SEPTEMBER ROUND UP 🤩🎉
APVA Editor - News, Opportunities, Exciting Events, and Other Updates!
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Dear Creatives,
It’s the last day of another month, and just like that, we’re done again. It’s safe to say 2025 has truly taken us on a journey. As you pause to reflect on how this month has been, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to spotlight some amazing opportunities, jobs, and events you might have missed on our website.
Without any further delay, let’s dive 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
The African Podcast and Voice Academy Launches Today!
Introducing The African Podcast and Voice Academy - APVA
This is Africa’s Biggest Sector-specific Learning and Acceleration hub for Audio Creatives.
This is where we strengthen the African audio industry and transform audio skills into viable, flourishing ventures through structured learning, mentorship, and scalable resources tailored to African realities.
Being part of the Academy will give you access to:
🎓 Expert-led courses on podcasting, voiceover, and storytelling.
🤝 Access to mentorship from seasoned industry professionals.
🌍 A community of creatives shaping the future of African audio.
💼 Skills to turn your passion into a sustainable business
Interested? Now is the time to learn, grow, and amplify your voice.
Visit the link below to sign up now!
Happy International Podcast Day
September 30th is all about celebrating the power of podcasts, the stories that keep us glued, the voices that inspire us, and the communities that keep growing one episode at a time.
It’s the perfect day to connect with fellow podcasters, listeners, and creatives across the globe. Whether you’re behind the mic or tuning in with your headphones, you’re part of this incredible audio journey.
Spread the word, share your favourite shows, and keep showing up!
Happy International Podcast Day!
Download Respond With Serah Johnson 🎉🥳
ISSUE 20 IS HERE!
This edition of RESPOND celebrates a voice that does more than perform.
Serah Johnson is a voiceover artist, sound engineer, coach, and presenter whose artistry lives in the seamless way these roles connect. For her, voiceover isn’t just about sound; it’s about evoking emotion, painting pictures, and breathing life into characters.
From Moji to Iyanu, Serah has embodied voices that carry both global resonance and local authenticity, reminding the world of the depth of African storytelling. Her SOVAS Award for Outstanding Narration in TV or Film was more than recognition; it was proof that African voices are being heard, valued, and celebrated worldwide.
But Serah isn’t defined by accolades alone. She is a mentor, an artist, and a sound engineer. On and off the mic, she lives in constant creation, sharpening her craft and exploring new ways to make voice a powerful art.
This month, we honour Serah Johnson as The Voiceover Empress, whose voice is at once versatile, regal, and unforgettable.
Visit the link below to get to know our cover girl, Serah Johnson.
PodFest Naija: Whose Voices Are We Really Celebrating?
PodFest Naija is a true milestone for podcasting in Nigeria. But milestones aren’t the whole journey. Behind the stage lights are the independent podcasters, the ones who’ve been building, experimenting, and showing up week after week, often with little recognition.
That’s the heart of this conversation. A festival of stories should centre on those who tell them. Because without their voices, the story risks being rewritten.
Read the full article below.
AVSR: Where African Stories Find Their Voice
At APVA, we’ve built a growing library of scripts for voice artists and audio creatives across Africa.
This isn’t just a script collection; it’s a space to practise, improve, and connect. Whether you’re a voice artist looking for new material or a writer wanting to share African stories, the AVSR is for you.
Here’s how you can use it:
- Find scripts to grow your skills
- Share your own scripts with the community
- Connect and collaborate with other creatives
Be part of it today! Explore the repository or donate a script and help us amplify African voices.
Check it out below!
Sector Updates/Insights
SOVAS Announces Winners of 2025 Speak Up Africa Voice Contest
SOVAS has unveiled the winners for its groundbreaking Speak Up Africa voice-over contest.
This year’s inaugural edition focused on showcasing Africa’s diverse voice artistry on the international stage. The ten selected winners will benefit from free entry into the prestigious 2026 Voice Arts Awards in Los Angeles, mentorship from industry leaders, and a platform to represent Africa’s world-class voice talent.
Visit the link below for more information.
AIR Announces 2025 New Voices Public Radio Program Fellows
AIR has unveiled the 2025 cohort of fellows for its prestigious New Voices Public Radio Program. Since its inception in 2009, the program has championed underrepresented voices in audio by providing space, opportunity, and community for emerging talent.
This year’s edition focuses on supporting mid-level professionals in public radio. Fellows will benefit from mentorship opportunities, hands-on craft sessions, and a platform to pitch bold new stories that reflect diverse perspectives.
Click on the link below for more insight.
Workspace Global Partners with Village Capital
Workspace Global has announced a strategic partnership with Village Capital to provide comprehensive brand development support for entrepreneurs in Africa’s sustainability sector.
Through this collaboration, founders participating in the Empowering Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Africa (ESEA) and Greentech Africa programs will receive investor-ready and market-ready brand assets designed to enhance their visibility and strengthen their market positioning.
Visit the link below for more information.
Opportunities Station
2025 EU Short Film Competition
In collaboration with Zuma International Film Festival, the European Union invites young filmmakers to create a short film (1–3 minutes) on the theme “Being a Nigerian Youth.”
The theme explores storytelling for life and the creative journeys of Nigerian youth in today’s world.
The top 10 entries will be screened at the Zuma International Film Festival on December 3, 2025, where winners will be announced.
Prizes include:
Winner – ₦1.5 Million
1st Runner-Up – ₦750,000
2nd Runner-Up – ₦500,000
Submit your film via the link below.
Casting Call: Actors Wanted!
Mosaic Productions is seeking talented actors of all ages and backgrounds for an upcoming crime thriller drama series.
They are looking for performers who are proficient in:
English
Pidgin
Spanish
If you’re passionate about storytelling and ready to bring bold characters to life, this is your chance!
Deadline: October 6th, 2025.
Submit your portfolio via the link below.
Call for Animation Submissions
Are you an animator with a story to tell? Whether you’re an indie rising star or a seasoned pro, this is your chance to shine! The Abuja Comic Art Convention 2025 is opening submissions for the curated Animation Showcase, a celebration of Africa’s boldest voices in visual storytelling.
Submission deadline: October 1st, 2025
Visit the link below to submit now!
Upcoming Events
South African Voiceover Awards
The South African Voiceover Awards (TSVA) is more than just an awards programme. It’s a historic moment for the industry to honour, recognise, and celebrate the power of Mzansi Voices.
This landmark event will feature top media heads, elite voice artists, Mzansi stars, networking opportunities, live performances, and more.
Date: October 4th, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm
Visit the link below to get your ticket now!
To The Partakers Of My Communion - Poetic Hour
Join this special poetry performance by Favor Merian, winner of the East Africa Poetic Hour Battle 2025.
Date: Friday, 3 October 2025
Time: 4PM – 6PM
Entry: Free (registration required via the link below)
Come experience an afternoon of powerful words and artistry, you don’t want to miss this.
Rafiniki Open Mic: Language and Roots
Rafinki, in partnership with Baraza Media Lab, presents an evening of poetry and performance under the theme “Language and Roots.”
Featuring the dynamic Timogk, one of Kenya’s leading spoken word voices. His poetry is playful, engaging, stimulating, introspective and out of this world and he welcomes us to his world!
Date: Thursday, October 2nd, 2025.
Entry: Free
Click on the link below to RSVP.
Media
Afrotellers Conference 2025
Join Afrika’s leading storytellers, creators, and cultural disruptors in Johannesburg this October as we unite under one call: Our Stories. Our Voices. Our Power!
Date: October 23 - 25, 2025.
Click on the link below to register.
Africa International Film Festival Now Open for Submissions
The Africa International Film Festival (ARIFF) 2025 is now accepting submissions. This is an opportunity for filmmakers to share their work, tell powerful stories, and be part of one of the continent’s most dynamic film platforms.
Submissions are open to filmmakers across genres and styles, with selected works gaining the chance to be showcased to a diverse audience of industry professionals, critics, and film enthusiasts.
Deadline: 01 October 2025.
Visit the link below for more information.
Creative Showcase
Crown Of Glory Podcast
Episode: Crown Jewel: Discovering the Royal You
Join our host Nthenya Juliana as she dives into powerful conversations that remind you of your worth and purpose. Don’t miss the latest insights, inspiration, and encouragement.
Get inspired, and stay connected for more incredible content!
Resources Station
[Opportunity]: 2025 EU Short Film Competition | Competition | Deadline: November 10, 2025. Click here
[Opportunity]: Gamathon 25 Animation Film Screening | Workshop | Date: September 28th- October 4th, 2025. Click here
[Event]: South African Voiceover Awards. Date: October 4th, 2025. Click here
[Event]: 7th Annual Afros & Audio Podcast Festival. Date: October 17th to 19th, 2025. Click here
[Insight]: Moments with Nderru Season 8 Now Streaming on NW Plus TV. Click here
[Insight]: The Cost of Quality: Why Investing in Professional Voiceover Talent Pays Off. Click here
[Insight]: 100 Artists, 66 Countries: Announcing the 2025 Seed Awardees. Click here
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With Love,
APVA Editor.