The Wits Innovation Centre (WIC), in partnership with the Machine Intelligence & Neural Discovery Institute (MIND) at Wits University, invites applications for AI & African Music, a pilot supporting new music initiatives that put African creativity at the centre of artificial intelligence.
From Amapiano to gospel, indigenous rhythms to Afrobeats, African musics offer tonalities, textures, and traditions that challenge and expand today’s AI tools, most of which are trained on Western data. This project supports creators working across music-making, archiving, education and tool development. The goal is to build new futures for AI in music—ones shaped by African sounds, languages, and innovation.
Applicants must be available and able to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2025 and April 2026. Applicants must be of African heritage and permanently based/living in an African country and work professionally in music (e.g. musicians, producers, composers, educators).
What the programme offers:
- Funding: ZAR 30,000 per month for four to six months for each selected musician
- AI collaborator (engineer/technologist) support for four to six months
- Collaborative project development workshop (Johannesburg, November 2025, including travel and limited related costs such as visa support, accommodation, meals and event access)
- Advisor for monthly progress and reporting support for the project duration
- Production support to prepare a showcase presentation or performance
- Showcase: A final public performance or presentation and workshop (April 2026, including travel and limited related costs such as visa support, accommodation, meals and event access)
