Building Africa's Live Entertainment Workforce

"Where world-class productions meet local expertise"

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The Opportunity

The Stage Is Set

When global artists bring their world tours to Africa, they bring everything—including the crews who build the show. Local technicians stand in the wings, watching foreign crews assemble stages they could build themselves, if only they had the training. CDI exists to change that story.

Audio engineer at mixing console
CDI trainee on site
CDI crew working together
Blake working on production
Erica on colorful stage
85%
of African live events rely on imported technical crews
$5B+
projected African music industry value by 2026
$2B+
annual production spending leaves the continent
Zero
formal production training in most West African markets
Our Model

What CDI Does

A comprehensive ecosystem for technical production training

Professional concert production

Learning Arm

School programs and hands-on training for local technicians in lighting, audio, video, and rigging. University partnerships across three continents.

Technical advisory on set

Technical Advisory

On-site and virtual production management. Industry professionals mentoring and supporting local crews on real productions.

Live production in action

Production Arm

Direct production support during transition, phasing out as local teams become self-sufficient. Building capacity for world-class events.

Curriculum & Impact

Training & Vision

Concert audio and stage production

Audio

"Where science meets vibe"
FOH/Monitor engineering, system design, RF coordination, mixing for live performance
Spectacular stage lighting design

Lighting

"Paint with light, not brushes"
GrandMA3 programming, rigging, show design, fixture knowledge, touring protocols
LED screens and video production

Video

"The screens everyone's watching"
LED wall systems, camera operation, Resolume, content management, switching
Festival stage with truss rigging

Rigging

"Safety first, magic second"
Load calculations, safety protocols, truss systems, load-in/out operations
100+
Stagehands trained per quarter
60-120
Specialist technicians per cohort
3-5x
Wage increase for certified techs
85%
Target graduate employment
Partner With CDI

Partnership Opportunities

CDI needs equipment and funding to train the next generation. Here's how you can help.

Equipment Partner
In-Kind Donation

Donate gear. Build brand loyalty.

  • "Powered by [Your Company]" branding
  • Your logo on all donated equipment
  • Trainees learn exclusively on YOUR gear
  • Featured in training materials & curriculum
  • Priority hiring access to graduates
  • Graduates become lifelong users of your products

THE ROI: Train the next generation on YOUR equipment — they'll specify it for the rest of their careers.

💰
Funding Partner
$10K – $50K/yr

Fund operations. Make impact visible.

  • Logo on all CDI materials
  • Quarterly impact reports
  • Social media recognition
  • Priority hiring access to graduates
  • Certificate of partnership
  • Featured in annual report

YOUR IMPACT: $10K trains 10 technicians. $50K funds an entire cohort.

👑
Title Partner
$100,000+/yr

Lead the movement. Shape the future.

  • All Funding Partner benefits
  • Co-naming rights ("CDI powered by X")
  • Advisory board seat
  • Executive immersion trip to Ghana
  • Custom curriculum input
  • Global media recognition
  • Equipment donations welcome (optional)

LEGACY: Be the name behind Africa's production workforce.

Equipment Wish List

These are the tools CDI needs to train world-class technicians. Donate equipment and your brand becomes part of every show our graduates touch.

Lighting

  • • grandMA3 consoles
  • • Moving lights (Elation, Robe, Martin)
  • • LED fixtures & wash lights
  • • DMX cables & accessories

Audio

  • • Digital mixing consoles (Allen & Heath, DiGiCo)
  • • Wireless mic systems (Shure, Sennheiser)
  • • Line array speakers
  • • In-ear monitoring systems

Video

  • • LED wall panels
  • • Media servers
  • • PTZ cameras
  • • Video switchers & scalers

Rigging & Staging

  • • Truss systems
  • • Chain motors & hoists
  • • Rigging hardware & clamps
  • • Stage decking

Infrastructure

  • • Power distribution
  • • Road cases & flight cases
  • • Cable (XLR, CAT6, power)
  • • Tools & workstations

💻 Software & Training

  • • Vectorworks licenses
  • • Resolume licenses
  • • QLab licenses
  • • Training materials & manuals

Ready to donate equipment? Contact us to discuss logistics and recognition.

Discuss Equipment Donation →
Who We Are

Leadership Team

Seasoned professionals building Africa's technical production future

Erica D. Hayes
Erica D. Hayes
Founder & Executive Director

15+ years across concert touring, television, and film. IATSE 728 member. CBU Professor. Designed for Fantasia, Amaarae, The Isley Brothers, Anita Baker, Jason Derulo, and more.

Keith Bernard
Keith Bernard
Lighting Designer & Visual Director

Experience spanning film, television, high-profile national events, and concert touring for top-tier artists across hip-hop, R&B, and soul.

Blake Brady
Blake Brady
Producer & Operations Leader

10+ years specializing in technical direction, stage management, and live event production. Expert in LED wall systems and sustainable infrastructure.

Nana Kwame Adu-Gyamfi
Nana Kwame Adu-Gyamfi
Local Operations Partner • LiveX Africa

On-the-ground partner providing facilities, equipment storage, local recruitment, and ongoing crew deployment across West Africa.

Join Us in Building
Africa's Future

The stage is set. Join the crew.

Your partnership directly funds equipment, training, mentorship, and sustainable infrastructure for the next generation of African production professionals.

Email
mariaperkinscdi@gmail.com
Website
cdi-global.org
Partner With Us
Crew Development Institute