Category: Rise Fund
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Kiria has always shown passion and determination in promoting his music across the world. For the Nairobi based Afro Fusion artist, turning his big music dreams into reality required more than just passion; it demanded the funding, mentorship, and strong networks he didn’t have. Kiria spoke with the Josplay Rise Fund crew regarding how winning…
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The next edition of the Josplay Rise Fund is almost here, and getting ready for Rise Fund 3 means turning your Josplay artist profile into a submission-ready pitch before applications open. Every edition reveals undeniable talent. This has taught us that bridging the funding gap for independent artists matters. Past recipients like Rheed1 and DonboyDML…
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Winning the Rise Fund is a major achievement. But for an independent artist, the real opportunity begins after the money arrives. Funding can help you create music, produce content or execute a campaign. But what you do with the momentum afterwards determines whether that one opportunity becomes the foundation for the next. At Josplay, we…
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What actually happens after an independent artist wins the Rise Fund grant? Beyond the announcement and the celebration, lies the real work. In this article, Josplay Rise Fund Volume 1 winner, Rheed 1 takes us behind the scenes of his post-funding journey. He breaks down how he spent the grant, how it transformed his career,…
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Music grants are available, but many independent artists in Africa and around the world still face difficulties not because the grants don’t exist, but because they often lack guidance on where to find them, how to get funding as an independent artist, or how to pitch themselves effectively. To tackle that challenge, this article explores…
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The Josplay Rise Fund is truly unique. It goes beyond rewarding just the top winners by intentionally extending the spotlight to other artists who took the time to apply, giving them a platform to be heard through the Raw and Rising playlist. What is the Raw and Rising playlist? The Raw and Rising playlist is…
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The talent emerging from the African music industry today is incredible, but talent doesn’t pay for mixing, mastering, or marketing. It’s draining trying to establish a path as an independent artist without substantial financial resources or industry connections, which is why so many outstanding records go unheard because they lack the necessary support systems…
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Josplay launched the Rise Fund in July 2025, to empower independent African artists. The Rise Fund provides financial support and strategic marketing to help emerging African artists understand the industry and build lasting careers. With a proven history of growth and impact, this empowerment program has so far increased streams and reach for over…
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Josplay has announced the 2026 recipients of its Josplay Rise Fund. The company will provide $1,000 in structured development support to three emerging African artists selected through this year’s programme. This year’s beneficiaries are Kiria (Kenya), who receives $500; Elprezido (Nigeria), awarded $300; and Donboydml (Nigeria), awarded $200. The annual initiative is positioned as an…
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Applications for the Josplay Artist Rise Fund 2 officially closed on 14 January, drawing submissions from independent artists across multiple African countries. With the application window now shut, the programme has moved into its final and most critical phase: judging. Entries are currently being reviewed by a panel comprising Josplay’s internal team and an external…