholders for the 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Performance Rights Conference (PRC), held over two insightful days from 9–10 April in the vibrant city of Cape Town. The summit, hosted in partnership with the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA), attracted participation from record labels, Music Licensing Companies (MLCs), Collective Management Organizations (CMOs), and recording industry representatives from across the sub-Saharan region.
The conference served as both a strategic checkpoint and a forward-looking platform, following the momentum of the 2024 SSA PRC held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Key on the agenda was reviewing the implementation of resolutions adopted at the previous summit, sharing progress reports from national MLCs over the past year, and unpacking new collaborative approaches to strengthen performance rights management in the region.
With Africa’s music economy expanding rapidly and its global footprint growing, the gathering focused on unlocking market potential through best practices, cutting-edge rights administration, and aligning regional efforts with global standards. The event not only reinforced IFPI’s commitment to nurturing the performance rights ecosystem in Africa but also ignited fresh dialogue on how the continent can better leverage neighbouring rights to empower artists, protect intellectual property, and foster sustainable growth in the music sector.
During a high-level media roundtable curated by Angela Ndambuki, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the IFPI, that brought together some of the continent’s most influential music executives, a resounding consensus emerged: the sustainable growth of Africa’s music ecosystem hinges on strategic investment in research, innovation, and technology. The panel featured key voices including Manusha Sarawan, Managing Director for Southern and East Africa at Universal Music Group; Oliver Laouchez, founder and chief executive Trace Awards, Sean Watson, Managing Director of Sony Music Entertainment Africa, Rob Cowling, Gallo Music Group, Brenda Mntambo, independent recording artist and Nhlanhla Sibisi, CEO of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA). Together, they stressed the critical importance of equipping Africa’s music rights infrastructure to meet the demands of an increasingly digital and globally competitive environment.
The session culminated in a significant step forward for regional collaboration and performance rights administration. SAMPRA CEO Pfanani Lishivha signed a landmark bilateral agreement with Maurice Okoth, representing Kenya’s Kamp Copyright and Related Rights Ltd. The agreement underscores a growing momentum for pan-African cooperation, with hopes that by the end of the second quarter, performance rights revenues collected in Kenya will be successfully remitted. The move not only symbolises a tangible commitment to cross-border solidarity but also reinforces the call for continuous lobbying, advocacy, and the forging of strategic partnerships to fully realise the continent’s creative and economic potential.
Luthando Ngcizela, renowned for his work with the iconic Jaziel Brothers, made a powerful appeal to Music Licensing Companies (MLCs), Collective Management Organisations (CMOs), and recording industry representatives from across Sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking with conviction at the Sub-Saharan Africa Performance Rights Conference, he underscored the urgent need for users of sound recordings to comply with payment of license fees and artists, as primary beneficiaries, to be ambassadors of sensitizing the users of the important role they play in the ecosystem. This in turn will ensure rights holders benefit from the evolving frameworks aimed at ensuring the sector’s long-term sustainability.
Recapping last year’s resolutions and charting a bold new path forward, Ndambuki, emphasised the importance of continuity and innovation in addressing the region’s music industry challenges. She highlighted the strides made in aligning stakeholders and partnerships around key priorities, while stressing the need to build on that momentum with renewed collaboration, improved data management, and stronger rights enforcement mechanisms. Ndambuki called for a unified approach that not only strengthens the value chain but also ensures that rights holders across the continent are fairly compensated for the use of their sound recordings.
IFPI is the voice of the recording industry worldwide, representing more than 8,000 record company members across the globe. We work to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music around the world.
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