Arts Administration
The Future of Pan-African Art Music
Empowering Pan-African artists with resources to build future leadership in music business and performing arts administration
Performing arts administration and entrepreneurship are the backbone of the music industry, but there are very few training programs throughout Africa dedicated to building these skills. We support professional development, creative solutions, innovation, grassroots organizations, and start-ups by connecting creative professionals in Africa and beyond with resources and opportunities. The future of Pan-African art music lies in the hands of our creative leaders, visionaries and communities who are building and growing their industries.
Donate now to support our
2025 African Artist Entrepreneurship Incubator Program
African Artist Entrepreneurship Incubator
Applications for this year's program have closed and participants have already been selected. Details about next year’s incubator will be posted in mid-2025.
This fall we are running our inaugural 10-week virtual program, specifically designed for African arts administrators who are in the early stages of developing innovative solutions and organizations. In collaboration with our partners, this free program is designed to provide professional development opportunities that support the growth and global integration of Pan-African music.
Sponsor our 2025 incubator
We are actively seeking sponsors who can provide resources to support our African Artist Entrepreneurship Incubator Program. Sponsorships provide critical resources that empower participants to transform their innovative ideas into impactful ventures.
If you would like to sponsor next year's program, your support can help nurture emerging innovators and arts administrators, amplifying the impact of their ventures and fostering the growth of the Pan-African music scene on a global scale.
Partners & Volunteers
We are currently looking for volunteer guest lecturers, organizational partnerships and sponsors to help enrich our 2025 Incubator Program.
Guest lecturers offer expertise in a wide range of fields including music business, non-profit administration, performing arts administration, business development, innovation, marketing, music technology, music publishing and distribution and more.
Organizational partnerships help us place participants in internship programs where they can get practical experience with daily operations of organizations and companies in the music and performing arts industries.
African Artist Entrepreneurship Incubator
Program Highlights
Professional Development Sessions: Held every Saturday at 6 PM WAT, these professional development sessions and guest lectures offer expert guidance and resources to help turn ideas into impactful ventures.
Virtual Internships: Selected participants are placed in virtual internships with partnering arts organizations to gain hands-on arts administration experience. Each internship is individually tailored to develop participants’ relevant skill areas. Although internships are unpaid in our inaugural year, we aim to provide stipends for selected participants in future iterations.
Virtual Mentorship Program
This program is currently on hiatus as we shift our focus and resources to our African Artist Entrepreneurship Incubator.
The Virtual Mentorship Program (2020 - 2023) provided an 8-week enriching learning experience for students and teachers of various musical disciplines. Each student-teacher pair worked together on specific goals, while attending weekly lessons and guest lectures by external specialists on topics requested by participants. The outcome was a program that provided mutual growth and knowledge exchange for students and teachers alike.
In particular, we emphasized a cross-continental collaboration among music students from the University of Michigan and their peers in Lagos, Nigeria and beyond.
“I really needed a mentor...because I was preparing for my final exam recital. Throughout the 8 weeks of this mentorship I really developed deeper aspects, time management, my sound actually changed, my playing, my practice actually changed.” - Okiki 2022 Mentee
"I got really excited because, for the first time, I was working with a student who was not only really talented and had a lot of potential but was also good enough at the trumpet that I was going to be able to learn from the lessons too." - Morgan 2022 Mentor
Music Education & Instrument Donation
In the summer of 2023 the Àkójọpọ̀ Concert Team partnered with Ayonotes Music Academy, Atunbi Orchestra and Kunbi’s Music Company in Lagos, Nigeria for music education, community engagement and instrument donation initiatives. We worked with school children to promote music education and cultural enrichment, teaching students about their Nigerian culture through music. Àkójọpọ̀ also delivered musical instruments to support the academy's music education programs and enhance the availability of resources for aspiring musicians and students.
“I want to thank the Akojopo Music Foundation for making me a beneficiary of the 2022 musical instrument donation. I actually didn’t have an instrument of my own before… I now know how to play a lot of things, I’m now a solo player” - Seyi Akinsulire
