Mbye Bittaye, Visa For Music (VFM) Ambassador in The Gambia has highlighted the benefits of VFM to the Gambians music industry.
Bittaye who returns from VFM 5th edition conference in November 2018, in Morocco with about 30 showcases at the center of the project, but also conferences, speed-meetings, workshops and trainings.
VFM is the first professional market /festival of Africa and Middle-East music’s: it is a new event born in 2013. This project was born from a paradox : on the one hand, the lack of visibility for African and Middle-Eastern artists at an international level and, on the other hand, a very important artistic dynamism and musical creation from these musicians. To fight against this problem, Visa For Music has as first goal to highlight the artistic creation of Africa and the Middle-East, first of all regarding the world music and actual music.
However, he told The Voice Vibes that VFM is a music meeting, festival that brings together music stakeholders across the globe.
“It aimed at making music a business entity, network with music stakeholders, it creates platforms for artistes to market their products with booking agents and festival organisers,” he explained.
Mbye, also the manager of Humanity Starz said VFM is a self investment and rebranding forum for all music stakeholders across the globe.
According to him, it also attracts some renowned NGOs to network with artistes meant to use music to spread value information to the world.
“Come next year, we will do a selection for Gambian Djs, artistes to be part of the conference to showcase their talents, because there are lots of talents here that can do better in Morocco, but they need to set standard to upgrade themselves in getting higher,” he said.
Author: Bakary Ceesay