Indian Ocean Music Market – IOMMa

The Institut français is a partner of the IOMMa (Indian Ocean Music Market) through the Africa Creative Sounds program, a support scheme for the cultural and creative industries run by the Institut français as part of the Création Africa initiative of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. A benchmark trade event in the Indian Ocean, the IOMMa will hold its 11th edition from June 3 to 5, 2025 in Saint-Pierre, on the island of La Réunion, in partnership with the Sakifo Reunion Musik Festival. Each year, this international market brings together music professionals from Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia for meetings, showcases, conferences and opportunities for inter-regional cooperation.

By joining forces with IOMMa, the Institut français is pursuing its commitment to structuring African music sectors and networking the continent's talents and professionals with international stages. This strategic partnership aims to strengthen the mobility of professionals in the cultural and creative industries, with artists and their works, in order to consolidate a sustainable professional ecosystem between territorial Africa and the territories of the Indian Ocean.

The IOMMa will welcome an African delegation of 18 music professionals - producers, managers, programmers - from 10 countries on the continent (Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, DRC, Rwanda, Madagascar, Togo and Zimbabwe). These professionals will take part in the various meetings, and will benefit from comprehensive, personalized support (transport, accommodation, per diem, access to professional events). At the same time, several hundred music industry players from Europe, Asia, the Indian Ocean and Australia will be in attendance. This wide range of expertise and territories makes the IOMMa a privileged crossroads for South-South and South-North artistic exchanges.

Armande Joëlle d'Almeida (Benin) - Promoter, Africa Sound City Oladikpo Bolarawa Fidèle Abiala (Benin) - Artistic director, FIFA MEDIATION cultural association Brice Albin Yamedzeu (Cameroon) - Host, producer and founder, Y Prod / Hennessy Studio / Africa Talents Hub Moussa-Balla Coulibaly (Ivory Coast) - General Secretary, Salon des Industries Musicales d'Afrique Francophone (SIMA) Ornella Rosie Gueye (Côte d'Ivoire) - Founder and General Curator, Lili Women Festival Emmanuel Elie Jean-Daniel N'guessan - MASK ON (Côte d'Ivoire) - Artistic director and co-founder, Djaouli Entertainment Oscar Melenga Ndong Nchama (Equatorial Guinea) - Producer, Crown Music Records Matthew Thomas Asquith Swallow (Kenya) - Artistic Director, Beneath The Baobas Antso Tsiriniaina Rajaobelison (Madagascar) - Cultural Officer, Institut français de Madagascar Rajosoa Andriantseheno Rajaonarivelo (Madagascar) - Artistic Director, Beneath The Baobas Hary Dio Randriamanantsoa (Madagascar) - Founder, BSKMG Cultural Collective Eric Harilala Rasoamiaramanana (Madagascar) - Music Director, ONY Project Joao Carlos Ferreira Dos Santos Schwalbach (Mozambique) - Founder and organizer, Mozambique Music Meeting Eric Muginda Malu-Malu (Democratic Republic of Congo) - Center Director, Kinarmonik Joao Carlos Ferreira Dos Santos Schwalbach (Mozambique) - Founder and organizer, Mozambique Music Meeting Eric Muginda Malu-Malu (Democratic Republic of Congo) - Center Director, Kinarmonik Aubin Muhire (Rwanda) - Associate producer and project coordinator, Cornwine Essognim Reine Tchedre (Togo) - Artistic Director, Festival de musique voix de femmes - Essognim Univers Mohamed Ben Said (Tunisia) - Manager, AKACIA PRODUCTIONS Marcus Tawanda Gora (Zimbabwe) - Manager, Mokoomba - National Arts Council of Zimbabwe

This partnership also works in synergy with the Sakifo Musik Festival, supported by Région Réunion. An emblematic festival in the region, the Sakifo is fully in line with the dynamics of strengthened cooperation between the territories of the Indian Ocean. It offers professionals from the Création Africa delegation privileged access to a rich and diverse artistic scene, conducive to the emergence of new prospects for collaboration.

By supporting the IOMMa, the French Institute is asserting its role as a catalyst for the African music industry, accompanying artists and professionals towards new spaces for distribution and collaboration.