Musiques actuelles  :: South Africa's Moshito and WOMEX joins forces for the 5th edition

Monday, September 01, 2008 - 12:00 AM

   Over the past five years Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition has established itself as Africa's premiere music industry event. Now in its fifth year, Moshito – as it is known – focuses even more keenly on its objective of broadening the business intelligence of music industry professionals in South Africa and the continent, strengthening business networks for participants and informing delegates, traders and the public about the multifaceted and dynamic nature of the global music industry.



Historically, Moshito was formed in 2003 as a part of a response to several pressing issues affecting the South Africa industry as a whole – in particular, music piracy, the need to develop music markets for South African music (especially beyond the country's borders) and the urgent need to create a social benefit and welfare programme for musicians. In these it helps fulfill several objectives pinpointed by the South African government's Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and five years on, Moshito's working relationship with this key department remains core to its activities.



Moshito takes place annually in South Africa's springtime in Johannesburg – and in 2008, it strengthens its relationships with the Gauteng Provincial Government, Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the City of Joburg. The Moshito board and its project team are cognisant of the global environment that the South African (and African) music industry operates in and increasingly draws on the expertise of international leaders and opinion makers in its programme of keynote, plenary and "hot seat" debates and information sessions.



In 2008, Moshito joins forces with WOMEX in co-developing sessions on the Digital and International Environments. WOMEX also collaborates in international press and promotion.



Each year the Moshito's Conference element focuses on various themes and in 2008 these are technology, piracy, social development, new markets and live music. These are spotlighted, debated and unbundled in plenary, breakaway and hot seat sessions.



The exhibition element of the Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition is growing year-on-year, showcasing a wide spectrum of private and public organisations from the South African music industry.



Finally, no music industry event can take place without live music – and organisers of Moshito creat a fringe programme that includes a broad spectrum of live music in the Newtown precinct of Johannesburg where the conference and exhibition takes place. Together with the stimulating programme, a chance to see who's doing what in the South African and African music industry and the networking opportunities on offer, Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition is the ideal place for anyone with an interest in the business of music on the African continent.



Read more: www.moshito.co.za/