HOW SONGS ARE WRITTEN NOW: THE SOUTH SPEAKS RETURNS FOR YEAR SIX
Universal Music Publishing’s acclaimed South Speaks Songwriting Camp returns for its 6th South African edition, taking place from 10 – 12 November 2025 in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Part of The South Speaks songwriting series — which has hosted editions in the United Kingdom, Nairobi, and Rwanda — the Johannesburg camp continues a growing creative movement that connects writers, producers, and artists across borders to collaborate, experiment, and shape the sound of tomorrow.
“This is what songwriting looks like now,” says the Universal Music Publishing Africa team. “It’s about connection — bringing together voices from different places to create something fresh and global.”
The 2025 edition introduces six dedicated studios, each focused on a specific sound or theme, from Afrobeats and Amapiano to Hip Hop and Pop. A new creative concept, The H.I. Room (Human Intelligence Room), challenges artists to craft music entirely from live instruments — rediscovering the heart of songwriting through pure human creativity.
Over the years, The South Speaks has hosted leading talents such as AKA, Nasty C, Zakes Bantwini, DBN Gogo, Afro Bros (Netherlands), the U.K. production duo The Elements, and Vinida Weng from China — whose award-winning album featured songs written during the camp.
More than a creative retreat, The South Speaks is a platform for lasting collaboration — building relationships that continue to shape albums, genres, and global sounds long after each camp concludes.
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