MAY ROUND UP 🥳🎊
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Hey Creatives,
It’s time again to wrap up the month and it’s hard to believe how swiftly May has flown by. We’re thrilled to share a roundup of the month’s juiciest highlights with you. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Stay Up-to-Date with APVA's Annual Calendar!
Looking to stay ahead and make the most of every opportunity this year? Our annual calendar is your go-to guide for everything happening in our ecosystem, from hands-on workshops and creative labs to insightful webinars, conferences, and special community events.
Align your schedule and stay connected with everything happening at APVA.
Submit Your Events At APVA Calendar
For APVA Partners and Members: You can add your events to our calendar for free! This is a fantastic way to boost your event’s visibility and reach a wider audience.
If you’re one of our partners or members, just click the link below to submit your event for review and approval.
Not a partner or member yet? No problem! You can still get your event featured on our channels and tap into our network. Just ask us for a rate guide to get started.
Industry Updates
RESPOND with Seun Shobo
Meet our cover for this edition, Seun Shobo, The Brandmaster.
In this edition, we refer to him as The Brandmaster because that is exactly what he is. A man who has spent over two decades building structure into the African voiceover industry, training over a thousand voice talents, and carrying Africa’s creative excellence onto global stages.
Working on this edition reminded us why his voice stands out. He speaks with conviction, builds with intention, and has never stopped raising the bar for what African creatives can become. This publication captures the man behind the title, his philosophy, his journey, and the legacy he is still building.
Grab your copy now by clicking the link below!
Join the Largest African Directory for Audio Creatives, Studios, Brands, and Hubs!
Africa’s largest and fastest-growing catalogue of audio creatives, studios, hubs, and agencies is LIVE! APVA is calling on the continent’s finest to be part of it.
The Creators’ Rolodex is more than a directory; it’s a strategic platform built to spotlight African voice artists, sound engineers, studio owners, agencies, and creative hubs. Designed to drive visibility and open doors to continental and global opportunities, the Rolodex aims to reshape how the world discovers and connects with African audio talent.
Whether you’re looking to collaborate, cast, or get cast, submissions are now open. This is your chance to put yourself on the map.
Check out The Creators’ Rolodex now!
The Economic Case for Investing in Podcasters and Voice Actors
Africa’s audio industry holds far more potential than many people realise.
In this paper, “The Economic Case for Investing in Podcasters and Voice Actors,” the conversation goes beyond creativity to examine how podcasting and voice acting can contribute to economic growth, job creation and new opportunities across the continent.
This paper highlights the realities that creatives in the audio industry continue to face, from limited funding and infrastructure to the need for stronger institutional support.
Grab your copy now by clicking the link below!
Sector Updates/Insights
Stephanie Ugbeye’s Performance on Grief and Motherhood
Stephanie Ugbeye delivers a deeply emotional performance in the short film Zoe by OGWA Studios, portraying a mother navigating a sudden medical crisis during the Easter period.
Her role thoughtfully explores grief, hope, resilience, and the emotional weight of motherhood while drawing attention to the realities of sickle cell disease.
Visit the link below to read more.
AAWP Launches New Podcast with Emma Ofosua
AAWP Podcast with Emma Ofosua Season 1 officially launched, featuring in-depth conversations with last year’s guests, rich storytelling from poets, and engaging behind-the-scenes experiences.
The podcast will be available on Patreon and YouTube via the AAWP Festival channel, offering an educational and entertaining experience with upcoming open mic opportunities.
Click on the link below for more information.
The African Voice AI Stack Just Quietly Changed. Here’s What It Means for Our Voices.
In February and March 2026, three separate announcements changed what African voice AI can do and what can be done with African voices.
Google’s WAXAL dataset opened 21 African languages of open-source voice data, with African partners holding ownership. Intron’s Sahara-v2 shipped an African-built speech recognition model across 24 African languages and over 500 African English accents. Google expanded its AI search mode into 13 African languages.
Visit the link below to read more.
Opportunities Station
The 2nd Annual South African Voiceover Awards 2026
The 2nd Annual South African Voiceover Awards 2026 is now open for entries, inviting voice artists across different categories to submit their work and be recognised for their talent.
It’s a chance to showcase your voice, gain visibility in the industry, and celebrate excellence in voice-over.
Deadline: 3rd July, 2026.
Click on the link for more details.
Voiceover Procourse Bootcamp (Onsite)
Voiceover Academy is hosting a one-week intensive physical bootcamp for beginners and professionals in voiceover.
The training covers studio etiquette, character interpretation, vocal awareness, ethics, and the business of voiceover, with hands-on studio practice, classwork, and a group project.
Date: June 1-5, 2026
Time: 10 AM – 5 PM
Venue: Voiceover Crib, Obanikoro, Lagos
Fee: ₦170,000
Visit the link below for more details.
Broadcast Media Pro Course Applications Open
City Media Academy is offering a 5-week intensive Broadcast Media Pro Course combining training and internship experience.
The programme covers radio presentation, content creation, voiceover mastery, show preparation and interviews, diction and public speaking, event hosting, and news reporting.
Participants will undergo 2 weeks of expert-led training, followed by a 3-week internship at City 105.1 FM, gaining hands-on industry experience.
Classes begin: July 6th, 2026
Venue: Lagos, Nigeria
Fee: N150,000 Naira
Visit the link below for more information.
Upcoming Events
7th Edition Radio Broadcasting Convention
The Radio Broadcasting Convention, Africa 2026, is the 7th annual edition of Broadcast Media Africa’s flagship continental gathering for the radio and audio sector.
The two-day convention will bring together radio broadcasters, podcasters, regulators, technology providers, and media professionals from across Africa.
Theme: Unlocking the Podcasting Economy: Strategies for Production, Distribution, and Monetisation.
Date: July 1-2, 2026.
Venue: Green Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Visit the link below for more information.
Poetry Slam Africa: 1st Preliminary 2026
Poetry Slam Africa is now open for submissions for its 1st preliminary edition happening this June in Nairobi.
If you’re a poet based in Kenya, this is your chance to perform, compete, and be part of one of Africa’s leading spoken word platforms. Selected poets will go through multiple rounds, with top performers qualifying for the Grand Slam and a chance to advance to the World Poetry Slam stage.
Date: June 14, 2026
Location: Braeburn Theatre, Nairobi
Click on the link below for more information.
The Late 20s Are Upon Us: An Evening of Poetry
The Late 20s Are Upon Us is an evening event dedicated to expressive and heartfelt poetry. It brings together poetic voices for a live experience centred on storytelling, emotion, and performance.
Date: June 13th, 2026
Time: 4:00 pm
Venue: Braeburn Theatre, Austin Room, Kenya
Tickets: KES. 1000 (Early Bird)
Visit the link below for more details.
Media
TEDx Maitama: Call for Performers
TEDx Maitama is now accepting applications from performers for its “Rewriting the Rules” experience.
The platform is looking for creatives who can move audiences through music, poetry, spoken word, dance, or other powerful forms of expression.
Performers whose art tells stories, sparks emotion, challenges thinking, or inspires people are encouraged to apply.
Date: July 25, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM
Venue: Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria
Visit the link below for more details.
Accra Indie Filmfest 2026
Accra Indie Filmfest has officially announced the dates for its 2026 edition.
The festival, themed “Resilience in Motion”, marks the 8th edition of the short film event, bringing together filmmakers and creatives from across Africa.
Date: July 27–31, 2026
Location: Alliance Francaise, Accra.
Visit the link below for more information.
The Future Of Public Interest Broadcasting In Africa Under Pressure In The Digital Age
A new 2026 report by Broadcast Media Africa reveals that over 68% of industry stakeholders believe public broadcasters are facing significant pressure, driven by declining revenues, audience fragmentation, and competition from global platforms.
The report calls for urgent reforms, including digital transformation, updated funding structures, and stronger collaboration, to ensure public interest broadcasting remains relevant and effective in a changing media landscape.
Visit the link below to read more.
APVA Creative Showcase
The Lead Creative Podcast
Episode: Why Safe Advertising Makes Brands Forgettable
In this interesting episode of the Lead Creatives, host Mongezi Mtati sits down with Chris Botha, MD of Park Advertising, for a sharp conversation on why safe advertising is holding brands back.
From the growing tension between creativity and data to the reality of tighter budgets, Chris explains why this moment calls for bolder thinking, not smaller ideas. The episode also explores changing audience behaviour and what it means for brands trying to stay relevant in an attention-fragmented world.
Click on the link below to grab the full gist.
Resources Station
[Opportunity]: The 2nd Annual South African Voiceover Awards 2026 | Competition | Deadline: 3rd July, 2026. Click here
[Opportunity]: CANEX Shorts 2026 Film Competition Call for Entries | Competition | Deadline: June 30, 2026. Click here
[Event]: Abuja Photo Festival 2026: Where Imaging Futures Converge. Date: 27th – 30th October 2026. Click here
[Event]: Ubumuntu Arts Festival. Date: 13–19 July 2026. Click here
[Insight]: The Sports Podcast Audience Is More Powerful Than You Think. Click here
[Insight]: Stop Gaslighting Yourself: Podcasting Is a Full-Time Job. Click here
[Insight]: Africa’s Media Industry Confronts Revenue Shift As Digital Platforms Redefine Monetisation Models. Click here
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With Love,
APVA Editor.