IRL Africa

[mdhara-mdhara]

Description

IRL Africa seeks to reshape the live music event experience. Our goal is to make live music more accessible across Africa, allowing artists to perform and communities to enjoy music while utilizing decentralized tools for ticketing, fan engagement, monetization and rewards. Using the rewards system to give people experiences rather than tokens.

This proposal outlines our mission, objectives, implementation plan, and the framework for our initial event and plans to scale across multiple cities in Africa.

Mission

To make live music events sustainable and accessible across Africa using blockchain-based tools and community-driven approaches to bring free concerts.

Vision

We aim to build an inclusive platform for African artists to showcase their talents, while communities across the continent enjoy live music through decentralized and sustainable means. By integrating web3 technology, we envision a global expansion where African music transcends borders.

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Objectives

1. Onboarding Untapped Markets: Focus on onboarding communities like Harare into the Web3 ecosystem, creating new opportunities in regions that are ripe for blockchain disruption. Get local devs working on local projects with local people that'll benefit from the solution.

2. Artist Empowerment: Provide transparent payment structures and global exposure for African artists by utilizing blockchain. Ownership of data as well.

3. Community Participation: Enable communities to curate, fund, and engage with live music performances through decentralized mechanisms. Fans can be part of the event planning process and directly influence concert selections using blockchain technology and web3 philosophies.

4. Blockchain Education: Introduce both artists and fans to blockchain tools (Unlock Protocol, Base, rainbow wallet), showing how these tools can solve real-world challenges in the music industry such as ticket fraud, artist compensation, and fan engagement.

5. Sustainability and Inclusivity: Promote a sustainable concert model that can scale across Africa, using decentralized methods for funding and audience engagement. Every aspect of the event experience, from ticketing to content monetization, will be driven by blockchain, ensuring long-term sustainability for artists and event organizers alike.

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Proposed Programming Framework for IRL Africa

1. Online Workshops for Artists

Onboarding to Blockchain (Base): We will conduct virtual workshops to teach African artists how to use Unlock Protocol for ticketing and monetization on Base. These workshops will focus on simple, step-by-step integration of blockchain technology into their music careers.

KPIs: Number of artists onboarded, workshop completion rates, ability to use blockchain tools.

2. Fan Engagement

Following the workshops, artists will guide their fanbase through blockchain usage for concert ticketing, helping them get familiar with decentralized tools. This not only builds direct fan-to-artist relationships but also increases fan participation in event planning and engagement.

This will be through the artists inviting their fans to a free concert, limited space so they should rsvp on unlock.

KPIs: Fan engagement levels, tickets claimed via blockchain, artist-to-fan interactions.

3. Main Event: Free Concert at Skug Barn

Live Music Performance: The pilot event will take place at Skug Barn with 300 attendees (capacity up for review based on demand). Skug has a venue capacity of 3000 but we are aiming for a smaller way to manage crowd initially.

Tickets will be distributed via blockchain (Unlock Protocol), and free entry will be granted to those claiming tickets online. To promote inclusivity, a limited number of tickets will be sold at the door for a higher price in fiat currency. A steep fiat price will discourage the patron from buying, adding value to the free ticket. " its 20 usd but free on unlocked". Is the

Content Creation & Monetization: The concert will be professionally recorded, and fans will be able to mint pictures and videos as NFTs via Base. This creates new revenue streams for artists while continuing fan engagement after the event.

KPIs: Number of tickets claimed via blockchain, NFTs minted, content sales revenue.

4. Post-Concert Engagement

Fans will remain engaged with blockchain tools post-event by minting concert moments as NFTs. This keeps them actively involved in the ecosystem and helps artists monetize their performances even after the concert ends.

5. Scaling & Future Event Planning

Based on the success of the pilot, IRL Africa will expand to more cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Vic Falls, and Nairobi, onboarding more artists and fans onto the blockchain. This scalable model will continue to use free concerts as a gateway to onboard African audiences into the blockchain ecosystem.

KPIs: Number of cities expanded to, number of blockchain-enabled concerts, continued fan engagement.

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Roadmap

Phase 1: Research & Development (3-6 months)

Conduct surveys and focus groups to gather insights from artists, fans, and potential partners.

Develop prototypes for blockchain ticketing, artist engagement, and sustainability initiatives.

KPIs: Community insights gathered, artist onboarding, tool prototypes developed.

Phase 2: Pilot Events (6-12 months)

Launch the first concert in Harare using Unlock Protocol for ticketing and fan engagement.

Evaluate and test blockchain solutions in different African cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Vic Falls, and Nairobi.

KPIs: Concert attendance, blockchain usage metrics, fan engagement.

Phase 3: Full-Scale Launch (12-24 months)

Scale the initiative across 10 cities, deepening blockchain integration.

Allow fans to drive artist selection and further democratize event planning using decentralized platforms.

KPIs: Number of cities onboarded, continued engagement metrics, revenue generated through NFTs and blockchain-driven events.

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Sustainability Model

Our goal is to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem where:

1. Artists generate revenue through fair payment structures and continuous engagement with their fanbase via blockchain.

2. Fans are incentivized to attend free concerts through blockchain ticketing, with premium access available at the door for inclusion.

3. NFTs and blockchain-based content minting create lasting financial opportunities for both artists and fans.

4. As we scale, partnerships with local sponsors, brands, and blockchain platforms will provide additional funding and logistical support to sustain these events.

Website URL

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17gV7q1tC3K8uXoWS9FKBfANaD8pgSc46S96wh3Nqlvs/edit?usp=sharing

Twitter

@_anofm

Github

No response

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anotidaishe

Discord handle

_foroma

Completion time

Pilot Concert - Q1 2025

Team

@mdhara-mdhara Team Leader and Director

Tino Manyangadze – Project Manager
Tino brings an exceptional level of organization and foresight to our projects, ensuring seamless execution from planning to delivery. As our project manager, Tino oversees logistics, timelines, and resources, making sure each phase aligns with our overall mission. With a knack for problem-solving and a strategic mindset, he drives the team toward impactful results and continuously improves our approach to make every project a success.

Benabstract – Design
Benabstract will help us in bringing concepts to life through impactful visuals and branding. His expertise in design is crucial to shaping how our audiences experience our work, from digital assets to event materials.
Benabstract’s designs do more than just look good—they connect, inspire, and communicate our mission in visually compelling ways.

UBU – Education
UBU a subsidiary of ancurated.xyz leads our education initiatives, focusing on onboarding and empowering African artists in the Web3 space. With a strong foundation in blockchain education, UBU is committed to bridging knowledge gaps, helping artists leverage decentralized tools, and driving sustainable, tech-enabled growth.

Inceptive Creations – Marketing
Inceptive Creations is the voice that amplifies our projects to reach diverse audiences. Skilled in crafting narratives that resonate, Inceptive Creations handles our marketing efforts, ensuring that our message cuts through the noise. By combining innovative digital marketing strategies with a deep understanding of community engagement, Inceptive Creations not only reaches people but also inspires them to join our journey.

Art Direction Cyberbaat

Cyberbaat is steering the artistic narrative with a unique lens that merges African culture and technology. As an art direction lead, Cyberbaat’s role will be to craft a visual experience that is bold, immersive, and layered with storytelling elements that reflect the essence of Africa’s future and past.

Milestones

these are our short term goals that will allow us to host the pilot concert before the summer ends in the southern hemisphere.

Design an onboarding package for workshops. ( Nov 2024- Jan 2024)
Host the workshops (Jan-Feb 2024)
Get a date for the pilot concert. (Jan-Feb 2024)
start marketing campaign. (Jan - March 2024)

Requested grant amount

Other amount, or not requesting UDT

Anything else you think we should know, including why you've requested a particular grant amount

we are fortunate enough to have quite a few volunteers, partners and pro bono services from people who believe in the vision or tend to benefit from the concert which will allow us to cut down on expenses.

Revised Budget

Budget (Pilot event: Skug Barn Harare)
Venue - Free
Equipment hire (pa system, lighting, props, band) ~ $2000
Production Costs (technicians, security and crew) : ~ $1500
Administrative Costs ~$500.

Is your work Open Source

Yes, my project will use an Open Source license such as MIT

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[Calla-Ji]

Dear M'dhara,

Thank you so much for joining us yesterday on the DAO Call and also for sharing the documentary with us (I recommend for others to watch as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D82MIUs46Cs&ab_channel=kashi2012).

About the proposal:

I can only speak for myself and maybe some other DAO members, but we are all happy to get you started with Unlock Protocol and teach your fellow musicians at the workshops if needed. Just say the word!
As the protocol only generates fees on paid tickets, I suggest selling the patron tickets via Unlock Protocol as well. I can show you how to set this up so it is super easy and people can pay with fiat nonetheless.
As for the suggested grant amount, I understand the cost, but I would suggest sharing this among three sponsors, us included. I think Base itself could be a great sponsor, and maybe one fellow protocol plus us. How does that sound?

Best
Stella*

[mdhara-mdhara]

Thanks for the feedback Stella. I am glad you suggested selling tickets through unlock, this is one of the problems I would want us to solve. Zimbabwe's payment system is very unique and problematic. We have time to figure it out. I will add a feature request that might allow fiat payments.

Also, I have reached out to base haven't gotten a response yet and I am aiming to also partner with a wallet and/or a fellow protocol. So the arrangement you suggested might be the best one. Keen to hear what everyone else thinks.

Dear M'dhara,

Thank you so much for joining us yesterday on the DAO Call and also for sharing the documentary with us (I recommend for others to watch as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D82MIUs46Cs&ab_channel=kashi2012).

About the proposal:

I can only speak for myself and maybe some other DAO members, but we are all happy to get you started with Unlock Protocol and teach your fellow musicians at the workshops if needed. Just say the word! As the protocol only generates fees on paid tickets, I suggest selling the patron tickets via Unlock Protocol as well. I can show you how to set this up so it is super easy and people can pay with fiat nonetheless. As for the suggested grant amount, I understand the cost, but I would suggest sharing this among three sponsors, us included. I think Base itself could be a great sponsor, and maybe one fellow protocol plus us. How does that sound?

Best Stella*

[Calla-Ji]

Hi there @mdhara-mdhara,

we already allow fiat payments in Unlock with Stripe. I remember @blahkheart sharing with me before that payments are a difficult topic of sorts (not specifically Zimbabwe but Nigeria). I wonder if you guys have an overlap there of services. @blahkheart can you review @mdhara-mdhara's feature request to see if you have similar services you are using?

That sounds like a fantastic plan. Fingers crossed! Also just FYI many of these folks are now at Devcon so answers might get delayed. Also Farcaster might help to reach out to some individuals directly <3

Best
Stella*

Thanks for the feedback Stella. I am glad you suggested selling tickets through unlock, this is one of the problems I would want us to solve. Zimbabwe's payment system is very unique and problematic. We have time to figure it out. I will add a feature request that might allow fiat payments.

Also, I have reached out to base haven't gotten a response yet and I am aiming to also partner with a wallet and/or a fellow protocol. So the arrangement you suggested might be the best one. Keen to hear what everyone else thinks.

[blahkheart]

Hi there @mdhara-mdhara,

we already allow fiat payments in Unlock with Stripe. I remember @blahkheart sharing with me before that payments are a difficult topic of sorts (not specifically Zimbabwe but Nigeria). I wonder if you guys have an overlap there of services. @blahkheart can you review @mdhara-mdhara's feature request to see if you have similar services you are using?

That sounds like a fantastic plan. Fingers crossed! Also just FYI many of these folks are now at Devcon so answers might get delayed. Also Farcaster might help to reach out to some individuals directly <3

Best Stella*

Thanks for the feedback Stella. I am glad you suggested selling tickets through unlock, this is one of the problems I would want us to solve. Zimbabwe's payment system is very unique and problematic. We have time to figure it out. I will add a feature request that might allow fiat payments.
Also, I have reached out to base haven't gotten a response yet and I am aiming to also partner with a wallet and/or a fellow protocol. So the arrangement you suggested might be the best one. Keen to hear what everyone else thinks.

I've looked at the mobile money providers and it's different from what's available in Nigeria and Rwanda.

[karakrysthal-code]

Hi M'hdara,

This looks like a fantastic and meaningful event. Two points of feedback I have for your proposal (as a previous Unlock grantee and now Ambassador) are my thoughts for additional grant sponsors and also on diverse representation at your event:

• I like Stella's ideas on additional sponsors/grant supporters. Partners are a great way to introduce more value to your experience, in addition to funding. It can be helpful to inquire, "what products and services would be useful to introduce to my budding Web3 audience?". You know your audience best, but I am assuming most aren't developers, and would be most interested in Web3 products they can use themselves. Two ideas here are:

1. Zerion wallet. Reallly great wallet that just introduced zero gas fees with their Zero network.

2. Push Protocol. Download their app and see how one can follow different Web3 channels for updates.

It could be helpful if you create some options for your partners to be on display. Karla from Borderless just had a successful music event in Africa sponsored by Public Nouns...ping me on kara_si3 on Telegram and I will share her proposal link with you for ideas.

• My organization is very focused on driving diverse representation in Web3. I am curious what your diversity efforts will be to have balanced gender attendance? Happy to share some tips on this if its helpful in a DM on TG.

Good luck!

[mdhara-mdhara]

Thanks a lot for this feedback, I just noticed that Zeroin wallet isn't allowed in Zimbabwe, same as stripe.

I have checked with push protocol still playing with the site. Having a wallet and an onboarding partner is one of the goals.

Hadn't thought about the balanced gender attendance, are there common practices or recommendations?

Hi M'hdara,

This looks like a fantastic and meaningful event. Two points of feedback I have for your proposal (as a previous Unlock grantee and now Ambassador) are my thoughts for additional grant sponsors and also on diverse representation at your event:

• I like Stella's ideas on additional sponsors/grant supporters. Partners are a great way to introduce more value to your experience, in addition to funding. It can be helpful to inquire, "what products and services would be useful to introduce to my budding Web3 audience?". You know your audience best, but I am assuming most aren't developers, and would be most interested in Web3 products they can use themselves. Two ideas here are:

1. Zerion wallet. Reallly great wallet that just introduced zero gas fees with their Zero network.

2. Push Protocol. Download their app and see how one can follow different Web3 channels for updates.

It could be helpful if you create some options for your partners to be on display. Karla from Borderless just had a successful music event in Africa sponsored by Public Nouns...ping me on kara_si3 on Telegram and I will share her proposal link with you for ideas.

• My organization is very focused on driving diverse representation in Web3. I am curious what your diversity efforts will be to have balanced gender attendance? Happy to share some tips on this if its helpful in a DM on TG.

Good luck!

[karakrysthal-code]

Hi @mdhara-mdhara one of the best ways to have balanced gender attendance is to partner with women in web3 communities. there are a number in Africa and possibly in Zimbabwe. If you can't find a community in Zimbabwe, another thought is to find a women in web3 leader in your region and invite her to invite her network. Hope this helps!

[mdhara-mdhara]

Hi @mdhara-mdhara one of the best ways to have balanced gender attendance is to partner with women in web3 communities. there are a number in Africa and possibly in Zimbabwe. If you can't find a community in Zimbabwe, another thought is to find a women in web3 leader in your region and invite her to invite her network. Hope this helps!

Thanks for this suggestion @karakrysthal-code I have reached out to a local organization for women musicians for a collab and now waiting for them to respond.

[mdhara-mdhara]

Hi there @mdhara-mdhara,

we already allow fiat payments in Unlock with Stripe. I remember @blahkheart sharing with me before that payments are a difficult topic of sorts (not specifically Zimbabwe but Nigeria). I wonder if you guys have an overlap there of services. @blahkheart can you review @mdhara-mdhara's feature request to see if you have similar services you are using?

That sounds like a fantastic plan. Fingers crossed! Also just FYI many of these folks are now at Devcon so answers might get delayed. Also Farcaster might help to reach out to some individuals directly <3

Best
Stella*

Thanks for the feedback Stella. I am glad you suggested selling tickets through unlock, this is one of the problems I would want us to solve. Zimbabwe's payment system is very unique and problematic. We have time to figure it out. I will add a feature request that might allow fiat payments.

Also, I have reached out to base haven't gotten a response yet and I am aiming to also partner with a wallet and/or a fellow protocol. So the arrangement you suggested might be the best one. Keen to hear what everyone else thinks.

[mdhara-mdhara]

@Calla-Ji @blahkheart @karakrysthal-code

Thank you for your contributions.

I have posted the proposal on Snapshot and the vote ends in a few hours. Please vote if you haven't already.

https://snapshot.box/#/s:unlock-dao.eth/proposal/0xa559abc20e4007b3ab11bfe8a23482f3948db4954074d3a8d77fd0991c899678