The Covid-19 pandemic had a sudden and devastating impact on the artistic and cultural sector. All over the world, most cultural institutions have had to radically curtail their activities, cancelling exhibitions and performances, or even closing indefinitely. The artists and creators who make their living in these spaces have suffered from the loss of income; no less so musicians, who rely on summer festivals, gigs and weddings to make a living.

One such group of artists is the West African music community in the UK, who have seen their income decimated. These musicians who, even in the best of times, operate in an adverse contractual environment with little or no security, now have scant access to financial assistance, or alternative means of employment or income during this pandemic.

At the same time, Artificial Intelligence is enjoying an unprecedented run of success, with demand for automation surging across many industries as a result of Covid-19. So, a small group of AI experts with a love of the arts, decided to bring the two worlds together creating the world’s first AI and African music festival. With some major world leaders in AI supporting the festival, a series of talks from AI world leaders will generate demand and donations for artists performing online. The donations will be used to pay the artists the going rate for their gigs first and foremost, and any surplus will be used for further enablement streams for the community, focussing on English language and technology skill development.

Tickets and more information is available at www.aikora.org

Please donate generously to this initiative, thank you 🙏