Koffi Olomide  - DRC

This Congolese musical legend’s love for music was obvious right from when he was a little child.  He recalls his aunt speaking of how at the age of 6, he would go round singing this “weird little song all the time”: ‘soso ameli ngando’ (the cock has swallowed the crocodile!). While in France, studying, Koffi Olomide’s passion for music grew even stronger and with the support he received from his brother; he embarked on his dream to be a musician. Since then Koffi has broken grounds and gained international recognition. Koffi’s music can be quite controversial, taking on current events and topics considered taboo in some conservative societies.

2Face Idibia – Nigeria

Innocent ‘2Face’ Idibia is a renowned Nigerian musician and songwriter. His major breakthrough was composing and singing the jingles in the famous radio show GB Fan Club in Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS) in 1996. He later relocated to Lagos and joined up with his ex-IMT mate BlackFace to form Plantashun Boiz and started calling himself ‘2Face’ in 1996. He later went solo and produced the award winning hit track ‘African Queen’, which was used as the sound track of the 2006 comedy film, Phat Girlz, making him even more recognized internationally. He has also won the MOBO and MTV Best African Act award.

Jozi – South Africa

Jozi are one of South Africa’s newest and already prominent Hip-hop groups. Their name is derived from a shortened version of Johannesburg, where they all reside. They have termed their sound as ‘Motherland Crunk’, making them unique in the SA music arena. The crew comprises of Bongani Fassie (aka Bongs), who produces the group’s distinctive Hip Hop sound, as well as contributing ‘sic’ lyrical verses. Ishmael (aka Ish) is a SAMA award winner, whose vocal skills has extensive exposure locally and abroad. Finally Lesley Mampe (aka Da L.E.S) has lyrical MC skills that contributes and ensures that the crew possesses the street credibility, as well as the commercial appeal to put them on the world stage.

Adeline Maranga – Kenya

Adeline Maranga, popularly known as “DELA” has been named, by critics as arguably one of Kenya’s finest female vocalists. Among the youngest & most popular female artistes in Kenya, her performances and vocal prowess have been compared to the likes of Chrisette Michele and Alicia Keys.

Her genre of music, Afro-Soul fuses funk techno and reggae and has seen her single – the first fusion of its kind “ULIVYO” go mainstream with record popular hits on Kenyan radio and TV. She has toured Europe extensively under her label with sold out concerts in London, Amsterdam and other cities. She recently toured Istanbul and performed at the Youth Congress with Young people from all over the world represented. Her local performances have been called breath taking, entertaining and inspirational.

Wax - Cameroon

Born in Cameroon and based in South Africa, 28-year-old Wax aka Nde Ndifonka, has made his mark across the continent as one of Africa’s most influential youngsters, excelling as a social activist, humanitarian, renaissance writer and world-class musician.  As a performer of relevance, he carries his messages of love and compassion throughout the world. His first single ‘Miss Real, Mr. Regular’ is gaining wide recognition on commercial radio and TV stations across Africa.

MXO - South Africa

Singing began quite naturally for MXO as a young child growing up. He participated in both school and scout choir, but it was musical legends such as Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masikela, Miriam Makeba as well as the social and political climate of the early 1980's that influenced the youngster to pursue a career in music. He moved to Johannesburg in the late 90’s and soon enough, began performing alongside great artists such as Brenda Fassie and Moses Molelekwa.
His debut, Another Day', in 2003, marked the arrival of an artist working outside the boundaries of conventional genres.

Tay Grin - Malawi

He is Malawi’s most famous rapper by far. At age 9, Lambadi Kalian aka TAY GRIN asserted he would be his own boss. At 14 he predicted two things; that he would own his own company and be a rap music sensation before he was 21.  The first rap artist to make an impression on Tay Grin was Jay-z. To find his individual and distinctive rap voice however, Tay looked inwards at his African soul and found that the roots of his Chechewa heritage and Malawian culture gave him his true and unique style that complemented the original American hip-hop template.