Creative Economy Competition at TEXPO STEAMON 25 Encourages University Students to Innovate and Solve Complex Issues in the Music Industry
The third edition of the Steam On Hackathon series is set to take place at the Harare Institute of Technology Innovation Hub in September 2025, with a focus on the creative economy and addressing critical market gaps in African music. This year's event, known as Steam On 25 Creative Economy Hackathon, is organised by Telco and the Technopreneurship Development Centre.
The deadline for registration is fast approaching, with the last date for applications being July 31, 2025. Interested students can apply for the hackathon through the provided link.
This year's challenge revolves around two key problems in Africa's music ecosystem. The first problem, PlayFair, is the lack of transparency in music royalty collection. Participants are tasked with developing Raspberry Pi-based tracking systems that aim to bring transparency to music royalty collection by tracking music playback across radio stations, streaming platforms, bars, and events. The system collects verifiable data on when and where songs are played, enabling artists to confirm usage and receive fair payments.
The second problem, RhythmKeepers, focuses on the digital preservation of Africa’s traditional music heritage. With much of this heritage existing in human memory rather than digital archives, there is a significant risk of losing valuable rhythms, melodies, and musical knowledge. Participants are encouraged to build solutions that digitize, preserve, and make accessible these precious musical treasures.
Last year's hackathon, held at St Georges in 2023, saw participants propose innovative solutions to these problems. One such solution was a Raspberry Pi-based device designed to help digitize, preserve, and make accessible Africa’s traditional music heritage. Another solution focused on music royalty tracking, aiming to bring transparency to the collection of royalties by tracking music playback across various platforms.
The Steam On Hackathon series plays a crucial role in addressing real pain points for musicians in the market. By fostering innovation and creativity, it aims to preserve Africa's rich musical heritage and support the growth of the creative economy.
As the deadline for registration approaches, it's an exciting time for students who wish to make a difference in the African music industry. So, if you're passionate about music and technology, don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of the Steam On 25 Creative Economy Hackathon.
Source: Techzim, 2025
Participants in the Steam On 25 Creative Economy Hackathon, taking place at the Harare Institute of Technology Innovation Hub in September 2025, will have the chance to address key problems in Africa's music ecosystem. For instance, they can develop Raspberry Pi-based systems to bring transparency to music royalty collection, known as the PlayFair challenge, or build digital solutions to preserve Africa’s traditional music heritage, known as the RhythmKeepers challenge. These projects align with the hackathon's focus on the creative economy and its aim to foster innovation and creativity in the African music industry.
