South Africa and Zimbabwe Collaborate to Foster Sustainable Growth in Music Industry

On August 13, 2021, cultural policymakers and prominent figures from South Africa and Zimbabwe engaged in a virtual meeting to exchange insights on fostering sustainable development within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), with a particular emphasis on the music sector. Zimbabwe’s delegation sought to acquire expertise in business skills, intellectual property protection, and copyright management from South Africa, recognized as one of Africa’s most dynamic music markets.

The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Farai Mpfunya and Ms. Yarri Kamara, who underscored the rapid growth of the African music market and highlighted Zimbabwe’s potential to capitalize on emerging opportunities, contingent upon the establishment of an enabling environment. Industry participants emphasized the distinctive sounds produced by Zimbabwe’s diverse cultural genres, as identified during a situational analysis conducted by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.

This peer-to-peer exchange is conducted under the framework of the EU/UNESCO Expert Facility for the Governance of Culture in Developing Countries. It forms part of Zimbabwe’s project titled “Strategy for the sustainable development of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in Zimbabwe – focus on the Music sector,” which is piloted by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.

Ms. Cleon Noah, Director of Multilaterals International Relations at South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture, encouraged the Zimbabwean team to leverage South Africa’s experiences to formulate a robust strategy that strengthens the music industry and ensures direct benefits to artists.

Key topics discussed included the definition of an enabling environment encompassing training in music business skills, securing buy-in from critical stakeholders including the private sector, and fostering political will to support the industry.

Mr. Zwelakhe Mbiba stressed the importance of establishing a well-organized structure to facilitate industry coordination in Zimbabwe. He highlighted South Africa’s national cultural observatory, which collects statistical data instrumental in informing and advancing national policymaking. This infrastructure has enabled South Africa to effectively coordinate a diverse industry comprising multinational companies, independent record labels, broadcasters, and collective management organizations.

Mr. James French addressed the evolving music production landscape, noting that technological advancements have reduced production costs, intensifying competition and challenging recording companies to keep pace. He also pointed out the significant influx of international content, which places local artists at a disadvantage due to limited marketing budgets compared to their international counterparts. French advocated for stronger government support through education, funding, and grant mechanisms to enhance music production and address existing gaps.

Zimbabwe is among several countries benefiting from the EU/UNESCO capacity-building programme titled “Supporting new regulatory frameworks to strengthen the cultural and creative industries and promote South-South cooperation.” This initiative supports Zimbabwe in developing a strategy focused on the sustainable development of CCIs, particularly the music sector and its digital environment.

The programme aims to assist developing countries in crafting regulatory frameworks—including laws, strategies, policies, and measures—pertaining to CCIs and intellectual property rights. It also seeks to bolster skills and capacities for long-term cultural policy development and implementation, while fostering peer-to-peer mechanisms to enhance institutional capacities through South-South cooperation.

This collaborative effort aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 11, which promotes inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements.