Sub-Saharan Africa, Subsahara, or Non-Mediterranean Africa is the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lie south of the Sahara. These include Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the African countries and territories that are situated fully in that specified region, the term may also include polities that only have part of their territory located in that region, per the definition of the United Nations (UN). This is considered a non-standardized geographical region with the number of countries included varying from 46 to 48 depending on the organization describing the region. The African Union (AU) uses a different regional breakdown, recognizing all 55 member states on the continent—grouping them into five distinct and standard regions.
Given the vastness of the African continent, its music is diverse, with regions and nations having many distinct musical traditions. African music includes the genres amapiano, jùjú, fuji, afrobeat, highlife, Congolese rumba, soukous, ndombolo, makossa, kizomba, Taarab, and others. African music also uses a large variety of instruments from all across the continent. The music and dance of the African diaspora, formed to varying degrees on African musical traditions, include American music like Dixieland jazz, blues, jazz, and many Caribbean genres, such as calypso and soca. Latin American music genres such as cumbia, salsa music, son cubano, rumba, conga, bomba, samba and zouk were founded on the music of enslaved Africans, and have in turn influenced African popular music.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian-American economist, who has been serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. She is the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization as Director-General.
African immigration to the United States refers to immigrants to the United States who are or were nationals of modern African countries. The term African in the scope of this article refers to geographical or national origins rather than racial affiliation. From the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 to 2017, Sub-Saharan African-born population in the United States grew to 2.1 million people.
Merlin is a digital rights music licensing partner for independent record labels, distributors, and other music rights holders around the world. It was founded in 2007 with Charles Caldas as the chief executive. In January 2020, Jeremy Sirota stepped into the role of Merlin CEO. The company is a member-based organization representing the digital licensing rights for hundreds of independent labels and distributors in nearly every country around the globe. As of 2019, Merlin has paid out over two billion dollars.
Alex Okosi is a Nigerian-born, US-educated business executive who has worked for the world's biggest broadcasting, streaming and tech brands. Committed to Africa’s digital transformation, Okosi currently holds the post of managing director of Google Africa, where he is responsible for Google’s operations in Africa including programs that help businesses and economies on the continent to grow, as well as expanding access and providing tools to help the next billion users get more from the Web.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu , who is known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Atlantic Records in the United States to release his third studio album, Outside (2018).
Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama is a Nigerian diplomat and politician who served as the minister for foreign affairs of Nigeria from November 2015 to May 2023. He was appointed foreign affairs minister in November 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Hadiza Bala Usman is a Nigerian politician who served as managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 2016 to 2021. She previously served as the chief of staff to the governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2016. She was appointed special adviser on policy coordination to President Bola Tinubu in June 2023 together with Hannatu Musawa.
Matthias Chika Mordi is from Delta State, in Nigeria and was a refugee during Nigeria’s civil war. He is an economist by training and a banker. He is the Chief Executive Officer of National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria and is the current Chairman of United Capital PLC. He is an Honourable Senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and alternate president of the West African Institute of Bankers (2005-2008).
Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence", which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on the song "Fountains" by Canadian rapper Drake.
Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc. She joined Fidelity Bank as an Executive Director in 2015 and was appointed Managing Director/CEO in January 2021, becoming the first female MD/CEO in the bank's history.
Warner Music Africa is a music corporation of the global record label Warner Music Group, founded on 5 December 2013. with its South Africa arm managing artist development, marketing, and distribution for Warner Music artists in Africa, with its corporate headquarters located in 1 Saxon Rd, Hyde Park, Sandton, 2196, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ahmadu Bello UniversityZaria is a federal government research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. It was founded by and is now named for Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria.
Universal Music South Africa is the South African division of the record label Universal Music Group, founded in 1997.
Measure of Music (MoM) is a multiple day virtual conference for music industry professionals working in digital media, and is held annually online with hackathons in select cities. Formed in 2021, the globally focused conference is a free data tech conference and workshop aimed at fostering innovation and equity with the data sector of the music business.
Temi Popoola CFA is a Nigerian financial services executive currently serving as the CEO of Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, a subsidiary of The Nigerian Exchange Group.
Tariye Gbadegesin is a Nigerian-American businesswoman and corporate executive who is the chief executive officer of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), effective 1 March 2024. She is the first African woman to serve in that role. She is based in Washington, DC, United States. Before that, she served as the CEO of the Lagos, Nigeria-based ARM Harith Infrastructure Investments, a joint investment fund owned by the Asset & Resource Management Company Limited ("ARM") of Nigeria and Harith General Partners (Pty) Limited ("Harith") of South Africa. Tariye was also the co-chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), a global initiative to mobilize high integrity carbon markets.
Temilade Salami known as Global Temi is a Nigerian environmentalist, a circular economy enthusiast, a marine biologist and an author. She was born on the 10th of June Temilade Salami serves as the Executive Director of EcoChampions a prominent network of environmental professionals in Nigeria, leading change through tree planting, ocean conservation advocacy, plastic waste management, and environmental education across the nation.
Rebecca ‘Dimplez’ Ijeoma also known as Dimplez is a Nigerian American music executive, currently serving as a vice president at Capitol Music Group. She is also the founder of the marketing consultancy firm IJEOMA. Her career includes roles at Capitol Records, Motown Records, Universal Music Group, BWR PR, and Uproxx.
