Warner Music Group Completes Full Acquisition of Africori

Warner Music Group (WMG) has officially completed the full acquisition of Africori, a key player in Africa’s rapidly growing music market.

This follows a series of strategic investments, beginning with WMG’s initial stake in Africori nearly five years ago and the securing of a majority interest in early 2022.

Today, Africori, which has been in operation for 16 years, becomes a fully integrated subsidiary of Warner Music, continuing to function independently but now part of the global music giant.

Africori, headquartered in Johannesburg, has played a significant role in shaping the African music landscape, providing distribution and artist services to over 7,000 independent clients.

The company has helped elevate many local artists, some of whom are already gaining international attention with tracks like Sdakiwe Sbali, Ndsize, and Vuka.

In a statement, Temi Adeniji, Warner Music Africa’s Managing Director, emphasized the significance of the acquisition, calling it “a landmark moment” in strengthening Warner’s presence in Africa. “We’ve shown that with the right investment and cooperation, we can create immense value for both artists and local partners,” said Adeniji.

This partnership has already led to the successful “upstreaming” of Africori artists into Warner Music’s global network, giving them access to international collaborations, remixes, and broader exposure.

Africori’s founder, Yoel Kenan, will continue as CEO, reporting directly to Adeniji. While the financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed, it is expected that further insights will emerge in future earnings reports from Warner Music.

This acquisition reflects Warner Music’s ongoing commitment to Africa, a continent that is home to some of the world’s most exciting and dynamic music scenes. As local streaming platforms like Mdundo grow rapidly, and other major industry players such as Universal Music and Live Nation continue expanding their reach, Warner’s full acquisition of Africori positions them strongly in the race to capture the continent’s vibrant music market.