Johannesburg, South Africa May 2025 – The fifth edition of the Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC), brought to life by Paradise Worldwide, AlphaTheta, Mint Digital Services and Lucid Sets came to a powerful close on Friday, marking another milestone in the evolution of Africa’s music and cultural industries. The two-day free music conference, held across multiple venues in the Constitution Hill’s iconic Women’s Prison in Braamfontein Johannesburg, celebrated talent, connection, and transformation with a mix of workshops, panels, showcases, keynotes, and performances — all centered on creating access and amplifying African voices globally. 

Highlights of ARMC 2025

This year’s program featured standout sessions, such as “Mamas in Music” — a powerful roundtable celebrating mothers in music, featuring industry icons such as legendary artist Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who shared special insights about how she managed to be the successful artist that she is as well as a fully present mother:

“I travelled everywhere with my kids and in 40 years I have never been on tour. I don’t do tours. That is a decision that I made because I wanted to be with my children.”

The “Mamas in Music “ session also gave birth to the Africa chapter of the Global Mamas in Music movement led by Artist and  ARMC’s project management assistant ,Thuso Mojatau who will be driving the  ongoing mission to provide essential resources that empower Mothers to advance their musical careers.

Other highlight speakers included Msaki, Money Badoo, Rouge, Gigi Lamayne, Busiswa, who electrified our audience with powerful panel insights and performances.

Workshop highlights included the AlphaTheta (Pioneer DJ) DJ sessions for beginners and intermediates, led by Rarri, Lelowhatsgood and Ms Party. Reflecting on the session, Ms Party shared:

“Not only did I get to share my experience and knowledge but I even learned a few tips and tricks from Elster. In true ARMC style- it is a sharing space.”

A Full Circle Moment for Busiswa

The conference ended on a high with the official launch of Busiswa’s new EP “Honey & Grace” at Artistry in Sandton, featuring an international lineup of DJs. The EP, produced in Berlin by European producers under the Paradise Sound System label, was created through the SAMPRA Development Fund x Paradise Worldwide Initiative managed by ARMC which has launched at ARMC 2024 –  a testament to the long-term impact of the conference.

Key Announcements & Strategic Partnerships

• ARMC 2026 will take place the weekend of 23–24 May 2026 in Johannesburg.
• A new strategic partnership with Jägermeister was announced. The Jägermeister Global Pass campaign, powered by ARMC, has already seen artist KMAT perform at International Music Summit in Ibiza and will enable five more African talents to perform at international showcases and festivals in the coming months.
• Manana, in collaboration with ACP, hosted a full house songwriting workshop.
• Artist Rouge led a powerful session on the importance of collaborating with female artists in the music industry
• A workshop dedicated to mental health in the music industry was presented by The Sound Mind, led by artist, Naimah Fadlallah, who also announced the launch of the New Future Foundation artist relief fund and partnership with Lloyd Cornwall (and the DStv Delicious Festival team) underway. 

A particularly impactful moment came when Lloyd Cornwall took the stage to pitch sponsorship in real-time to Candice Thurston, Head of Marketing at ABSA, offering an inspiring, behind-the-scenes look at how artists and creators can present value to corporate partners.

Social Impact and Youth Development

ARMC continues to make a tangible difference on the ground:

• In 2025, the conference facilitated over 150 job opportunities over its six-month operational cycle.
• Through its Cradle Crew initiative, 15 underprivileged youth from a rural community outside Johannesburg were transported, housed, and granted full access to the event.
• For 2026, ARMC aims to expand this initiative to support up to 100 youth from underserved areas across South Africa, providing access to mentorship, global networks, and career-shaping knowledge.

Looking Ahead

Now entering its sixth year, the Africa Rising Music Conference remains a platform driven by passion, innovation, and the belief that African voices deserve a global stage. The female-led team behind ARMC — Naima Fadlallah, Thuso Mojatau, Jules Spielmann, and founder SJ Nicholson — continue to set the standard for what inclusive, impactful, and future-forward music conferences should look like.