Ghana’s capital, Accra, is set to host the first edition of the Creative Connect Africa Forum and Festival from November 24 to 26, a landmark event aimed at fostering collaboration across Africa’s creative, tourism, and cultural industries.
Organized by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in partnership with Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) and the Black Star Experience, the initiative was officially launched in Lagos, Nigeria.
The forum and festival aim to address barriers within Africa’s creative economy, foster strategic partnerships, and celebrate the continent’s cultural diversity through film, music, fashion, and tourism.
Speaking at the launch, AfCFTA Director for Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights, and Digital Trade, Mrs. Emily Mburu-Ndoria, described the event as a significant milestone in Africa’s integration and development agenda.
“Today is a milestone moment. The tourism, creative, and cultural sectors of Africa… are not just industries. They are the heartbeat of our economies, the custodians of our heritage, the storytellers of our shared identity, and a driving force for inclusion and innovation,” Mburu-Ndoria said.
She emphasized the need for collective action to empower youth and women entrepreneurs, promote authentic African narratives, and ensure sustainable cultural and economic growth.
“The upcoming Forum and Festival in Accra, themed ‘Creatives Connect Afrika,’ will be a pioneering event… a platform for meaningful dialogue and an opportunity to identify practical solutions that will unlock the full potential of Africa’s tourism, creative, and cultural industries,” she added.
The three-day programme will feature panel discussions with policymakers, creatives, and investors; exhibitions highlighting African film, music, and fashion; training sessions and masterclasses for emerging entrepreneurs; and business matchmaking activities to promote partnerships and investment. The festival will also showcase Africa’s vibrant culture through fashion shows, concerts, and artistic performances.
Mburu-Ndoria further noted that future editions of the event would rotate across the continent to ensure inclusivity. “From Ghana in West Africa, we plan to move to other regions of the continent so that we can achieve balance and inclusion,” she said.
Also speaking at the launch, Africa Tourism Partners CEO Kwakye Donkor stressed the importance of cross-country collaboration to strengthen Africa’s creative and tourism industries. “We see our differences as unique strengths. If we harness them collectively, there is much we can achieve as a continent,” Donkor said.
The event will also celebrate the camaraderie and friendly rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria, featuring participants from across Africa and guests from the Caribbean, including Jamaica and Barbados, in a bid to strengthen inter-African trade and collaboration within the creative and cultural sectors.
