The Music Business Academy for Africa has announced a major organisational shift, adopting a new name — the Creative Business Academy for Africa (CBA for Africa) — to reflect a broader focus on the continent’s expanding creative economy.
Founded in 2020, the academy has trained more than 1,500 professionals for the music industry. The rebrand marks an expansion of its curriculum to include film and fashion, in addition to music, as part of efforts to strengthen capacity across multiple creative sectors.
The change coincides with the launch of the academy’s 2026 programme, themed IMPACT and An Ecosystem Template, which will operate as a full business simulation model. Participants will be trained in an environment intended to mimic real-world industry operations.
Founder of the Creative Talent Foundation, Godwin Tom, said the transition to CBA for Africa is aimed at preparing trainees for an increasingly interconnected creative landscape. He noted that a broader understanding of music, film, and fashion has become essential for navigating the sector.
The 2026 programme, an initiative of the Creative Talent Foundation, will feature four components: Music Business Programme, Film for Music Programme, Fashion in Music Programme, and Talent Development Programme. Participants will take on roles across an integrated ecosystem and receive training from industry professionals within an incubator-style structure.
He said, “This evolution to the Creative Business Academy for Africa is more than a name change; it’s a strategic response to the demands of the modern creative economy. Success today requires a horizontal understanding of how music, film, and fashion intersect. That is why our 2026 ‘IMPACT’ program is a full business simulation. We are creating a unique incubator where theory meets market reality, forging professionals who are not just knowledgeable, but are proven, results-driven ecosystem builders.”
The academy said its approach will continue to be anchored on three pillars: learning, practice, and results.
Programme Director Elizabeth Sobowale said the expansion represents an effort to extend the academy’s impact beyond music and respond to the needs of emerging creative industries across the continent.
Sobowale said, “This transition to CBA for Africa is about scale and substance. We’ve proven what’s possible within music, and now we’re expanding that success across other parts of the creative industry. The future of Africa’s creative economy belongs to those who can connect ideas, industries, and impact, and that’s exactly what we’re training our people to do.
“Developed in collaboration with Prof. Carlos Chirinos of New York University’s Music Business Programme, the CBA for Africa curriculum continues to be a global programme with a distinctly African focus, supported by the Creative Industries Initiative For Africa (CIIFA).”
