This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced the appointment of Angela Ndambuki as the Regional Director at Middle East and Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The move marks the establishment of IFPI's first regional office in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to IFPI's Chief Executive Officer, Frances Moore, the creation of the regional office demonstrates the organization's focus and commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa. Moore stated, 'Sub-Saharan Africa has an incredibly exciting and diverse music landscape. The opening of our office in Nairobi demonstrates IFPI's focus and commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa and will enable us to better champion issues affecting the local recording industry and support the further development of the music market in these countries.'
Ndambuki, who takes on the regional role immediately, brings extensive experience in strategic decision making and leadership. She holds a Master of Laws Degree in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Nairobi.
Commenting on her appointment, Ndambuki stated, 'I am looking forward to working on strengthening the copyright industry in S-SA, both in policy and operations, especially in light of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.'
Ndambuki's appointment comes at a time when the recorded music industry in Africa and the Middle East is experiencing growth. According to IFPI's Global Music Report, in 2019, recorded music industry revenues for Africa and the Middle East grew by 15.9% to US $101 million.
