Abuja Afrojazz Festival exposes musicians to global opportunities

Nigerian music professionals will come face-to-face with international festival directors, promoters, booking agents, journalists, intellectual property experts, artists and managers at theAbuja International Afrojazz Festival.

The festival, which holds from November 18-21, 2026 will seek to explore partnership, touring opportunities and cross-border collaborations for Nigerian musicians.

The fourth edition is also introducing a Professional Music Market for November 19 and 20 in Jabi, Abuja.

It will host about 20 international industry professionals from 10 countries.

Supported by the Institut français Nigeria, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the programme will give Nigerian artists and industry stakeholders a platform to build international connections and explore opportunities for bookings, co-productions, and career development.

The two-day programme will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, industry clinics, business-to-business meetings and one-on-one sessions between Nigerian artists and visiting professionals.

The festival will also feature a four-day artist residency involving Togolese musician Papyrus, Beninese artist Pepe Oleka and Abuja-based Pearl Rocker. The trio will collaborate on new material for the closing concert.The grand finale will take place on Saturday, November 21, at BALI City Park, Wuse 2, featuring award-winning singer and producer Cobhams Asuquo and his band, alongside festival founder The Salako, Jessica Bongos, Chile-born Gustavo Cerqueiras, Greece-based Adedeji, and the residency participants.

 Founder and festival director, Tosin Salako, said the festival was expanding its focus beyond live performances to create pathways for Nigerian musicians to reach international audiences and markets.

“Abuja is Nigeria’s diplomatic capital, and we believe it should also be a meeting point for African and global music.

“This year we are not only putting great artists on stage. We are bringing the people who book festivals, run labels and build careers into the same room as our artists.”