IMAGES. Back to the Women Art Academy 2025

From February 24 to 28, 2025, five women artists from Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo-Brazzaville and Senegal participated in an artistic creation residency organized by the music label Stereo Africa 432. They were able to attend masterclasses and compose original tracks under the artistic direction of the singer Adiouza and the label's founder, Sahad Sarr. The work is scheduled to be presented in two months, on the occasion of #SAF25.

They play rap, reggae, soul music and traditional Central African music. But for one week, Cecilia Irma "Empress Celyah", Fanta Cissé "Fantastique Isma", Stelle Natty, Ghislaine Mbarga and Mina "la voilée", five women artists selected to participate in the Women Art Academy, had to make music together.

Feminizing the cultural and creative industries

For five days, between the premises of the Senegalese national orchestra and those of the pan-African contemporary music label Stereo Africa 432, the participants in the Women Art Academy were able to compose, practice and record original creations. In addition to musical composition, workshops on copyright, rhythm and eloquence were organized.

This program, launched two years ago as part of the Stereo Africa Festival, should ultimately help to feminize professions in the cultural and creative industries, a field that is predominantly composed of men. The Women Art Academy and the young talent detection program, the Unplugged Sessions, benefit from the support of the Luxembourg Embassy in Senegal.

Day 1

For this first day of artistic residency, Daniel Gomes, president of the Association of Music Professions in Senegal (AMS), gave a masterclass on copyright and related rights in the music industry. Also a conductor, he wanted to go into detail on the importance of supporting young artists with bodies such as SODAV. Following this workshop, the WAA participants went to the studio alongside the patron of this edition, the Senegalese artist Adiouza, to begin the original musical creation phase.

Day 2

Foumalade, real name Malal Almamy Talla, is a rapper, composer and performer with a long career on the West African hip-hop scene. On Tuesday, February 25, he led a workshop of more than four hours on rhythm and writing a piece of music. The lyricist also encouraged the WAA participants to improvise a text and interpret it.

Following this masterclass, the five female artists, still accompanied by Adiouza, were back in the studio, in the company of Senegalese bassist Lady Maah Keita.

Day 3

How to stand out to a label or music professionals? How to sell your artistic identity? What should be the assets of an artistic portfolio? These were the questions at the heart of the Wednesday morning workshops, given by Saphia Arhzaf and Zoé Tiberghien, respectively development manager and production and communication manager within the Stereo Africa 432 label team.

Day 4

After three days spent in the premises of the National Orchestra of Senegal, the artistic residency took up residence within the label Stereo Africa 432. The opportunity for the artists to move on to another stage of collective creation: studio recording and arrangements.

Day 5

The artistic residency is coming to an end. This last day is marked by the continuation of recordings and sound arrangements. In total, three original compositions were produced.

The restitution of the work of the Women Art Academy 2025 is planned in two months, on the occasion of the Stereo Africa Festival, which will take place in Dakar, from May 7 to 11.