Africa Unsigned is a joint initiative by producers, artists, music promoters and managers who believe in the future of African music. Currentlythere are approximately 30 of us scattered across the globe. We are present in Europe, in South Africa, West Africa and in East Africa. 

Pim Betist (left) and Daan Determeijer

Pim Betist, founder of Africa Unsigned, also created online label SellaBand, attracting music fans to invest and empower unsigned artists. More than 3 million dollars were invested in unsigned talent and around 50 artists “crowdfunded” $50,000 to record and release their album. Pim was nominated Dutch Direct Marketing Man of the year in 2008 and won the title of best speaker at MIA, Holland’s largest marketing conference in 2008. In January 2010 he was listed in Management Team as one of Holland’s top 25 creative business people.

Pim explains why he went on to create Africa Unsigned:

‘I wanted to move more towards music closer to my heart and i was inspired by a Jamaican taxi driver who couldn’t join Sellaband due to a lack of recording facilities and internet access. I chose to focus on the African continent because of the diversity of African music and abundance of highly talented artists.’

Creative Director, Daan Determeijer has years of experience working at new & traditional media companies and at the same time was an avid music collector, deejay, booker, promoter & event organizer. When he got the opportunity to combine all his skills, passions and ambitions in one at Africa Unsigned he grabbed the opportunity and dived head first into this adventure. Moreover, he is too damn sexy for this world.

Rosey, Promotion Team Leader, Kenya

A small team is working on Africa Unsigned on a full time basis and a larger group is helping out on a part time basis. We are all younger than 35 and enjoy live music at least once a week. Most of us are African, others are yet to visit the continent. We speak English, Wolof, Dutch, French, German, Shona, Swedish and Swahili.

Babylas, Coordinator West Africa, Senegal

Sef Khama is our promotion team leader in London. Sef was a Director of the legendary Carnaby Street record store, Deal Real. Whilst managing the Deal Real store he organised in-store performances from the likes of Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, Mos Def and Estelle amongst many others. He also worked on a number of projects for the likes of Ogilvy & Mather, Wieden & Kennedy and 3 Network.

Sef Khama, Promotion Team Leader, London

We have a network of studios, producers and promotors in Senegal, Mali, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. This network consists of the following partner organizations in Africa:

In 2008 Penya Africa was established and has since then continued its growth as an independent label, releasing five albums by the end of 2009. “Kenya Debut” by Stan (another Charlie Gillett favorite), “Mwanzo” by Sauti Sol, “Paukwa” by Dela, “82” by Just A Band and “Human Condition” by Muthoni the Drummer Queen all showcase fresh and exciting music by young Kenyan artists looking for their place on the African and World music scenes. Four of the albums are produced by the multi talented producer Wawesh (also director of Penya Africa). These releases reaffirm the label’s intention of pushing forward the New East African Sound.

Robert Wawero, Producer Penya Africa

During September of 2009 Sauti Sol, Dela and Stan have toured with great success through The Netherlands, Sweden and UK as part of the New East African European Tour, performing their music live for a very new and exciting crowd (they even performed for the Dutch prince).

Penya Africa is looking at its future with great determination. The label’s studio in Nairobi is aiming to expand its collaboration network and to bringing its music to the non-African market.

Pamberi Trust is a Zimbabwean arts organisation, founded on the belief that the arts are critical in shaping values that reflect society.  It exists as an enabling facility, by which all performing and visual artists and producers of culture may develop, promote and perform their works, and participate in building the nation.

Pamberi Trust provides the management and administration structure to coordinate and present over 900 arts events and development activities each year.
 
 

African Synergy is a regional African arts organisation based in Johannesburg, that is focused on regional and intra-African arts collaboration and breaking the cultural isolation between African countries and regions. 
 
African Synergy fulfils three programs:- 

1. Intra-African arts tours: linkages and collaborations under the African Tour Circuit (ATC) program. Over 100 tours in 3 years in 14 countries, involving 350 artists from 21 countries
2. Intra-African arts journalism and media through the Marimba Media program, involving African arts journalists from 14 countries. 
3.  Venue management - facilitation, booking and promotion of concerts and all arts events at Bassline, Johannesburg’s premier Afrobeat, world, jazz and reggae venue with rehearsal and recording facilities.

 Bassline Promotion and Management (Paris) –BPM- is representing Africa Unsigned in France.

BPM is a music promotion and management company that has been operating out of Paris since March 2009. They manage several bands, but also create and promote various musical events in Paris and France featuring new up and coming bands and artists as well as renowned ones.

BPM recently joined the Africa Unsigned team and will be responsible for the marketing, promotion and launch of Africa Unsigned in France. Two of the partners in BPM are partners in the South African based Bassline, which is the most popular music venue in Johannesburg and also does large scale music production and promotion.