Monday 15 August 2022

#Launch - Shining the spotlight on SA's women creators

From the launch of a pan-continental show beaming our creativity to millions to a brunch by a global streaming service spreading homegrown song across the world, the power of telling African stories felt like a common thread on the social diary this week.

On Wednesday morning I found myself on top of a 20storey Sandton building in a room with floor-to-ceiling views of the city.


The reason? To find out how a Swedish music giant with more than 433-million monthly users is amplifying the voice of South African women artists.

At the Spotify Women's Day brunch at the Venue Green Park in Morningside, while I couldn't help wondering whether the parents of many of the guests were even born in 1956, the need to break down barriers that hold women back still remains.

Spotify hopes to correct the imbalance in the music industry through its equality programme, which shines the spotlight on women creators.

"Equal is not just a thing that exists in 2D," explained Phiona Okumu, Spotify's head of music for Sub-Saharan Africa.

 "We operate in a holistic and pragmatic way. As much as we support artists on the platform, we want to make sure we also help enable the environment where they operate as much as we can."

And with revenue from African music streaming estimated to rise to $500m (about R8bn) by 2025, this is bound to make a massive difference to the young creatives the project nurtures.

One artist set to score is Siobhan King, musically known by the moniker Sio and who was named August Spotify Equal Africa artist.

"This is a game-changer, a life-changer. I am honoured that now everyone will be able to hear my music," said the artist, wearing an ethereal white dress.

Next it was meeting Nomfundo Moh, who held the title in April this year, and whose second album was released on Friday.

"It's called Amagama Deluxe, because it is an extension of the first album Amagama," the 22-year-old Afropop singer explained about her new musical offering.

With guests asked to arrive at 10.30am, it was a case of twiddling thumbs, social media scrolling or responding to e-mails in between tucking into the breakfast buffet set up on one side of the room before proceedings started. 

And while the waiter staff were attentive in replenishing our mimosas, there seemed to be a cutlery drought.