African musicians and creatives forfeit hundreds of millions of dollars annually because of weak intellectual property protections, according to the US government. Katherine Hiner, the US Patent and Trademark Office’s IP attaché for Sub-Saharan Africa, said Kenya and Nigeria alone forgo about $286 million in recorded revenue every year. The region’s music industry grew 22.6% in 2025, far outpacing global growth of 4.8%, yet Africa still captures only about 1% to 2% of worldwide music revenue. Hiner argued that stronger laws, political commitment, and consistent cross-border protections are essential to unlocking the sector’s potential. She also urged African countries to ratify key World Intellectual Property Organization treaties supporting copyright and digital rights management.