SlikourOnLife To Present Toss, Touchline And Mad Buddies At ACCES 2026

South African artists Toss , Touchline and Mad Buddies are set to take part in a discussion on independent music careers at the 2026 Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations , Exchange and Showcases (ACCES), taking place in Johannesburg from 28 to 31 October.

Titled Independent Is the New Major, the session is scheduled for 29 October at The Forum, The Campus, in Bryanston. Presented in partnership with South African music platform SlikourOnLife, the discussion will explore the realities of building and sustaining an independent music career.

The session will be moderated by SlikourOnLife founder and chief executive officer Slikour. It will examine what independence means at different stages of an artist’s career, the short-term trade-offs that come with operating independently, and how independent approaches could influence the wider music industry.

The discussion forms part of a broader programme addressing some of the music industry’s pressing questions, including how artists build international careers, how music businesses attract investment, how rights translate into revenue, and how touring and digital innovation can connect African markets. Other sessions will explore independent music businesses, sustainable local music ecosystems and Africa’s growing cultural influence.

ACCES 2026 will bring together artists and music industry professionals for discussions, workshops, networking activities and live performances. The conference aims to encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders across the African music industry and beyond.

Attendance at the conference is free, with registration available on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested attendees can register here and c onsult the full programme through the official ACCES channels.

Beyond the conference sessions, the event will feature an expanded showcase programme under the ACCES Industry Nights banner, with more than 80 musicians scheduled to perform across four nights.

The line-up includes Sun-El Musician, Blick Bassy, The Joy, Sylent Nqo & The Noisemakers, Rorisang Sechele, Abavuki, Francis Soal, Drega, Maline Aura, Skye Wanda, Kizaba, Kelly Bado, The SN Project, Pilani Bubu and Akra, among others.

Running from 28 to 31 October, Industry Nights will take place at The Artistry , Untitled Basement and Jozi Gold . The showcases will bring together artists from across Africa and the diaspora at several of Johannesburg’s live music venues.

In addition to the performances, Industry Nights will provide opportunities for artists and other industry stakeholders to connect with music executives, buyers, promoters and potential collaborators from around the world. Tickets for the showcase events are available through the official ACCES ticketing channels .

With Toss, Touchline and Mad Buddies joining the programme, the Independent Is the New Major discussion will form part of ACCES 2026’s wider engagement with the business realities of building music careers and developing sustainable opportunities within the industry.

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