Victoria Remi Nkong Calls For United African Approach To Grow Music Industry

Entertainment consultant and event producer, Victoria Remi Nkong, has urged African artists, governments, and industry leaders to work more closely together to strengthen the continent’s music industry and expand its global influence.

Speaking on the Morning Bite on 3Music TV and Pluzz 89.9 FM, Victoria said African music had gained significant international recognition in recent years, but success remained concentrated in only a few markets.

She said the continent needs to promote African music rather than music from individual countries if it wants to build lasting global success.

“We need more African talents to come together and take space on the global stage,” she said.

Victoria said Bridge Afrique was created to connect creatives across Africa through education, networking, and collaboration.

The organisation runs workshops that bring emerging artists together with established musicians and music executives to learn about the business side of the industry and record new music.

According to her, this year’s Showbiz 101 programme brought together artists from 16 African countries and the diaspora, resulting in about 50 collaborative songs.

She said one of the biggest barriers to cross-border collaboration remained the reluctance of some artists to work beyond their home markets.

“There is so much ego with artists,” she said, arguing that musicians should focus on expanding their audiences across the continent rather than limiting themselves to local success.

Victoria also pointed to practical challenges, including expensive air travel, visa restrictions and limited transport links between African countries, saying policymakers must make movement across the continent easier for creatives.

She added that African governments and investors needed to recognise the economic value of the creative industry and invest in African-owned platforms that support the distribution and promotion of local music.