By Ogova Ondego
Published October 27, 2015

Let's go to Kenya, Africa's Digital Media Mecca!Players in Africa’s broadcast, movie and music sectors are set to converge in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for what promises to be a cutting-edge conference and exhibition from October 28, 2015.

The opening of the event, known as Broadcast, Film & Music Africa (BFMA), shall be presided over by William Ruto, Kenya’s Deputy President, with the keynote address made by Hassan Arero Wario, Kenya’s Minister for Sports, Culture and the Arts.

RELATED: African Representatives of Arts, Media, Technology and Government to Converge in Nairobi

Among the highlights of the gathering that brings together movers and shakers in Africa’s digital media sector to what the organisers refer to as “two days of intensive education, networking and business” at All Saints Cathedral’s Trinity Centre on Kenyatta Avenue shall be the unveiling of Startag, touted as Kenya’s latest social media innovation that provides “a unique branding platform”, African Advertising Forum that is expected to review the impact of digital media on the advertising industry and The African Diaspora Forum that shall look at the “opportunities for African artists through marketing to the African Diaspora.”

ArtMatters.Info is media partner of Broadcast, Film and Music Africa 2015 Conference & ExhibitionSean Moroney, chairman of UK-based AITEC Africa that organises the annual event, not only says BFMA 2015 has a “great educational, networking and entertainment programme” but that its business shall be spiced up by live concerts.

“We have a great music concert lined for both lunch breaks and both evenings from 6 to 9 each day. See the programme attached. This is a great FREE entertainment programme for you and your industry contacts to enjoy courtesy of BFMA’s entertainment network,” Moroney says.

RELATED:High Impact Tourism Training Project Targets Four African and Three Asian Countries

Among the musicians lined up for performance include Grand Master Masese, Michel Ongaro, Octave Band, Word Benda, Gravitti Band, Meredith Beal & Friends and Denise Gordon.

Not to be forgotten are the panel discussions that are set to tackle what looks like excitingly interesting topics such as ‘State of the African Film Industry’, Facing Realities of Digital Migration’, Focusing on Consumer Issues and Understanding the Audience during Digital Transition’, ‘How African Artists Can Make Money in New Digital Media’, ‘Intellectual Property Rights, Royalties and Copyright Enforcement’, ‘Funding Opportunities for African Film’, ‘Challenges of African Film Education’, ‘Opportunities and Challenges for Women in Music’, and ‘Challenges Facing Digital Broadcasting’.

The training workshops planned for delegates at BFMA 2015 are:
* IP-based media networking technology
* Sony Video Masterclass: The power of mirror-less imaging and 4K recording
* Adobe Creative Suite Masterclass
* The world of ARRI cinematography
* Sony professional camcorders and beyond
* How to pitch your TV or film show idea
* Automation solution: Dayang’s MAM System
* Optical disk mass duplication & printing equipment
* Canon Professional Video Cameras
* Launching a successful digital platform in a crowded market.

Broadcast, Film and Music Africa, BFMA, 2015 Conference & Exhibition logo

How about what matters to me most (well, almost!); food?

“There is on-site cash catering, with discounted lunch vouchers available for delegates,” Moroney says.

ArtMatters.Info is, once again, a media partner of AITEC Africa on the annual BFMA.

RELATED: Kenyan Youth Showcase their Animation, Music and Game Design Skills at Graduation