Mdundo’s growth has primarily been achieved in Nigeria, with additional growth in Tanzania, Kenya and Ghana. The music service has primarily been focusing on securing music rights for local African catalog and has in the last year announced partnerships with leading telecommunication companies, Vodacom Tanzania, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria. Sipho Dlamini, CEO of Universal Music South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa said, “We welcome Mdundo as a partner, and are excited for more fans across Africa to have greater access to some of Africa’s most exciting musical talent, as well as UMG’s unrivaled catalog of international artists.” Over the past decade, UMA has expanded and grown its reach on the continent and has two established regional headquarters facilities in Africa – in Johannesburg, South Africa and Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire – with additional offices in Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Kenya, and Morocco. UMG has also launched a series of labels dedicated to supporting the continent’s rich talents, including Def Jam Africa, Blue Note Africa and Motown Gospel Africa. UMG is committed to helping build out the continent’s entire music ecosystem, helping artists succeed locally and regionally, whilst also introducing African music culture and content to new audiences around the world. Ulrik Cahn, UMG’s Executive Vice President for Africa, the Middle East and Asia (AMEA) region said, “Martin and his team have built an impressive platform for African artists, and we look forward to working together to expand the footprint for our African and international talent within the continent.”
