Focalistic, Musa Keys, Vinka, CKay, Shekhinah, Kamo Mphela, Joyous Celebration and more embrace a musical movement to protect nature.
“Music for Wildlife”, a groundbreaking concert series that merges music and wildlife conservation, has launched on Trace Global Network TV channels and streaming platforms. This initiative brings together Africa’s musical talent to raise awareness of and support for wildlife conservation in Africa. The series is a powerful celebration of culture and conservation, aiming to reach over 350 million viewers in 190 countries to Africa’s amazing music and wildlife.
Produced by Wild Africa, a conservation NGO dedicated to protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces, in collaboration with OAS1SONE, a trailblazing platform for music and immersive experiences, Music for Wildlife features over 150 musicians united by one urgent message: the need to protect Africa’s iconic wildlife and wild spaces now. The series is supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a global non-profit long active throughout Africa, helping animals and people thrive together.
Africa, home to a quarter of the world’s biodiversity, faces enormous challenges, including poaching, habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, the illegal wildlife trade and climate change, all contributing to a drastic decline in wildlife populations. The WWF’s 2024 Living Planet Index reports that our wildlife populations have plunged by 76% over the last 50 years.
But there is hope. People are starting to care more deeply about the world around them – wanting to make a difference, to be heard. Music has a unique ability to transcend our differences and connect people. It is a modern, emotive, and creative way to help society learn about nature. From Cape Town to Lagos, Harare to Windhoek, artists are donating their talent and time to advocate against the threats facing wildlife. Through powerful performances and bold messages, these musicians are inspiring their fans to stand with them, take action, and reconnect with the wild spaces in our national parks.
Airing weekly from July 2025 audiences will meet some of Africa’s finest musicians, including chart-topping stars such as CKay, Focalistic, Musa Keys, Kamo Mphela, Vinka, Feli Nandi, Shekhinah, Azawi, Joyous Celebration, and Zakes Bantwini. Each 24-minute concert will feature an engaging blend of recorded studio sessions, and captivating wildlife conservation content.
Quotes:
South Africa’s Focalistic, one of the early pioneers of Amapiano, and a multi-award-winning rapper, singer-songwriter, and global superstar: “Africans should care about protecting wildlife. Wildlife and national parks create a lot of jobs in Africa, such as attracting tourists from across the world. Let’s use music and arts, to protect our amazing wildlife”.
Lindelani Mkhize, Founder of Joyous Celebration: “Music is our prayer, our power, and our protest. With Joyous Celebration, we raise our voices not just in worship, but in a divine call to protect Africa’s majestic wildlife. This is our sacred duty – to preserve the beauty God entrusted to us.“
Vinka, multi-award-winning East African singer-songwriter and businesswoman: “Music for Wildlife has changed how I think about myself in relation to the natural world on which we all depend, and my role in shining a light on the things that threaten it. Music is the most powerful connector in the world, and the need to connect with the challenges facing our wildlife, and the potential to protect them, is critical”.
Ckay, Nigerian singer-songwriter: “We Nigerians love our music and culture, but where is the love for our wildlife? Because of habitat loss, poaching, deforestation and the illegal bushmeat trade, we risk losing them forever. Let’s give our wildlife some space and some love.”
“African artists are very powerful voices and can make the difference to raise awareness for better wildlife protection in Africa. Trace is proud to open its global network to host the Music for Wildlife shows that perfectly align with our values and initiatives,” says Olivier Laouchez, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Trace Group.
“Trace, a global powerhouse in African music and media, unites with top African artists and one of the world’s leading conservation organizations in a groundbreaking partnership to amplify the call for wildlife protection. This collaboration not only drives global awareness for Africa’s wildlife but also catapults African music and talent to millions worldwide.“, says Jandre Louw, Founder and CEO of OAS1SONE.
Peter Knights OBE, Wild Africa CEO, says, “Trace appeals to the youth, which is the future of Africa, and their passion will be vital for Africa to conserve the world’s most incredible wildlife and the natural foundation on which human life depends.”
According to IFAW President and CEO Azzedine Downes, “IFAW has long embraced music and the arts as a way to celebrate wildlife and acknowledge the critical importance of biodiversity across the globe. In recognizing its existence, we must also recognize its inherent vulnerability. We are immensely proud to work alongside partners as part of the ‘Music for Wildlife’ series, as we strive to achieve a world where both animals and people thrive together.”
Photos of artists, concerts and artwork can be downloaded here.
Details on where to watch the shows on Trace channels around the world: https://trace.plus.