A significant evolution is underway within Africa’s creative training landscape as the Music Business Academy for Africa adopts a new identity — the Creative Business Academy for Africa (CBA for Africa). The transition signals a broader mandate aimed at equipping talent for the continent’s rapidly growing creative economy, extending beyond music to include film and fashion.
Established in 2020, the academy has trained more than 1,500 professionals for roles across the music industry. Its rebranding accompanies the rollout of its 2026 programme, themed IMPACT and An Ecosystem Template, which will operate as a full business simulation. Participants will function within a model designed to mirror real industry structures, allowing them to gain hands-on experience while understanding how various creative sectors intersect.
Godwin Tom, founder of the Creative Talent Foundation, described the shift as a strategic response to the changing dynamics of Africa’s cultural industries. He emphasised that success in today’s creative ecosystem requires proficiency across multiple sectors, noting that music, film, and fashion increasingly overlap in production, branding, and distribution.
The revamped 2026 programme will feature four key tracks:
- Music Business Programme
- Film for Music Programme
- Fashion in Music Programme
- Talent Development Programme
Participants will assume roles across an integrated ecosystem, working closely with industry professionals in what the academy calls an incubator-style environment. The objective, according to Tom, is to develop practitioners who not only understand the theory but can demonstrate tangible results in real-world creative markets.
Programme Director Elizabeth Sobowale explained that the expansion reflects a commitment to scale and relevance. Having built a solid foundation in music education, the academy is now positioning itself to meet the needs of emerging creative industries across the continent. She said the future belongs to professionals capable of bridging ideas and sectors, and the new structure is tailored to nurture such talent.
The academy’s teaching philosophy remains built on three pillars — learning, practice, and results. Its curriculum, developed in partnership with Prof. Carlos Chirinos of New York University’s Music Business Programme and supported by the Creative Industries Initiative For Africa (CIIFA), continues to blend global standards with an African-focused approach.
With this transformation, CBA for Africa aims to prepare a new generation of creative professionals equipped to thrive in an interconnected and evolving industry landscape.