Universal Music Group, the global leader in the music industry, decided to expand into French-speaking Africa in 2018 with the creation of a new division of the group in Abidjan, Universal Music Africa.
Now headed by Franck Kacou, the division is expanding further into the African market with the launch of the Def Jam Afrique francophone label.
Based in Abidjan, the label's mission will be to accelerate the discovery of local talent and develop its music catalog to promote hip-hop, Afrotrap, and Afrobeats.
We are happy and proud to launch Def Jam Africa in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon with three incredible talents who are leading the movement in the sub-region: Tenor, Suspect 95, and Omzo Dollar. It's a whole new chapter that is unfolding on the continent, with its own specificities and potential," said Franck Kacou, CEO of Universal Music Africa, who is in charge of the label's activities.
The development of the major label's activities in French-speaking Africa is a new step in the construction of an African music market that is more lucrative for artists.