Mighty Popo on his experience at Morocco music festival

Award-winning Rwandan musician, Mighty Popo has just returned from Morocco, where he took part in the annual Visa for Music Festival held in Rabat. The four-day music extravaganza attracted 1200 music professionals from 85 countries across Africa and the Middle East from November 22 to 25. Mighty Popo is the founder and organiser of KigaliUp Music Festival. He was invited to share his experience on how festivals are organised in Rwanda, and how to make them successful in the music business. The event focused on sharing experiences on how festivals are organised across Africa, music production for the promotion of artists and the networking among artists and other key stakeholders. Festival-goers were treated to different types of music from African and the Middle East musicians. / William Farrington The four-day event also included street performances. / William Farrington In an interview, Mighty Popo told The New Times that it was a great honor and privilege to share his experience at the Visa for Music Festival adding that he also learnt a lot from his counterparts from across the globe. “I promoted KigaliUp with the aim of attracting more participants to attend future editions in Kigali. The festival was also an opportunity for me to learn from others. I also used the event to get tips on how best I can organise our festival to make it more interesting,” he explained. The event offers opportunities for cultural exchange and networking between musicians, agents, recording companies, artistic directors, cultural organisations, media, trainers and others involved in music in Africa and the Middle East. Artistes take to the stage during this highly successful Visa for Music Festival that concluded on Saturday in Rabat, Morocco. / William Farrington Some of artistes who took part in the festival. / William Farrington Mighty Popo noted that East African music is progressing and has potential to penetrate a bigger market in Maghreb and Middle East through Visa for Music Festival. The festival was graced by a number of big names in music like, RFI 2015 Prix Decouverte winner Elida Almeida, Sony Musicre and José Da Silva, among others. Courtesy of William Farrington The musical event also featured numerous cultural activities, such as honorary ceremonies, seminars, workshops and training courses, meetings and a cultural expo. The fourth edition of Visa for Music, also known as VFM, was organised in collaboration with the Moroccan Ministry of Culture and the Hiba Foundation. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Mighty Popo on his experience at Morocco music festival