Award-winning South African producer and songwriter Sun-El Musician has been confirmed for the 2026 Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES), which runs in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 28 to 31 October.
He will headline the ACCES showcase festival programme on Friday, 30 October, and earlier that day will take part in a keynote fireside chat at the ACCES Conference.
Fireside chat and partnership#
The fireside chat, titled Shaping the Sound, Building the Legacy, will cover Sun-El Musician’s path from producing chart-topping records to building a distinctive musical identity in South Africa.
Moderated by Lerato Matsoso, General Manager: Operations at South Africa’s Composers, Authors and Publishers Association (CAPASSO), the session will examine artistic evolution, collaboration, ownership and the business decisions behind his career, with insights aimed at the next generation of African artists.
Born Sanele Sithole, Sun-El Musician is known for a melodic Afro-house sound. He rose to prominence with ‘Akanamali’, featuring Samthing Soweto, and followed it with hits including ‘Sonini’ and ‘Bamthathile’. His albums Africa to the World and To the World & Beyond have earned multiple awards and platinum certifications.
His appearance at ACCES 2026 is presented by CAPASSO through a partnership with the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF). The partnership supports his participation in both the conference and showcase programme while advancing industry conversations around rights management, ownership and sustainable growth in the African music sector.
Statements from organisers#
“Sun-El Musician’s participation at ACCES 2026 reflects the kind of artistic and industry exchange that the event is designed to foster. His performance will bring his distinctive sound to the ACCES stage, while his presence at the trade event will create opportunities for meaningful engagement with artists, professionals and music businesses from across the continent. We are grateful to CAPASSO for partnering with us to make this possible. Their support demonstrates the importance of collaboration between industry organisations in creating platforms that connect African music to wider audiences and markets,” said Eddie Hatitye, Executive Director of the Music In Africa Foundation.
“CAPASSO is proud to partner with the Music In Africa Foundation in bringing Sun-El Musician to ACCES 2026. His career reflects the kind of artistic ownership and business acumen we hope to see more of across the African music industry. We are thrilled to be a part of a platform where his experience can inform and inspire the next generation of composers, authors and artists. Moderating his fireside chat is a privilege, and we look forward to a conversation that speaks directly to CAPASSO’s mission of protecting and advancing the rights of music creators,” said Lerato Matsoso, General Manager: Operations at CAPASSO.
ACCES 2026 line-up and venues#
The ACCES Conference will take place on 29 and 30 October at The Forum, The Campus, in Bryanston, with conference sessions, exhibitions, workshops and networking activities.
The showcase festival runs from 28 to 31 October as a series of Industry Nights across four Johannesburg venues: The Artistry, Untitled Basement, The Forge and Jozi Gold.
Other artists on the ACCES line-up include:
- Pilani Bubu (South Africa)
- Abavuki (South Africa)
- Francis Soal (South Africa)
- Rorisang Sechele (South Africa)
- The SN Project (South Africa)
- The Joy (South Africa)
- Giuliette Price (South Africa)
- Mary Anibal (Zimbabwe)
- Sylent Nqo & The Noisemakers (Zimbabwe)
- Ben Pol (Tanzania)
- Akra (Ghana)
- FimFim (Ghana)
- Chakires et le groupe Oulanga (Réunion/Comoros)
Registration and background#
Registration for ACCES 2026 is now open. Tickets for the Industry Nights will be released at a later stage, with initial access available by invitation.
CAPASSO is a mechanical rights licensing agency responsible for collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of its members, who include music publishers, composers and authors. It licenses the reproduction or reformatting of musical works. A mechanical right, which forms part of copyright, is generated whenever a work is reproduced or transferred into another format. Through mandates from its members, CAPASSO is authorised to issue mechanical rights licences, collect the associated licence fees and distribute them as royalties to its members.
ACCES is a pan-African music trade event where industry professionals exchange ideas, discover new talent and create business linkages. Held in a different African city each year, ACCES attracts active music industry players from across the globe. ACCES 2026 is produced by the Music In Africa Foundation, a pan-African non-profit organisation, in partnership with the City of Joburg.
