MAD — Music Africa Direct is a hundred years of South African music, straight from the original master tapes. Here's how it works.
🎧 Getting started
Try it free for 7 days. Click Start listening, enter your email, and you're in straight away. We email you a Confirm button — tap it within 24 hours to keep all 7 days.
Already have an access code? It looks like MASS-XXX-XXX and arrives by email. Click I have an access code and enter it. One code works on up to 3 devices at a time.
Just browsing? You can look around freely and hear 30-second previews of every song.
🔍 Finding music
Use the search bar at the top for an artist, album, song or year, and narrow it down with Genre and Decades.
The Home page has New Releases, Themes and MAD About collections. G100 celebrates 100 years of Gallo.
▶️ Listening
Click an album to see its songs, then click a song to play it. The player at the bottom of the screen has play/pause, next and previous.
Maddie, our AI assistant (the bell at the bottom right), can suggest music — just ask. Available to subscribers.
📚 Your library and playlists
My Library lists Albums, Songs and what was Recently Added to MAD.
My Playlists: click Create playlist, then use Add to playlist on any song. You can share a playlist with a friend as a link.
💳 Buying access, downloads and ringtones
Access: a monthly subscription, or a 1-day, 7-day or 30-day pass (paid once, no card stored). Payment is by Paystack, and your access code is emailed to you.
Downloads: click + Basket next to a song to buy it as a download; buy several in one payment.
Ringtones: click ✂ Ringtone on a song to cut your own ringtone.
📱 On your phone
Open musicafricadirect.com on your phone — it works in any browser. On Android you can also get the MAD app on Google Play. The iPhone app is coming; until then use Safari.
Bought access on the website? Open the app and choose Enter access code.
👤 Your account
Click My Account at the bottom left to see your access, settings and your top 10 most-played songs, or to sign out. The Light Mode / Dark Mode switch is just above it.
Common problems
“This code is already in use on the maximum number of devices”
A code works on 3 devices at a time. Sign out on one of them (My Account → Sign out), or wait 15 minutes and try again.
I didn't get my email
Check your Junk or Spam folder for an email from musicafricadirect.com. Still nothing? Contact us below.
Songs only play for 30 seconds
That's preview mode — you're not signed in. Start a free trial or enter your access code.
My trial ended after one day
The trial runs for 7 days once your email is confirmed. Contact us and we'll sort it out.
