LIPA welcomes first Chevening Scholar to our MA in Music Industry Management
Monday 23 February 2026
We are proud to welcome our first-ever Chevening Scholar to LIPA’s MA in Music Industry Management. This is an exciting milestone for the programme and for our wider international impact.
Kalidou Diop, an entrepreneur, music producer and audio strategist from Senegal, joins the MA as part of the prestigious UK government-funded Chevening Scholarships programme, which supports outstanding professionals with leadership potential from around the world. His arrival reflects both the global reach of the music industry and the MA programme’s commitment to practice-led, entrepreneurial education.
Dr Eva Petersen, Programme Leader for the MA in Music Industry Management, said:
“We are delighted to welcome our first Chevening Scholar to the programme. Kalidou has brought with him an exceptional blend of technical expertise, creative practice and entrepreneurial thinking. His experience across music production and cultural projects in West Africa are enriching discussions in the classroom and beyond, and perfectly reflects the global, future-facing nature of today’s music industry.”
From IT and telecoms to music entrepreneurship
Kalidou has been inspired by music and culture more broadly since his youth. Academically trained in IT, he co-founded NeeguRap, an independent music and media company in Senegal with childhood friends, building two studios and employing a team of seven people. Alongside developing local talent and producing culturally relevant content and music for African audiences, the company has also expanded into video production. Njogonal, their first TV show entirely produced in-house, aired on Canal+ last year.
By day, Kalidou works in the telecoms sector for SONATEL/Orange Senegal, focusing on data-driven music distribution and digital platforms. Outside of his 9-5 role, he continues to develop creative projects, combining technical skills with a deep-rooted passion for sound, culture and storytelling.
“I’ve always lived between technology and creativity,” he explains. “Music, writing, films and culture more broadly were a central part of everyday life growing up.”
Raised in a culturally vibrant Senegalese city known for its jazz festival and international arts events, Kalidou was exposed early to both African and French cultural influences. Festivals, Biennales and live music were part of the environment around him, shaping a global outlook on creativity that continues to inform his work today.
The Value of Chevening
Despite his professional success, Kalidou identified a gap in his formal education.
“I realised that not having a degree specifically in the music industry had cost me opportunities”, he says. “The industry in West Africa is developing fast, but music structures, IP, access to markets, and related topics needed more critical work.”
After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the United States in 2023, an experience that expanded his international network, Kalidou was encouraged by advisors to apply for Chevening. Although the process was daunting, he saw it as the right next step.
When researching UK institutions, he was drawn to the MA Music Industry Management because of its entrepreneurial, practice-led focus.
“I didn’t want to sit in lectures all year”, he explains. “I wanted something practical which reflects how the industry really works. When I read the programme description for LIPA’s MA in Music Industry Management, it felt like the right fit.”
He also cites the responsiveness and support of the academic and international teams at LIPA as a key factor in confirming his decision.
Building bridges between West Africa and the global music industry
For Kalidou, the MA is not only about personal development, it’s about creating long-term impact.
“Creativity is a massive soft power”, he says. “This MA creates bridges. It showcases Senegalese and West African music to the world, while also bringing industry structures back home.”
Alongside his studies, Kalidou is developing plans for a community-focused Culture House in Senegal: an entrepreneurial hub that supports young creatives with training in IP, business structures, HR, legal frameworks and marketing. A pilot music lab is already in place, offering free studio time, mentorship and industry insights and courses. Supported by international cultural funding, the Music Lab also functions as an incubator for collaborative projects across music, film and digital media.
“There’s incredible talent in Senegal”, he explains. “But many creatives aren’t benefitting from formal support and structures. I want to help people build sustainable careers, whether they’re musicians, filmmakers or visual artists.”
Looking ahead
Kalidou is excited to learn from the UK music ecosystem while sharing his own expertise in digital distribution, pitching and international collaboration.
“Music is so powerful, but its true power can only be realised when you collaborate to fully harness the mechanisms for distribution”, he says. “When you create together, you can take what works globally and make it reflect your own culture.”
About Kalidou
Kalidou Diop is a Senegalese music entrepreneur, producer and audio strategist with a background in IT and telecoms. He is a co-founder of an independent record label and studio business, working across music production, sound design and digital distribution. A Mandela Washington Fellow and now a Chevening Scholar, his work focuses on building sustainable creative industries and creating international bridges for West African music and culture.
