The SAMW will be an annual cross-border collaborative event in 2021, whose partnership is between Canada, SA Gvt and other private sectors. It takes place from January 26 to 29 virtually.
Being a pilot project it will see other states such US collaborating in the future.
Taking its cue from the world-respected Canadian Music Week, SAMW in 2021, will see South Africa and Canada come together to explore ways in which to maximise how music, technology and business are converging, and to forge a new path for success for all musicians.
In a reciprocal exchange, SAMW will aim to build skills and the capacity of the South African Music Industry as a whole, and for artists in both countries to discover new markets for their craft. At the same time, South Africa and Canada are looking to develop a mutually beneficial collaborative investment paradigm to grow the music economy, a by-product of which, could be travel and tourism opportunities between the two.
SAMW is the result of a working visit by South Africans in 2019 at the Canadian Music Week (CMW) in Toronto, Canada in May, and also as part of a fact-finding mission to Canada in January 2020, led by Mbali Hlophe, MEC for Gauteng Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
Founder and CEO of South African Music Week, Michael Moeti, said: “We are excited to write a new chapter for the South African music industry by bringing the world to our doorstep, using the digital age to unearth emerging talent and plugging it into a global audience.
“Thanks to the phenomenal inspiring success of Master KG’s Jerusalema, South African talent is being recognized globally. SAMW is, therefore, the ideal platform from which to entrench this interest and build a robust cross-border music industry based on collaboration,” says Moeti, who in early 2019 mooted the idea with this reporter.
Canada represented by Honorable Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries said: “I’m pleased that we all are coming together to support South African Music Week, in the great province of Ontario… I’m pleased that we continue, as the ‘world in one province,’ to embrace the world over into our music scene and vibrant culture and arts scene…. We are there to support you and we cannot wait to see what you deliver next.”
Canada will also field a contingent of highly regarded professionals, some of whom have been responsible for the successful careers of some of the biggest global artists including; Drake, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, The Weeknd and Michael Bublé among others.
Having based its theme ‘music in the 4IR’ SAMW is free to attend and will take place virtually due to Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Moeti, a serial entrepreneur, the event will also see local acts from Soweto sharing stage with the likes of Afronaut, Anada Trap Story, Andyboi, Bongani “Mahlathini” Zanazo, Jay Popular, Mahlathini, Kayla Sean Trimz, Nono Nkoane, Automatic, Khanyo, Hanco Tarryn Lamb, Thuto, Sofaya and New Hero.
For free registration and more information, visit www.samw.co.za
A media briefing will hosted both virtually and in person attendance on January 26.
