By Kemo Cham
Liberia is set to host the maiden edition of a sub initiative designed to promote cultural exchange among member countries of the Mano River Union (MRU) through music.
The Mano River Music Conference which is slated to run from May 17 to 18, 2024, is also meant to foster collaboration and address key challenges within the industry in the region, the organizers said.
ASAP Africa, Inc. a leading live production company dedicated to fostering cultural exchange and development across Africa, is organizing the conference it says will bring participants from the four member countries of the Union.
“The annual conference is poised to be a landmark event uniting musicians, industry professionals, and enthusiasts from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire,” said the organization in a statement.
It added: “This conference aims to celebrate the diverse musical heritage of the Mano River region while fostering collaboration and addressing key challenges within the industry with actionable solutions.”
The event will take place at the EJS Ministerial Complex in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
Among the guests and speakers already confirmed ahead of the event is Sierra Leonean artist, Xzu-B, who is described as the Chief Judge of AYV Media Empire’s Cypher programme; and Guinean Liberia musician, Feouls Kaba, alongside many top stars from the host country and Cote d’Ivoire.
According to ASAP Africa, the event entails an array of panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, all geared towards meeting the needs of emerging artists, industry professionals, and music enthusiasts.
Specific topics lined up for deliberation in the course of the two-day event include music and technology, lyrical content creation, and exploring opportunities to monetize music.
Panelists will also speak on Intellectual Property rights, focusing on the importance of copyright, and also seek to build bridges between musicians from the member MRU countries through collaborations with the goal of increasing fan base across their respective countries.
Besides the speeches, rappers will have an opportunity to showcase their rhyming storytelling skills in a rap battle in partnership with LIB Battle League, while musicians will receive hands-on training in a workshop.
“The Conference promises to be a dynamic platform for networking, learning, and collaboration within the Mano River Union music industry,” said ASAP Africa.
The conference is in a way a fulfilment of the dream of the founding fathers of the MRU, who envisaged a region with greater unity and solidarity and enhanced cooperation between member states and peaceful coexistence among its peoples.
The region, with a combined 52 million population, has largely failed to capitalize on the huge potential offered by cultural and business endowment of its peoples.
The organizers say they intend for the hosting of this annual conference to be rotated among the member MRU countries.
Saqar Ahhah Ahershu, Director of Strategic Partnerships at ASAP Africa, described the event as a pivotal moment for Liberia’s music industry.
“By bringing together world-renowned international music industry experts, and artists from the Mano River Union, we aim to provide invaluable insights, resources, and opportunities for growth to the vibrant community of musicians and music professionals in the region,” said Ahershu.
