Mary Anibal Hails ACCES 2026 Selection as Major Milestone in Her International Music Career
Award-winning Zimbabwean singer, songwriter and mbira artiste Mary Anibal has welcomed her selection to perform at the 2026 Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES), describing the opportunity as an important milestone in her growing international career. Anibal is part of the first group of artistes selected for the ninth edition of ACCES, which will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from October 28 to 30. The prestigious African music industry event will bring together musicians, producers, publishers, rights organisations and other professionals from across the continent and beyond. For Anibal, the invitation represents another important step in her journey of taking Zimbabwean music and cultural heritage to international audiences. Her selection also highlights the growing recognition of her distinctive approach to combining mbira traditions with contemporary Afro-fusion sounds.
Anibal will share the ACCES showcase stage with fellow Zimbabwean artistes Sylent “Guitar Sangoma” Nqo and The Noisemakers, creating an important platform for Zimbabwean music at one of Africa’s leading music industry gatherings. The performance carries particular significance for Anibal because it will be her first time performing in South Africa with her full band. She has previously represented Zimbabwe at international events, but the opportunity to perform with a complete band setup in Johannesburg adds a new dimension to her growing live performance career. The artiste said she feels excited and honoured to represent Zimbabwe on a global stage while recognising the importance of reaching such platforms through consistent work. She also views the selection as evidence that dedication and perseverance can create opportunities for artistes who continue developing their craft.
“I am absolutely excited and honoured to be representing Zimbabwe on a global stage at ACCES 2026 in Johannesburg,” Anibal said. She explained that although this is not her first international representation of Zimbabwe, the upcoming performance feels particularly meaningful because she will be performing in South Africa with her full band for the first time. According to the artiste, the milestone reinforces her belief that hard work and consistency can eventually place musicians on the right stages at the right time. Her comments reflect the significance of international platforms for African musicians seeking to expand their audiences while remaining connected to their cultural roots. The ACCES appearance therefore represents both a professional opportunity and a chance for Anibal to introduce more listeners to the depth and versatility of Zimbabwean music.
The ACCES selection comes as Anibal continues to establish herself as one of Zimbabwe’s distinctive contemporary musical voices. Her music places the mbira at the centre of her artistic identity while incorporating modern Afro-fusion influences that help connect traditional Zimbabwean sounds with contemporary audiences. Her work draws heavily from Zimbabwean culture and heritage, but she also uses music as a platform to address social issues, particularly women’s rights and empowerment. This combination allows her to preserve elements of indigenous musical expression while presenting them through a modern artistic framework. Her career demonstrates how traditional African instruments, storytelling and cultural themes can remain relevant within the rapidly changing global music landscape.
Anibal’s contribution to Zimbabwean traditional music has already received significant recognition at both national and international levels. In 2023, she won the Zimbabwe Music Award for Best Traditional, also known as Chinyakare or Chimurenga, recognising her contribution to the country’s traditional music sector. Two years earlier, in 2021, she claimed top honours in the Music Against Child Labour Grassroots Category, an accolade presented by the International Labour Organisation. These achievements helped strengthen her profile as an artiste whose music carries both cultural and social significance. Her ability to combine artistic expression with messages about important community issues has also given her work a broader purpose beyond entertainment.
Her international performance history further demonstrates the steady growth of her career. Anibal performed at Expo 2020 Dubai in 2022 before appearing at Ethno Mozambique and Toronto’s Habari Africa Festival in 2023. In 2024, she continued her international journey with performances at Zanzibar’s respected Sauti za Busara Festival and the Masa Festival in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Her international engagements expanded further in 2025, when she performed at Festival Abidjan Capitale du Jazz in Côte d’Ivoire, took part in the African Bazaar Tour in Germany and completed tours in the United Kingdom and Bordeaux, France. Each of these appearances has provided an opportunity for Anibal to introduce international audiences to Zimbabwean musical traditions while developing her reputation as a versatile contemporary performer.
This growing international exposure has positioned Anibal as an important cultural ambassador for Zimbabwean music. Her performances allow audiences outside Zimbabwe to experience the mbira in a contemporary setting while learning more about the cultural traditions behind the instrument. Rather than treating traditional music as something limited to the past, her artistic approach demonstrates how indigenous sounds can evolve without losing their cultural identity. This balance between tradition and innovation has become a defining feature of her musical journey. Her appearance at ACCES 2026 will give her another opportunity to strengthen that connection between Zimbabwean heritage and the wider African and international music industry.
Anibal’s recorded catalogue has also grown alongside her expanding live performance career. In 2024, she released her debut album, Maria Wenyu, a project that showcased her songwriting abilities and mbira artistry while bringing traditional influences together with modern arrangements. The album provided a deeper representation of her artistic identity and allowed listeners to experience the themes and musical ideas that shape her work beyond the live stage. She followed the project with Bhonzo in April 2025, an upbeat track focused on determination, perseverance and the resilience of Zimbabweans. Together, these releases demonstrate her continued effort to build a body of work that reflects both personal creativity and broader social and cultural experiences.
Beyond recording and performing, Anibal has invested time in music education and the development of young talent. She taught professionally at the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy in 2021 and has continued teaching at her alma mater, Music Crossroads Zimbabwe, since 2022. Her work as a vocal coach at Eaglesvale Senior School and Hartmann House Preparatory School has also allowed her to help young musicians develop their abilities. Through education, she contributes to the preservation and appreciation of Zimbabwe’s traditional musical heritage among younger generations. Her involvement in teaching also shows that her influence extends beyond her own performances and recordings, with her work contributing to the wider development of Zimbabwe’s music community.
The 2026 ACCES programme is expected to provide an extensive platform for artists and music industry professionals from around the world. Organisers have indicated that the event is expected to attract more than 700 delegates representing more than 45 countries. The programme will include a two-day conference, a four-day showcase festival, industry nights, exhibitions, workshops and masterclasses. This broad programme will create opportunities for participating artistes to perform while also connecting with professionals involved in different parts of the global music business. For Anibal, the event could therefore provide valuable exposure beyond the showcase stage, particularly through interactions with industry figures involved in artist development, publishing, distribution, music rights and international partnerships.
The ACCES 2026 showcase will feature a diverse group of African artistes, including several prominent South African performers. The announced South African acts include Sun-El Musician, Pilani Bubu, Abavuki, Francis Soal, Rorisang Sechele, The SN Project, The Joy and Giuliette Price. The international line-up also includes Tanzania’s Ben Pol, Ghanaian artistes Akra and FimFim, as well as Chakires et le groupe Oulanga from Réunion and Comoros. The presence of performers from different African countries reflects the conference’s wider focus on collaboration, exchange and the discovery of new musical talent. Anibal’s participation places Zimbabwe alongside this diverse group of performers while giving her an opportunity to present her distinctive mbira-led sound to new audiences.
The conference programme will also bring together experienced figures from different areas of the music industry. Speakers announced for the event include South African producer, songwriter and DJ Sun-El Musician, Robert Singerman of LyricFind, Nelo Mathenjwa of Paradise Worldwide and Katherine McVicker of Music Works International. John Fishlock of Active Music Publishing and Lerato Matsoso, general manager of Capasso, are also among the announced speakers. Their participation will give delegates access to perspectives on areas such as music publishing, rights management, international representation and artist development. For independent and emerging musicians such as Anibal, these conversations can provide useful knowledge about building sustainable careers in an increasingly connected global music industry.
Since its establishment in 2017, ACCES has developed into a major African music industry platform that connects musicians and other professionals from across the continent and international markets. The conference creates space for musicians, producers, publishers, record labels, rights organisations and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, establish partnerships and discover emerging talent. Its combination of performances, industry discussions, workshops and networking opportunities makes it more than a conventional music festival. For African artistes seeking international audiences, platforms such as ACCES can provide access to relationships and industry knowledge that can support long-term career development. Anibal’s selection therefore comes at an important stage in her career as she continues to expand her international profile while promoting the musical traditions of Zimbabwe.
Mary Anibal’s upcoming performance at ACCES 2026 represents another significant chapter in a career built around music, culture, education and international exchange. Her first performance in South Africa with her full band will give audiences in Johannesburg an opportunity to experience the full scope of her mbira-driven sound. It will also place her alongside Zimbabwean and international performers at an event designed to strengthen connections across Africa’s music industry. With a growing catalogue, a strong international performance record and a commitment to developing young musicians, Anibal has built a career that extends beyond individual releases and performances. Her ACCES 2026 appearance is therefore a timely recognition of her continued work and an important opportunity to carry Zimbabwean music to an even wider audience.
