After a one-year wait, the ONGEA Music Summit 2017 was held from February 16 to 19, 2017 at the Sarit Center.
The four-day event was truly a regional summit, drawing panelists and artists from across the East and Central African region. A few artists from Latin America were also present.
Music Industry Panels:
The ONGEA Music Summits aren’t just about entertainment, they also feature educational forums and panels that help educate artists and music lovers about what’s happening.
This year’s panels were no different, with guest appearances from music industry players and parastatal bodies such as MCSK, PRISK and KAMP joining the discussion on regulation and the growth of the industry.
For example, the audio engineering and production jury discussed technical aspects of sound production in a studio and at events, and educated artists on what to charge.
ONGEA Music Summit 2017 Participants & Exhibitors
Attendees included popular Kenyan DJs and music enthusiasts who discussed the business of music in terms of digital distribution, event performance and broadcasting.
Among the exhibitors was the ASUS Computers company, which showcased its latest device, the VivoBook Pro NW552, which includes ASUS’ SonicMaster audio technology, designed specifically for music and music artists.
Karaoke Capital was also on hand to help artists translate their music into karaoke. Other exhibitors included DJ academies, music studios and independent artists selling their wares.
Entertainment: ONGEA Music Summit 2017
On the entertainment portfolio we had interesting and new artists from Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. Most were good at being musical instrumentalists and had excellent vocal skills. Some of these included Buula from Uganda, who played saxophone, and Jeff Mduma, who played guitar acoustics while singing. He is from Tanzania.
Artists keeping the crowds busy included Disco Vumbi, Hart_the_Band and PHY.
The event undoubtedly helped artists and music lovers to better understand the music business and how far the industry has come. We look forward to the ONGEA Music Summit 2018.
The beginning of ONGEA
For those who don’t know, the birth of the Eastern Africa Music Summit (ONGEA) was not the death of Kenya Music Week, which usually takes place in December. ONGEA is more of an advanced and better version of the annual Kenya Music Week.
Of course, Kenya Music Week has gone a long way in restructuring the Kenyan music industry forever. However, it was felt that expanding the scope of the event would not only make the event more relevant and sustainable, but also make it accessible to a larger market at both regional and global levels.
The result of the ONGEA 2017 proved this. The Music Summit is not only a major source of outstanding innovations, but also exposed the attendees and major players in the music industry to unlimited trends and content that will make a major contribution to the sustainable development of the music and entertainment industries in East Africa.
What the future holds for the East African music industry
As the 2017 Public Celebration of the East African, the 4-day event was dedicated to doing, learning and presenting music to promote the growth of the music industry in East Africa. It offered a trade exhibition from the region and around the world. This was underscored by an open mic concert designed to bring emerging artists and insight into building a successful music career.
Although the benefits of the 2nd East Africa’s Music Summit are not yet fully known to the public. It is expected to have far-reaching positive effects and bring satisfying benefits, like the 2016 ONEGA Music Summit.
Over time, ONEGA is expected to facilitate, among other things:
1. Drawing and gathering ample international support for the transfer of skills and knowledge.
2. Ensuring greater engagement and involvement of the music industry in the region.
3. More showcase of regional talent for festival owners and bookers around the world.
4. A huge and unlimited funding source for music startups in the region.
5. The establishment of a permanent forum that will consistently serve as a platform for strengthening the music industry in the region through exhibitions, networking and discussions.
Special Credit: E-Labz