ARTS ROUND TABLE
LIGHT YOUR FIRE
MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table Applications Now Open!
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 April 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
- Arts Incubator Corridor: ESW / MOZ / SA
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
Topic: How to Monetise your Music in 2025
Date: 10 April, 2025
Time: 3pm (CAT)
Venue: Zoom (Link will be shared with successful applicants)
Apply here: https://bit.ly/MonetizeYourMusic2025. Applications close on Monday, 7 April 2025 at 5pm (CAT).
SESSION 2 SPEAKERS:
• Nelo HD – Label & Operations Manager at Paradise Worldwide / A&R Paradise Sound System / Founder of Xpressed Records
Nelo’s expertise spans artist development, music release strategy and marketing, making him an essential force in connecting emerging and established talent with key digital platforms.
• Money Badoo – Rapper / Singer / Songwriter / Stylist / Creative Director
As an artist and multi-dimensional creative, Money Badoo aims to continue to break barriers and set new benchmarks with her authentic take on multiple mediums.
• Sizo Hlophe - Co-Founder of Antidote Music & Antidote Culture Foundation / Cultural Producer
Known for facilitating Swati arts mobility regionally and internationally, Sizo’s work spans across creative ecosystem building and culture policy with a strong focus on amplifying young voices.
Arts Round Table Workshop – Friday, 30 May 2025
The fire keeps burning brighter🔥 Join us for this year’s edition of the annual MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table (ART) arts industry development workshop programme on the Friday of the MTN Bushfire weekend, (30 May) at House On Fire, from 8:30am – 3:30pm.
With extensive regional and international reach, this programme is a powerful platform for creative industry growth, bringing together industry experts and aspiring multi-disciplinary creatives to discuss the business of the arts, through thematically driven peer-to-peer sharing on best practices.
We are excited to partner with the @africa_rising_music_conference (ARMC) once again this year! Through our partnership, notable outcomes have included global music distribution deals, young industry professional exchange opportunities in Europe, as well as international artist bookings!
Applications are open to Performing Artists and Arts Industry Creatives in Eswatini and the region – including music artists, artist managers, music publishers, record label executives, poets, comedians, and PR professionals.
2025 Themes:
• Amplifying Under-represented Voices: Female Leadership
• Building Bridges: Importance of Artist Exports & Cross-Continental Collaborations
• Creating for the Future: Harnessing Southern Africa’s Arts and Cultural Festivals for Sustainable Development - UNESCO
• Developing Independence: Live Sets & Building a Career as an Independent Artist
• Driving Innovation: Music & AI
• Arts Incubator Corridor: ESW / MOZ / SA
Apply here: https://bit.ly/ArtsRoundTable2025
Applications close on Friday, 16 May 2025. Successful applicants will be contacted by Tuesday, 20 May 2025.
