Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know, before you register.
CBA for Africa is a ten-month academy where you run a real creative company across Music, Film & Fashion. Here are the questions we're asked most — the programme, admissions and fees, the experience, and the practical details.
The Programme
What CBA for Africa is
What is CBA for Africa?
CBA for Africa is a ten-month creative-business academy spanning three Schools — Music, Film and Fashion. Rather than studying the industry from the outside, you run a real company inside it: you develop real talent, release real work to real audiences, and build a body of work that's yours. It's designed for the people Africa's creative economy is desperate for — the business minds behind the artists.
Do I have to perform? Is this for artists?
No. CBA students are the business professionals behind the talent — the managers, producers, marketers, A&R executives, lawyers and strategists who build careers and companies. You don't need to sing, act or design. The artists, directors and designers you develop join a parallel talent programme; your job is to build the business around them.
What are the three Schools?
There are three: the School of Music Business (MBA — develop the artist), the School of Film Business (FBA — develop the director), and the School of Fashion Business (FAB — develop the designer). Every student specialises in one School, then works alongside the other two through the merged groups.
How is the year structured?
The programme follows a "2 + 3 + 5" model: roughly two months of specialised craft in your School, three months of the shared Integrated Core (ventures, finance, IP, reputation, data, AI and pan-African trade), and five months running your company through to a public release and the graduation showcase.
What are the Houses and the Merge?
Every student belongs to one of twelve permanent Houses — named for Africa's greatest kingdoms — which act as complete creative enterprises you carry for the rest of your career. Through the Merge, groups combine across Schools to develop an Artist, a Director and a Designer together, so you graduate having built the business of all three crafts.
Do I own what I make?
Yes. The work you create and the intellectual property you build during the year are real and yours. You finish on the AMEDI showcase stage with a genuine body of work — released music, a premiered film, a launched collection — that belongs to you.
What is the AMEDI showcase?
AMEDI is the graduation showcase in December 2027 — a live event bringing together a runway, a film screening and a live performance. It's where the year's work goes public: the culmination of ten months, presented to industry, partners and audiences.
Admissions & Fees
Who it's for, and what it costs
Who is CBA for Africa for?
It's for aspiring creative-business professionals aged roughly 18–30 — recent graduates, career-changers and creative talent who want to build the business side of the industry. No prior degree is required. If you're driven to build careers, companies and culture in Africa's creative economy, this is for you.
Do I need prior experience or a degree?
No degree is required, and prior experience isn't a prerequisite. Passion, commitment and a genuine drive to build matter more than what's on your CV. The programme is built to take motivated people and make them industry-ready professionals.
What does it cost?
The subsidised tuition is ₦500,000 (approximately $500). Diaspora and international participants pay a rate of $500. This is a subsidised fee — the true cost of the programme is significantly higher.
Do I pay when I register?
No. No payment is taken at registration. Registration simply expresses your interest and starts your application. Fees are only arranged once you've been selected and confirmed your place.
Are there scholarships or financial support?
Yes. The Beneficiaries Fund provides need-based support for candidates who need it. You can indicate your interest in the Fund when you register, and eligibility is assessed as part of the selection process.
How do I apply?
The path is straightforward: register online, complete your application, go through selection, then confirm and onboard. Registration is the first step — it takes only a few minutes. Start your registration here.
When do registrations open, and what's the deadline?
Registrations open in August 2026. Places are limited, so we strongly encourage you to apply early — selection is competitive and the cohort has a fixed size. The earlier you register, the stronger your position. See Admissions for the full timeline.
The Experience
What the year feels like
When does the cohort start, and how long is it?
The 2027 cohort begins on 6 February 2027 and runs for ten months, graduating in December 2027. Sessions are held on weekends, so the programme is built to work alongside other commitments.
Is it online or in person?
It's hybrid. The academy is Lagos-based, with a mix of in-person and online delivery that enables pan-African and diaspora participation. You can take part whether you're in Lagos or elsewhere on the continent and beyond.
What languages is the programme delivered in?
English is the authoritative language of instruction, with support delivered in French, Swahili and Portuguese so the academy is accessible across the continent and diaspora.
What actually happens in the five months of execution?
In the execution phase your merged group develops its talent, creates real work, releases it publicly, promotes it for real, and presents a grand strategy — carrying everything through to the AMEDI showcase stage. It's the part of the year where the business you've built goes live to the world.
Practical
The details that matter
Where do graduates go?
CBA alumni work at companies including Sony Music Publishing, Mavin, The Orchard, Audiomack and beyond — and have founded 15+ businesses of their own. The programme has trained 1,500+ alumni and educated 12,000+ creatives across the continent.
What will I leave with?
You leave with a company you actually ran, real work released to real audiences, real IP you own, and an industry network of faculty, partners and 1,500+ alumni across Africa and the diaspora. It's ten months of operating a creative enterprise — not a case study.
How big is the cohort?
The 2027 cohort brings together 1,000 students across the twelve Houses. It's a large, connected community — one of the reasons the alumni network is such a powerful part of the experience.
I still have a question — how do I reach you?
We're happy to help. Head to our contact page to send us a message, and the team will get back to you. If you already know CBA is for you, you can register now — it only takes a few minutes and commits you to nothing.
Ready when you are
Still deciding? Start with a conversation.
Registrations for the 2027 cohort are open. Reserve your place now, or reach out with your questions first — no payment is taken at registration.