Last July, Nigerian singer Fave found herself caught up in a viral moment: an unauthorized version of a track featuring an AI choir became an internet sensation. She reclaimed the AI version by recording her own remix and adding it to her discography. Lagos-based entertainment lawyer Oyinkansola Fawehinmi called this move "smart and very business aware."

Many African music markets are considered vulnerable to AI-generated music plagiarizing real artists due to weak intellectual property frameworks. Similar fears exist over the wider deepfake market. On Monday, South Africa withdrew its draft national AI policy after revelations of AI-generated citations within it.

AI was the focus of the Atlantic Music Expo held this month in Cape Verde, one of the few African states with a dedicated AI policy. Expo director Benito Lopes said discussions aimed to give performers "more knowledge to explore AI the best way without losing their human identity and their creativity."

Cape Verde's culture minister, Augusto Jorge de Albuquerque Veiga, prioritizes financial support for local artists. "You have to work with it, not to be eaten by it," he said. The ministry's budget is $6 million, less than 1% of the national budget. Veiga has been lobbying for allocations from tourism tax and creating diaspora bonds.

Most delegates highlighted how AI tools for mixing, mastering, and data-driven marketing offer indie artists with shoestring budgets a way to compete globally. José Moura, co-founder of AI startup Sona, said the technology can empower artists in the global south to extend their reach without compromising uniqueness.

Sambaiana, a seven-woman ensemble from Brazil, gave their first performance outside their home country at the expo. Vocalist Rayra Mayara said: "We are seven women and no technology can substitute the feeling we give when we play, sing and talk about our daily lives. AI can complement the production process but it is not a substitute to the human."

Source: www.theguardian.com