The African Podcast and Voice Awards is a yearly contest with the goal of spotlighting Africa’s best. It’s the continent’s first and most significant event dedicated to the African audio creative community. An opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of African voice talents who have contributed significantly to the growth of the industry.
Here are six reasons why you should enter:
1. Recognition
Any contest is a good opportunity to widen your audience and reach new potential listeners. If you’re African or your work is about Africa, then your target audience must be African! APVA Awards is the premier event for recognising the outstanding work of African podcasters, spoken-word artists, and voice actors!
2.Networking
One of the first things to do when entering a new field is trying to immerse yourself as much as possible in it. At the beginning it will just be to acquire a deeper knowledge about it and, if it’s a lucrative activity, to take a closer look at the competition. However, searching for events, groups, or anything that is related to it, is very important. Other people from your industry could teach you new things, and could turn out to be potential new collaborators, partners, guests, or even sponsors!
3.Sense of Ownership and Belonging
When something is local, it means you belong to it and it belongs to you. You’re part of this community and you should take your space. You speak the language (both literally and metaphorically) of your audience and of things they relate to. Sometimes you’re probably voicing what they’d say if they had your platform. Your voice matters. So take this chance to make it heard! What better place than a special contest for Africans? Have a hand in shaping the future of audio in Africa!
4.Feedback/Test
Feedback and constructive criticism are essential for growth in quality and to improve in general. Participating in a contest can be a good way of testing your work and getting professional feedback. Getting a better idea of how your work is being received and perceived will let you know how or what you can do differently and improve.
5.A boost for the morale
To get back on track sometimes we need a reminder of what and why we’re doing what we’re doing. A contest can be a good motivator and a way of getting back your self-confidence. Podcasting and other voice-related professions can be very hard and at times lonely work if you don’t have a partner. At the beginning especially, it might seem like you’re not moving forward, so meeting with other people can make you realise that you’re not behind or so alone after all.
6.To win the prize of course!
Who doesn’t like winning and who doesn’t like a prize? Participating means you have a chance at winning and winning means merit, means quality, means appreciation from your audience. Those who don’t know you yet will want to listen to what you do because you’re obviously doing something good if you win! By winning you’ll get official award seals, proof of your achievements to show to the world. Plus, plenty of other cool and useful prizes like personalised certificates, press releases, and design templates!
So what are you waiting for!? Check out the details here or vote for/support your favorite African audio creative by nominating them!
By Malika A.
