The third edition of SIMA 2026 will take place in Cotonou, Benin, under the theme "African Music: From the Stage to the Power of Influence." Kenyan emerging artists will be among the talents showcased at the event, which seeks to strengthen links between African creators, investors, institutions, and global markets. The event will bring together artists, producers, industry executives, and other creative-sector players to discuss how African music can turn growing global attention into sustainable business and jobs.
SIMA 2026 will feature new talent from Kenya, Togo, Madagascar, and other African countries, giving artists an opportunity to connect with professionals and audiences beyond their home markets. The organizers are positioning the showcase as part of a wider effort to create stronger bridges between African music markets and the international creative economy. The event follows a previous edition that attracted more than 6,700 participants and over 3,000 industry professionals.
Mamby Laye Diomandé, a prominent Ivorian cultural entrepreneur and expert in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), co-founded SIMA in 2022 with artist and producer Pit Baccardi. The event is broadening its focus beyond performances to the business structures around music, centering on three areas: international competitiveness, cross-sector collaboration, and public policy and intellectual property.
The 2026 program will examine the relationship between football and music, two industries with significant cultural reach across Africa. A dedicated session will discuss how these industries can work together to create additional commercial opportunities around artists and their work. Technology will also feature prominently, with panels examining artificial intelligence, copyright, artist mobility, financing, and emerging markets.
SIMA argues that greater international visibility for African artists needs to translate into measurable economic value, including stronger revenue streams, jobs, investment, and content monetization. The event acts as a professional bridge connecting artists, managers, labels, institutions, and global investors to strengthen the economic foundations of African music. The fair is backed by institutions and industry players, including Benin's Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, and Sony Music and Warner Music Africa.
The professional fair begins before the main conference, with SIMA Lab. Music bringing together artists and beatmakers from across Africa for a collaborative residency aimed at producing an EP. Distribution through an international major label is under consideration. After the main event, participants will take part in a tourism circuit organized with Benin Tourism, visiting selected heritage and cultural sites.
SIMA's wider ambition comes as Africa's creative economy attracts increasing attention as a potential source of jobs and economic growth. Organizers cite estimates that the sector could generate up to 20 million jobs by 2030. For Kenya, the inclusion of emerging artists provides another route into a continental conversation increasingly focused on exporting talent, attracting investment, and building stronger creative businesses.
Key points
- Kenyan artists will showcase their talents at SIMA 2026 in Benin, seeking to strengthen links between African creators, investors, institutions, and global markets.
- The event will center on three areas: international competitiveness, cross-sector collaboration, and public policy and intellectual property.
- Africa's creative economy is expected to generate up to 20 million jobs by 2030, with SIMA aiming to contribute to this growth.
