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Beyond the Algorithm: African Musical Creativity in the Age of AI

The 91¿´Æ¬Íø Innovation Centre (WIC), in partnership with the Machine Intelligence & Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at 91¿´Æ¬Íø University, is piloting a first‑of‑its‑kind initiative exploring how African musical creativity can shape the future of artificial intelligence. Five multidisciplinary artist–engineer teams are now deep into prototype development, creating culturally grounded, technically ambitious tools and musical experiments rooted in African sounds, languages and knowledge systems.

African musics continue to challenge assumptions built into today’s largely Western‑trained AI systems. This project responds by supporting creators working across music‑making, archiving, education, performance, preservation and tool development.

 

Meet the Project Teams

Joshua Kroon (Cameroon) & Emmanuel Apetsi (Ghana) Project: The Bɛ̀bɛ̀i Engine — a performative AI instrument co‑created with the Baka community to preserve endangered polyphonic vocal traditions
Linda Nyabundi (Kenya) & Gebregziabihier Nigusie (Ethiopia) Project: Heritage in Code — a digital archive and AI‑fusion tool preserving African instrumental heritage while enabling contributor royalties
Umlilo (South Africa) & Gideon Gyimah (Ghana) Project: Zazi — a “musical digital twin” enabling real‑time voice, rhythm and storytelling interaction
Ehinome Ogbeide (Nigeria) & Muhigiri Ashuza Albin (DRC) Project: Bina.ai — an early‑learning children’s music and storytelling platform powered by African rhythms and multimodal AI
Tora Nyamosi (Kenya) & Lawrence (Kenya) Project: TIMah AI — a secure, community‑governed digital archive documenting Kikuyu traditional music with transcription and workflow tools

 

Selection Panel, Advisors & Speakers

  • The programme’s adjudication and advisory group comprises leaders in African music, technology, research and innovation. These panelists bring expertise across cultural entrepreneurship, AI systems, digital rights, preservation, music ecosystems, and community‑centred design.

     

     

Upcoming Showcases

Academic Showcase - 91¿´Æ¬Íø Chris Seabrooke Music Hall (16 April 08:30 - 12:30)

A showcase of all five projects representing music creators and engineers from 7 African countries, along with a listening stations exhibition and light lunch after the event, a keynote address by Anna Huang, Professor at MIT and a panel discussion entitled, “Encoding Culture: AI, African Music, and the Politics of Sound” featuring Miles Warrington, University of Pretoria, Pravesh Ranchod and Eleni Flack-Davison, 91¿´Æ¬Íø, and Gift Lubele.

Industry Showcase - 91¿´Æ¬Íø Chris Seabrooke Music Hall (16 April 13:00 - 17:00)

A showcase of all five projects, representing music creators and engineers from 7 African countries, along with a listening stations exhibition, a keynote address by Charles Goldstuck (US-based philanthropist and music executive), a roundtable entitled, “Creative Sovereignty in African Music and AI” featuring Nick Argyros (Audio Militia), Martha Huro (ex-Boomplay, Kenyan music exec), Ninel Musson (Music Business Lab & Vth Season), Thando Makhunga (Downtown Music/Virgin), and Tresor (Jacquel Entertainment, multi-award winning Congolese-South African songwriter).