House On Fire (Eswatini), AltBlk Continua (South Africa), and The X-Hub (Mozambique) have joined forces to launch the Arts Incubator Corridor (AIC). This is a pioneering regional network designed to accelerate creative development, innovation, and market access across the continent.
With their respective legacies of establishing some of Africa’s most impactful, internationally acclaimed creative platforms, House On Fire’s Director, Jiggs Thorne, Multi-award-winning Artist and AltBlk>> Founder, Msaki and X-Hub’s Founding Director, Paulo Chibanga are pooling their resources, expertise, and shared vision for sustainable and accessible creative industry development.
Internationally celebrated arts performance venue, House On Fire is the production force behind the conscious festival of music and the arts, MTN Bushfire, and one of the leading food and fashion events in Southern Africa, the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle.
A first-of-its-kind innovation for Mozambique and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, The X-Hub is a creative business incubator based in Maputo, and the visionaries behind the music and arts festival, Azgo Festival.
ALTBLK>> is an intentional, growth-oriented platform created to strengthen independent musicians and cultural practitioners. The collective provides comprehensive support across pre-production, release strategies and post-production, while safeguarding artist ownership and upholding ethical standards.
The Arts Incubator Corridor is premised on the power of collaboration in fueling inclusive innovation and creativity. Founded on the inherent conviction that African solutions best serve African realities, this regional network connects dynamic creative ecosystems across the region to drive skills development, collaboration, creative entrepreneurship and cultural exchange.
Designed to connect emerging and established artists, as well as creative industry professionals, the Arts Incubator Corridor provides a structured framework for regional collaboration and capacity building.
The proximity amongst the founding members’ neighbouring countries offers a direct portal for sustained coordination and the effective execution of the Arts Incubator Corridor’s ongoing programmes.
Commenting on the significance and unique approach of the Arts Incubator Corridor, House On Fire’s Director, Jiggs Thorne highlighted it as a great example of a year-round model that links training, incubation and performance opportunities across the region.
“The Arts Incubator Corridor is about moving beyond isolated interventions towards a deliberate, structured framework for collaboration. By formalising how we work together, we’re able to support a sustained programme of action that creates meaningful linkages between creative ecosystems, improves access to markets, and allows us to share best practice. This is a year-round model designed to support a more intentional and lasting rollout of creative development across Southern Africa,” said Thorne.
The outcomes of the year-round programmes will include certified creative and entrepreneurship training, mentorship and business incubation. Artist mobility opportunities will manifest through exchange residencies, touring and co-creation labs.
Access to markets for artists will be achieved through joint fundraising initiatives, international partnerships and cross-border showcase opportunities on credible arts platforms.
Speaking on behalf of X-Hub, the Founding Director behind this creative business incubator, Paulo Chibanga, emphasised the tangible value that will be generated through this groundbreaking initiative.
“The Arts Incubator Corridor reflects X-Hub’s long-term commitment to building sustainable creative ecosystems in Mozambique and across the region. By connecting incubation, skills development and market access beyond borders, we are creating real pathways for creatives to professionalise, collaborate and compete globally,” expressed X-Hub’s Paulo Chibanga.
According to the ALTBLK>> Founder, Msaki, the intention is to strengthen Southern Africa’s artistic growth for our own sustainability, while also creating a welcoming and supportive landing space for creatives from across the continent.
“Through intentional collaboration between Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa, we aim to build a connected ecosystem that meaningfully supports and serves artists in diverse and practical ways, fostering exchange, opportunity, and long-term creative development across the region,” said Msaki.
“As ALTBLK>>, we offer our deep on-the-ground presence and fluency, using it to open doors, cultivate audiences, and create pathways that may otherwise remain inaccessible; artists can move, connect, and be received with intention and care,” she added.
The AIC Steering Committee will oversee the implementation of a coordinated annual programme, regional partnerships, and project reporting. The inceptual phase of the project will comprise advancing the network’s footprint, mobilising funding, and establishing scalable creative incubation models across the continent. Under the inspired and experienced leadership of the founding partners, the AIC will be extending opportunities for collaboration to organisations and creative industry professionals looking to achieve meaningful impact across the region through this platform.
For Media Enquiries:
House On Fire – [email protected]
AltBlk Continua – [email protected]
The X-Hub – [email protected]
ABOUT HOUSE ON FIRE
Lauded as one of the most eclectic entertainment venues in the world, House On Fire in Eswatini hosts and produces the internationally acclaimed conscious festival of music and the arts, MTN Bushfire. As one of the largest multicultural gatherings on the continent, this globally infused, authentically African festival welcomes over 23,000 people from over 55 countries for a family-friendly celebration of creativity, unity and sustainability. House On Fire is also the visionary team behind one of Southern Africa’s leading food and fashion events, the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival which attracts over 10,000 festivalgoers from across the region. This lavish two-day feast of culinary exploits, high-end fashion, fine music and wholesome family-friendly entertainment consciously develops and promotes the creative economy, sustainability and small business growth.
ABOUT X-HUB
A first-of-its-kind innovation for Mozambique and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, X-Hub – Creative Business Incubator is a creative incubator based in Maputo, a cosmopolitan city that unites people from different cultures and nationalities.
X-Hub addresses the lack of integrated centres that support the development of professional skills in cultural and creative businesses in Mozambique.X-Hub provides a space for creation, access to skills training and mentoring for creative businesses, widening the network of contacts and access to a wide range of services and shared infrastructure with the aim of increasing the value and visibility of creative products and services, advice on which services and products can better meet your needs in the national and international market.
ABOUT ALTBLK CONTINUA
Based in South Africa, ALTBLK CONTINUA is a space that offers tailored support to independent artists / musicians, offering solutions and flexible backing in each phase of their process.
They are a community rooted in care, collaboration, and creative autonomy. Their team comprises producers, cultural workers and project managers who offer hands-on support while fiercely protecting artists’ rights, voices, and ownership.
ALTBLK CONTINUA aims to achieve their vision of a global network of supported, celebrated and self-owned artists through a number of solutions such as Artist Residencies, Artist Mentorship, Elder Inclusion and Cross-continental Collaborations.
