AKUM Agency has extensive consulting and production experience in event and festival programming, event and festival management, music export, financial management, music video production, marketing, logistics, workshop facilitation, reporting writing to and music journalism.
Past clients have included:
ACCES Music Conference
Alliance Française
Apple Music
Australasian Worldwide Music Expo (AWME)
Azgo Festival
Beneath The Baobabs Festival
The British Council, Blankets & Wine Festival
Bushfire Festival
Concerts SA
Gallo Records
Igoda
Indian Ocean Music Market (IOMMa)
JazzFest Berlin
Jojo Abot
Littlegig Festival
Modzi Arts Gallery
Music In Africa
Nafasi Art Space
The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa - OSISA
Platoon
Pro Helvetia
Sakifo Festival
Sampa the Great
Spotify
Sauti za Busara Festival
Urban Trout Records
Visa For Music
WOMEX
Zakifo Festival and many more.
Festival Programmer, MTN Bushfire Festival (Eswatini/Swaziland, from 2022 to present)
Globally infused, authentically African and proudly Eswatini, MTN Bushfire is one of Africa’s largest multicultural gatherings, illuminating the transformational power of the arts through our call to action for positive social and environmental change, a diverse, inclusive and family-friendly music and arts festival set in a fantasy-scape of the imagination. Every year, we welcome Fire Starters from over 60 countries for an energising and uplifting weekend, with an eclectic programme featuring some of the finest musical and artistic talents from across Africa and around the globe. A conscious celebration of unity in diversity and an inspiring emblem of social inclusion.
Festival Programmer, Blankets & Wine (Kenya, from 2025 to present)
Blankets & Wine has been one of East Africa’s most beloved festivals, shaping Nairobi’s live music scene and inspiring audiences across the region. Created by Muthoni the Drummer Queen — a musician, innovator, and cultural entrepreneur — the festival was envisioned as more than just a concert series. It was built as a platform to nurture artists, create community, and set a new standard for live music in Kenya.
Music Director, Littlegig Festival (Cape Town, South Africa, 2017-18).
Littlegig is the world’s only 24-hour, everything including festival. It is a showcase of musicians, DJ’s, chefs, winemakers, artists, designers, and performers. The music experience at Littlegig is not about big headline acts but a collection of relevant and diverse musicians and DJs in 6 music areas that open and close as the festival journey progresses.
Coordinator, Igoda (Johannesburg, South Africa 2016-17)
Igoda is a Zulu word that means “knot” or “to bind together”. Igoda is a unique and innovative concept that brings together the finest music festivals within Southern Africa to create one of the first touring circuits on the African continent.
Igoda is an exciting development both for local and international artists, festival professionals and music fans from Southern Africa and across the world. The circuit presents an incredible opportunity for artists and fans to travel across Southern Africa, celebrating music and participating and strengthening the region’s interconnected creative economies.
Jess was hired to set up Igoda as an entity.
Festival Coordinator, Azgo Festival (Maputo, Mozambique, 2014-17)
Azgo Festival is Mozambique’s finest international arts festival; bringing together a diverse and quality program of music, film, and dance to the city of Maputo across two days and nights. Azgo is a contemporary celebration of arts and culture, with a strong focus on artists from Mozambique and from around the continent of Africa.
As Festival Coordinator, Jess was responsible for all aspects of the festival from artist programming, marketing, production, site management and finance. Under his coordination, over this four year period Azgo made big steps in sustainability with growth in sponsorship and ticketing income, production and logistics becoming Mozambique’s finest international arts festival.
Artist’ & Marketing Manager, AWME – Australiasian Worldwide Music Expo (Melbourne, Australia, 2012-15)
AWME provides a platform to foster stronger relationships between music industry associates by bringing together musicians, industry partners/representatives and festival audiences for four days of non-stop music, networking and conference sessions.
Attracting national and international music industry delegates and with a diverse public festival program, AWME creates opportunities for artists from the region to market their product to Australian and international buyers whilst simultaneously offering a platform for audiences to sample an incredible program of music.
AWME hosts two days of music industry conference sessions, receptions and workshops featuring expert Australian and international guest speakers from leading festivals, record labels, booking agencies, and arts organisations. AWME receptions and networking opportunities for local, national and international industry-related organisations can lead to career development opportunities including export, touring and management-related negotiations.
Since its inception, AWME delivered substantial benefits and outcomes to artists including: export, touring and festival opportunities; the development of international and national music networks; media coverage; recording, distribution and publishing; exposure to new audiences; and has succeeded in increasing the profile of roots music from the region.
Music Workshops
Jess White has extensive experience of running music workshops in South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Reunion Island, Ghana, Botswana, Senegal, Morocco, Ghana and Australia.
Workshop topics of expertise: Artist Management, Booking Agency, Electronic Press Kit Creation, Event Management, Marketing & Social Media, Music Export & Trade Events, Royalty Collection & Publishing and Tour Management.
Music Video Production
Jess White was hired to be the In-Country Producer on the below music videos:
Key duties:
- Source all locations in Johannesburg
- Hire all local creatives: hair stylist, makeup artists, dancers etc
- Hire all local film crew: camera assistant, gaffer,lighting etc
- Organise all logistics
- Budget management