Africa is overflowing with talent. You don’t have to look far to see it. Street freestylers, choir vocalists, producers crafting beats in tiny studios—raw musical genius is everywhere.
But talent alone isn’t enough. And that’s where the industry keeps falling short.
We celebrate breakout stars, but behind the scenes, many of them struggle because they never had access to proper music education.
Sure, some make it big through trial and error, but for every artist who figures it out, there are countless others stuck in the cycle of talent without direction. And that’s a problem we don’t talk about enough.
The Hard Road to Success
Ask most Nigerian musicians how they learned their craft, and you’ll hear the same story: they taught themselves. Maybe they picked up skills from YouTube, shadowed a more experienced artist, or just kept experimenting until something clicked. That’s great—but a more structured way is even better.
Imagine if young artists had access to structured music education from the start. Not just vocal training or how to play an instrument, but real knowledge—songwriting techniques, music production, stage performance, branding, and even the business side of things. Wouldn’t that change the game?
The truth is, many of the biggest artists had to learn the hard way. They signed bad deals because they didn’t understand contracts. They lost money because they didn’t know how royalties worked. Some of them even had to go back and re-learn music fundamentals after already becoming stars. Why? Because there weren’t enough opportunities to learn these things early on.
Music Education is the Backbone of a Stronger Industry
Look at countries where the music industry is structured—places like the US, UK, and even South Korea. They invest in music education. Schools teach music theory, composition, and performance as part of the curriculum. Kids don’t just dream of being artists; they’re trained to be artists.
Now, compare that to Africa, where music education is either nonexistent or treated like an afterthought.
Thanks to stakeholders like DOn Jazzy, who through The mavin Academy, he takes artists through the fundamentals of music including the business side, but there is need for more of this in the industry.
Talent Will Open Doors, But Knowledge Will Keep You Inside
No doubt, African artists are proving themselves internationally. Afrobeats is dominating global charts, and the sound is influencing music worldwide. But imagine how much further we could go if artists didn’t have to rely on trial and error.
What if upcoming artists knew exactly how to arrange a song for maximum emotional impact? What if they could negotiate contracts without fear of being cheated? What if they had access to industry-standard training from the very beginning?
That’s why stronger music education isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s the missing link. It’s what separates artists who struggle from those who thrive.
It’s Time to Invest in the Future
If Africa must establish and maintain a significant place on the global music map, we need to start taking education seriously. That means making music a core part of the school curriculum, funding music programs, and creating more affordable learning opportunities for aspiring artists.
Because at the end of the day, talent is everywhere. But without knowledge, too much of it will go to waste. And we can’t afford that.
