Music for Wildlife: Creativity and conservation join forces

‘Music for Wildlife’, a dynamic concert series bringing African artists together to protect the continent’s iconic wildlife, launched on Trace’s TV broadcast channels and streaming platform recently. It showcases a unique celebration of Africa’s music talent and wildlife heritage.

Produced by Wild Africa, an NPO inspiring the protection of Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces, together with OAS1SONE, an on-demand content and live experiences music network, Music for Wildlife now sees Africa’s creative talent and natural heritage celebrated on a global stage, reaching more than 350 million people.

Featuring over 150 musicians from across the continent, Music for Wildlife harnesses the emotive power of music to raise awareness and inspire action for wildlife protection. Never has the need been more urgent for relevant, creative ways to help society connect with conservation.

Africa, home to a quarter of the world’s biodiversity, faces enormous challenges – from poaching to habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade to climate change and human-wildlife conflict. Wildlife populations calling the continent home have plunged by 66% in the last 50 years according to WWF’s Living Planet Report.

Africa is not staying silent. From Johannesburg to Lagos, Accra to Windhoek, artists are raising their voices, speaking out against the threats facing wildlife, and inspiring their audiences to connect with their wild spaces in national parks.

Through the intimate concert series, audiences will meet Africa’s finest musicians, including chart-topping stars such as Musa Keys, CKay, Focalistic, Kamo Mphela, Azawi, Vinka, Alyn Sano, Ruti Joel, Sally Boss Madam, Lioness, Feli Nandi, and a multitude of other stars as well as the latest emerging talent.

They tell the story of their music, lives, careers and inspirations, and express their passion for endangered species.

Each concert also includes special features from African and international stars from music entertainment, sports, comedy, television, and film like Davido, 2Baba, Jacky Chan, Boity, Alex Iwobi, Stonebwoy, Emmanuella, Yao Ming, Sir Richard Branson, Morgan Heritage, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Stephanie Linus, Djimon Hounsou, and many others.

“Music for Wildlife has changed how I think about myself in relation to the natural world on which we all depend, and my role in shining a light on the things that threaten it. Music is the most powerful connector in the world, and the need to connect with the challenges facing our wildlife, and the potential to protect them, is critical,” says Vinka, multi-award-winning East African singer-songwriter and businesswoman.

“Africans should care about protecting wildlife. Wildlife and national parks create a lot of jobs in Africa, such as attracting tourists from across the world. Let’s use music and arts, to protect our amazing wildlife,” noted Focalistic, one of the early pioneers of Amapiano and multi-award-winning rapper, singer, songwriter and global superstar.

Music for Wildlife’s engaging blend of studio sessions, interviews and captivating wildlife content will reach viewers in 180+ countries, across 28 localised Trace TV channels and Trace+ global streaming platform.

These performances will air across Trace’s television and streaming platform from June 21 onwards aligned with Trace’s 21st Anniversary.

“African artists are very powerful voices and can make a difference to raise awareness for better wildlife protection in Africa. Trace is proud to open its global network to host the Music for Wildlife shows that perfectly align with our values and initiatives,” says Olivier Laouchez, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Trace Group.

“Trace, one of the most powerful global broadcast media networks of African music and content, joins some of the most influential artists and voices in African music entertainment, in partnership with one of the leading conservation communications organisations in the world, to collectively lend their voices for Africa’s future, for its wildlife conservation.

“We are thrilled to be part of this game-changing partnership, both for the massive audience reach in protecting Africa’s wildlife, but also the unprecedented push this will achieve for Africa’s amazing artists and music, to audiences of millions around the globe,” says Jandre Louw, Founder and CEO of OAS1SONE.

“We are excited to partner with Trace in the launch of Music for Wildlife across their varied and far-reaching channels. This collaboration allows us to leverage the power of music to connect with a continent-wide and even global audience, turning up the volume on the issues that affect not only wildlife but the natural foundation on which human life depends,” says Peter Knights, Wild Africa CEO.