TheProgramme

Tosin Salako is an international artist and the festival director of the Abuja International Afrojazz Festival. As curator, The Salako has shaped the festival into a meeting point for African and European musicians, and performs on the main stage for the 2026 edition.

Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo is a Nigerian composer, musical director and performer who has collaborated with Asa, Tiwa Savage, Davido, 2Baba, Sauti Sol, Angélique Kidjo and Fally Ipupa. He is a UNICEF Nigeria Ambassador.

Born blind, he taught himself piano and signed with Sony ATV UK as a songwriter in 2005. He has performed at the Global Citizen Festival and the World Economic Forum, served as Musical Director for Rhythm Unplugged and, most recently, Davido's 5ive Alive World Tour.

His film scores include Call of My Life, Christmas in Lagos, Freedom Way (AMVCA 2025 Movie of the Year) and Daughters of Chibok (Venice VR Story Award).

Gustavo Cerqueiras is a Chilean pianist, composer and producer with over two decades of international experience. Classically trained, he now focuses on melody and the fusion of ancestral 6/8 with contemporary sounds. His telluric piano (tremún in Mapudungun) turns the instrument into a vehicle of energy and emotion.

He co-created Etnojazz with Holman Trío, winning the Pulsar Prize 2017 and performing at Lincoln Center and the Montreal Jazz Festival. In Nigeria he presents a new sound journey.

ADÉDÈJÌ blends the sacred rhythms of Yoruba tradition with the soulful essence of jazz and funk, with echoes of Fela Kuti, George Benson and King Sunny Adé. Born and raised in Lagos, the singer, guitarist and composer has become a leading figure in West African music.

He has played Roskilde, Sines FMM, Sfinks, Afrika Festival Hertme, Visa for Music, WOMEX and Athens Epidavros, fusing dùndún, shekere and bata with modern jazz-funk energy.

Albums: Ajo (2012, featuring Lionel Loueke, North Netherlands Young Talent Award), Afreekanism (2017, featuring Orlando Julius, LBM Best Afro Fusion Artist) and Yoruba Odyssey (2022, Oneworld Records), a top-10 European world-music chart record nominated in Songlines' Best Artist and Top of the World 2023.

Alain Bidjeck is a music industry executive and cultural market developer with over 20 years of experience across Africa and Europe. Founder of Bejika and the MOCA summit, he has designed and led major music market platforms, including the MIDEM Africa and the Africa & Diaspora ICC Summit, connecting artists, labels, and institutions across 20+ African countries.

A recognized expert in copyright, licensing, and collective management, he has worked with CISAC and African CMOs to build sustainable music ecosystems. He also develops digital tools and VR experiences to support artist monetization and market access, and has produced festivals, tours, and audiovisual content for artists such as Blick Bassy and Davido.

Director of Druga Godba (NGO) and leader of the programme committee of the International Druga Godba Festival, Ljubljana. Contributor for global music and jazz at Kino Šiška, Center of Urban Culture, Ljubljana, and a current board member of FWMF (Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals).

Former Director for Jazz and World Music at Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, and former Director and Artistic Director of Jazz Festival Ljubljana. Former board member of the Europe Jazz Network, Director of the European Jazz Conference in Ljubljana in 2017, and recipient of the 2018 EJN Award for adventurous programming.

John Arcadius is a singer-songwriter and cultural promoter. He was named Artist of the Year in Belgium in 2000 and topped the charts in Europe at that time thanks to his musical creations and his unique vocal tone, which blends traditional Vodun rhythms with contemporary sounds. He has shared the stage and collaborated with major artists such as Francis Bebey, Manu Dibango, Geoffrey Oryema, Cheikh Lô, and Papa Wemba.

He began a return to Benin in 2007 and founded the label Vod Records and the event organization TOM DOM; in 2026, he opened the Banjo Jazz Club. He launched the Cotonou Couleurs Jazz Festival in 2012, Benin's first international festival dedicated to world music, and served as general manager and artistic director of the 2024 edition of the Vodun Days Festival. He is now preparing his return to the stage with his fourth album.

Founder of the independent label MoonJune Records (USA), specializing in unconventional music (progressive rock, jazz fusion, avant-garde, experimental).

Born in Jajce (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in 1962, he is a polyglot citizen of the world who lived in Italy and New York before settling in Toledo (Spain). Since 2001, he has run MoonJune Records (an independent label for eclectic and progressive music) and MoonJune Music (booking and management), having released 145 productions and handled over 3,000 events in more than 60 countries, with a special focus on Asia (over 50 tours in Japan).

He has worked with legends such as Soft Machine, Tony Levin, Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, PFM, Phil Manzanera, Terry Bozzio, Scott Henderson, Andy Summers, and many others. He has visited 90 countries, speaks five languages, and has organized his own festivals in Bosnia, Spain, and Italy.

Drummer Bill Bruford called him “a magical facilitator”; Allan Holdsworth affectionately nicknamed him Nardini and named his life approach Nardinism.

Holder of a Master 1 “Information and Communication Professions”, Michèle Beltan was a music programmer at Trace TV (West Indies-Africa) then head of music programming at Tropiques FM.

She then spent eight years at Believe Distribution as a label manager for Caribbean and African artists, labels and producers. To adapt to digital, Michèle obtained an Executive bachelor’s degree in web marketing.

After being Project Manager at French label Wagram Stories, Michèle became a Professional Adult Trainer in the music sector, speaking in schools, at universities and leading training courses and masterclasses in France and abroad (Africa - Caribbean). She is also Associate Director of the Anthezic label. She is used to providing training at trade shows on the continent (visa, Rema, DMX etc.).

Patrick Duval is the director and programmer of Le Rocher de Palmer, a cultural venue in Cenon, near Bordeaux, France, dedicated to all types of music. Its three concert halls host more than 180 concerts a year, alongside two summer festivals devoted to world music and cultural action projects in schools and social centres.

He is also the artistic director of Musiques de Nuit, the association that carries the venue's artistic project, and for eleven years has been artistic director of the Musiques Métisses festival in Angoulême. He works closely with the French Institute on artist residencies and workshops.

Christine Dumons is an accomplished French cultural entrepreneur, producer, and network leader specializing in jazz and improvised music. For nearly two decades, she has been a driving force behind Collectif Koa (based in Montpellier, France), managing international booking, administrative structures, and production development. She is also the co-founder and producer of the acclaimed Koa Jazz Festival.

As the elected Co-President of Occijazz, the official jazz network for the Occitanie region in France, Christine plays a pivotal role in structuring the music industry, supporting regional talent, and fostering cross-border collaborations. Heavily invested in cultural diplomacy and international mobility, she has successfully coordinated artistic residencies and tours connecting French jazz musicians with Asian, Spanish and West African scenes.

At the Professional Music Market, Christine is looking to connect with African festival directors, promoters, and booking agents to develop sustainable touring networks, share expertise on green and inclusive cultural production, and ignite innovative cross-border collaborations.

Idriss Ben Geloune is an experienced Senegalese professional in tourism and cultural development. An alumnus of Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, he has built a strong career combining tourism expertise, heritage promotion and cultural event management. A professional tour guide and interpreter since 1998, he has held several key positions within the Saint-Louis Tourism Office, including Director from 2012 to 2016.

He has been actively involved in the Saint-Louis International Jazz Festival for many years, serving as Secretary-General of the Saint-Louis Jazz Association from 2012 to 2024. Since 2024 he has served as President of the Association, continuing to advance the festival's development and international profile.

Geoff Kwale is a jazz impresario and Executive Producer of Afrodyssey Music Ltd, whose lifelong engagement with music has evolved into a vision for artist development, music production, and creative collaboration.

Influenced by legendary producers such as Quincy Jones, Tommy LiPuma, and Larry Rosen, he believes in the power of a discerning ear, artistic vision, and thoughtful collaboration to bring out the best in musicians. Through Afrodyssey Music, Geoff is committed to discovering, developing, and championing exceptional talent while creating musical works that reflect artistic integrity, cultural relevance, and enduring value.

Lanre Lawal is a Nigerian music consultant, artiste manager, and cultural architect dedicated to building sustainable careers and creative ecosystems. As the founder of The Bail Entertainment Company, he leads talent strategy, music releases, and culturally impactful campaigns with a focus on long-term growth.

He is also the creator of live experiences such as Organised Chaos and The BandWagon Live, and the founder of 3LP (Lanre Lawal Library Project), an initiative that refurbishes public school libraries across Lagos. An alumnus of New York University's Business of Entertainment program, Lanre combines global perspective with local expertise.