TOPIC :

Followers

FROM PASSIVE TO ACTIVE

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𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗔, 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗜 𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗨𝗦.
As part of the 9th edition of the Rencontres Musicales Africaines (REMA), scheduled for October 22–24, the National Selection Committee responsible for reviewing artists’ applications for the 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮 has announced its results.
The Committee conducted a thorough analysis of the applications received, based on the criteria established by REMA:
Following deliberations, here are the five (05) selected artists:

Damo Fama;
L’Elue;
Fereke Wass;
𝗠𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝗯𝗿é;
Eunice Goula Officiel.

The Committee congratulates all the artists who submitted their applications and thanks them for the quality of the submissions. It encourages all candidates to continue their efforts and commitment to promoting Burkinabé music.
See you October 22–24 in Ouagadougou.

REMA 2026

FOLLOWERS: FROM PASSIVE TO ACTIVE—WHY THIS TOPIC?

The current music ecosystem encompasses a large part of the value chain. “Followers” have become a metric for measuring creators’ visibility, brand awareness, and success. This audience of “followers” is, for the most part, composed of passive consumers, in that, faced with ever-increasing content production, they are content, for the most part, to “like” (follow) and show no real involvement in the economic structure of the music industry.

In this context, and even though followers represent an indicator of popularity, it is therefore necessary to transform this mass into an active force. Moving from visibility to value by creating engagement mechanisms that encourage direct support and music consumption. Today, this shift is urgent, particularly in light of the proliferation of streaming platforms. It is precisely within this framework that the 2026 edition of the Rencontres Musicales Africaines is organized, centered on the theme: “Followers: From Passive to Active.”

With an increasingly engaged youth, music can become a vehicle for civic engagement and a lever for the sustainable development of the cultural sector.

See you October 22–24, 2026.

Boot Camp

A boot camp dedicated to film music, bringing together 10 composers from Burkina Faso and the surrounding region, led by Cameroonian artist Blick BASSY.
October 16–19 in Ouagadougou, at the Cité de la Musique.

AI Forum

REMA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Tourism and UNDP Burkina, is organizing a forum on the arts and musical creation on the sidelines of the event. The theme is: REINVENTING CREATION, VISIBILITY, AND VALUE.
BRAVIA Hotel, October 22 at 9:00 a.m.
Don’t miss this forum, which will bring together numerous experts and creative professionals from across the continent.

CONFERENCE 1

Followers as an Economic Force
This panel analyzes the true value of followers within the music ecosystem. Are they simply an audience, or a genuine economic force? The panelists will explore their role in content consumption, trend-setting, and their impact on artists’ revenues. The goal is to understand how to transform this digital mass into a key driver for the sector’s development.

CONFERENCE 2

From Consumption to Engagement
This panel highlights concrete strategies for transforming fans into active participants. The goal is to offer tools and initiatives that give followers visible and valued roles—such as participation in promotional activities and involvement in events. The panelists will demonstrate how engagement can strengthen the sustainability and vitality of the African music scene.