MBABANE - House On Fire (Eswatini), AltBlk Continua (South Africa), and The X-Hub (Mozambique) have joined forces to launch the Arts Incubator Corridor (AIC).
This is a pioneering regional network designed to accelerate creative development, innovation and market access across the continent. With their respective legacies of establishing some of Africa’s most impactful, internationally acclaimed creative platforms, House On Fire’s Director, Jiggs Thorne, Multi-award-winning artist and ALTBLK >> Founder, Msaki and X-Hub’s Founding Director, Paulo Chibanga, are pooling their resources, expertise and shared vision for sustainable and accessible creative industry development.
Internationally celebrated arts performance venue, House On Fire is the production force behind the conscious festival of music and the arts, MTN Bushfire and one of the leading food and fashion events in Southern Africa, the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle.
A first-of-its-kind innovation for Mozambique and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, The X-Hub is a creative business incubator based in Maputo, and the visionaries behind the music and arts festival, Azgo Festival.
ALTBLK>> is an intentional, growth-oriented platform created to strengthen independent musicians and cultural practitioners. The collective provides comprehensive support across pre-production, release strategies and post-production, while safeguarding artist ownership and upholding ethical standards.
The Arts Incubator Corridor is premised on the power of collaboration in fueling inclusive innovation and creativity.
Founded on the inherent conviction that African solutions best serve African realities, this regional network connects dynamic creative ecosystems across the region to drive skills development, collaboration, creative entrepreneurship and cultural exchange. Designed to connect emerging and established artists, as well as creative industry professionals, the Arts Incubator Corridor provides a structured framework for regional collaboration and capacity building.
The proximity among the founding members’ neighbouring countries offers a direct portal for sustained coordination and the effective execution of the Arts Incubator Corridor’s ongoing programmes.
Commenting on the significance and unique approach of the Arts Incubator Corridor, House On Fire’s Director, Thorne, highlighted it as a great example of a year-round model that links training, incubation and performance opportunities across the region.
“The Arts Incubator Corridor is about moving beyond isolated interventions towards a deliberate, structured framework for collaboration. By formalising how we work together, we are able to support a sustained programme of action that creates meaningful linkages between creative ecosystems, improves access to markets and allows us to share the best practise.
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From L-R House On Fire’s Director Jiggs Thorne, X-Hub’s Founding Director and Multi-award-winning artist Msaki. (Courtesy pics)