News

IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, has opened its first regional office in Sub-Saharan Africa (S-SA). Based in Nairobi, the office will be headed by the newly appointed Regional Director, Angela Ndambuki, who will work across the region’s 46 countries to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music.

Commenting on the creation of the regional office, IFPI Chief Executive Officer, Frances Moore, said: “Sub-Saharan Africa has an incredibly exciting and diverse music landscape. The opening of our office in Nairobi demonstrates IFPI’s focus and commitment to the region and will enable us to better champion issues affecting the local recording industry and support the further development of the music market in these countries.

“I’m delighted that Angela is joining the global IFPI team to spearhead our work in the S-SA region and support its growing recording industry. Angela is enormously talented and comes with a wealth of experience.

“We would also like to thank Rob Hooijer whose work as the Regional Coordinator has helped us expand our presence in the region and laid the groundwork for the opening of our office in S-SA. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with him.”

Ndambuki takes on the regional role immediately, moving on from her position as Chief Executive Officer at the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI); East African State’s nationwide trade lobby and member of the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC).

Commenting on her appointment, Ndambuki stated: “I am looking forward to working on strengthening the copyright industry in S-SA, both in policy and operations, especially in light of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.”

Ndambuki has extensive experience in strategic decision making and leadership and holds a Master of Laws Degree in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Nairobi.

According to IFPI’s recently released Global Music Report, in 2019, recorded music industry revenues for Africa and the Middle East grew by 15.9 % to US $101 million.

Notes to Editors:

Angela Ndambuki:

Angela Ndambuki is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Performers’ Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK), a collective management organisation licensed by the Kenya Copyright Board to represent performers in copyright and related rights works. She was instrumental to its set up in 2009.

In addition, Ndambuki is an expert at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Academy. In 2018, she was recognized in the 100 Most Reputable Africans by Reputation Poll for various roles in advancing corporate governance, intellectual and human rights interests. In 2017 she was voted Kenya’s Top 40 under 40 Women Winner by the Business Daily for her role in policy and advocacy in trade facilitation and intellectual property rights in Kenya. She also serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the Kenya Association of Music Producers.

About IFPI

IFPI is the voice of the recording industry worldwide, representing over 8,000 record company members across the globe. We work to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music around the world.

In 2019 IFPI organised its first meeting in Nairobi seeking to deepen the relationship with music licensing companies and record labels in Africa from various countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana and Ghana, among others. The meeting aimed to create a platform for the sharing, promotion and implementation of industry good practices, and continue the dialogue between IFPI, African MLCs and record labels.

For further information please contact:

press@ifpi.org / +44 (0) 20 7878 7979