Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 has opened in Lagos, bringing together leading African and diaspora creatives, investors, policymakers and business executives for four days of industry discussions, investment opportunities, performances and exhibitions.
Hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) through its Creative Africa Nexus programme, the event runs from November 5 to 8 under the theme, “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World.”
The gathering seeks to strengthen Africa’s creative economy by connecting talent with financing, technology, intellectual property protection and international markets, positioning cultural industries as drivers of trade, investment and economic growth.
The programme covers film and television, music, fashion, sports, literature, publishing, gastronomy and visual arts, with particular emphasis on building commercially sustainable creative businesses and expanding opportunities for African products in global markets.
A central feature is the CANEX Deal Room, which will connect creative entrepreneurs with investors and financial institutions to facilitate partnerships, funding and commercial transactions across the continent’s creative industries.
Afreximbank’s growing financial commitment reflects the increasing economic importance of the sector. The bank initially committed US$500 million to supporting Africa’s creative and cultural industries in 2020, subsequently doubling the commitment before expanding available financing to US$2 billion.
The funding is intended to help creative enterprises scale their operations, strengthen ownership of intellectual property and retain more economic value from African cultural products and services.
The opening ceremony is expected to feature addresses by Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, Dr George Elombi; Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olajumoke Oduwole; African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary-General Wamkele Mene; and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside culture ministers from 11 African countries.
The event has attracted prominent personalities from Africa and the diaspora, including Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, Emmy Award-winning actor Uzo Aduba, filmmaker Funke Akindele, actors Richard Mofe-Damijo and Thuso Mbedu, and former football stars Didier Drogba and Jay-Jay Okocha.
Musical performances and appearances will feature artists including Davido, Fally Ipupa, Flavour, Libianca and Charlotte Dipanda.
Beyond entertainment, CANEX WKND is placing the business of creativity at the centre of discussions, particularly how African cultural influence can translate into exports, investment and employment.
On November 6, a high-level session titled “One Market, One Culture: Building the Creative Economy of Global Africa” will examine opportunities to develop a more integrated African creative marketplace. Discussions will bring together cultural ministers, industry leaders, international financial institutions and Afreximbank representatives.
Financing will also feature prominently through the Creative Economy Finance Summit, organised by Afreximbank in partnership with the Creative Economy Practice at Co-Creation Hub. The summit will explore how financial institutions can structure transactions, reduce investment risks and improve access to capital for creative enterprises.
CANEX Creations Inc. will lead discussions on unlocking investment in African intellectual property, while the Deal Room and Creative Pitch Sessions will provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to present projects to potential financiers.
Technology and artificial intelligence will form another major focus, with sessions examining the implications of AI for authorship, intellectual property rights and creative production. The discussions will explore how African innovators can leverage digital technologies to develop competitive products and reach international audiences.
The CANEX CreaThon, organised in partnership with pan-African technology company Gebeya, will bring together developers, creatives and innovators to develop solutions in music, video and gaming. The initiative will provide mentorship, digital tools and computing resources, alongside a US$50,000 prize pool.
Film and television discussions will examine the commercial infrastructure needed to expand African storytelling and distribution. Sessions such as “Stories Without Borders: Africa, Hollywood & the Global Diaspora” will explore international collaboration, while “Made in Africa, Watched in Africa” will examine research on audiences, financing and distribution across Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa.
Sports will also feature as a growing commercial segment of the creative economy, with discussions on athlete development, management and commercialisation. Drogba and Okocha are scheduled to participate in “When Giants Speak: The Business of the Game”, ahead of a Legends Football Match at Onikan Stadium on November 8.
Fashion programming will focus on building profitable African brands, strengthening textile value chains, improving market access and protecting intellectual property. The activities will include the CANEX Fashion Show and Awards Night.
In gastronomy, competitions such as the CANEX Junior Chefs Competition and Africa Jollof Wars will showcase African culinary traditions while examining opportunities to develop food businesses and expand the global market for African cuisine.
Literature and publishing will feature through the CANEX Book Factory, book fair, writers’ workshops, manuscript pitching and the CANEX Prize for Publishing. Visual arts activities will include exhibitions, collector engagement and discussions on opportunities within Africa’s expanding art market.
The programme will culminate in a major concert on November 7, bringing together performers from across Africa and the diaspora. The final day will feature cultural excursions, culinary activities, the CANEX Music Factory Songwriting Camp and the Legends Football Match.
Through its combination of investment forums, industry networking and cultural showcases, CANEX WKND 2026 seeks to strengthen the commercial foundations of Africa’s creative industries and position the continent as a competitive supplier of cultural products and services to the global economy.
