By OKEOGHENE AKUBUIKE

Preparations are in top gear for Lagos to host the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), Africa’s largest gathering of creative and cultural industries, from November 5 to November 8.

The four-day event is hosted by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

A statement issued by Vincent Musumba, Communications and Event Manager, Afreximbank, on Tuesday, said the event will bring together creatives, investors, policymakers, financiers, buyers and industry leaders.

Musumba said the event will be held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre Complex, Iganmu, Lagos, with participants expected from across Africa, the Caribbean and the wider diaspora.

“Held under the theme, “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World: From FESTAC ’77 to CANEX’27,” CANEX WKND 2026 is designed to support the development, commercialisation and expansion of Africa’s creative and cultural industries.”

“The programme will focus on improving access to finance, markets, skills, partnerships and investment opportunities across the creative and cultural economy.”

He said activities would cover film, music, fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy and sport, combining business and investment discussions with showcases, exhibitions, masterclasses and networking opportunities.

Musumba said key components of the programme will include the CANEX Finance Summit and Deal Room, CANEX Shorts Film Competition, Jollof Wars Competition, CANEX Music Factory and Songwriting Camp.

Other key components he said include Junior Chefs Competition, Fashion Show and Awards Night, CANEX Mega Concert and Legends Football Match.

“At the centre of the business programme, the CANEX Deal Room will provide creative entrepreneurs and businesses with opportunities to present projects to financiers and investors.

“The initiative is expected to support commercially viable creative enterprises and contribute to the development of sustainable value chains across Africa’s creative economy.”

He said the Lagos edition will also build on the legacy of FESTAC ’77, which brought together artists, writers, musicians and cultural leaders from across Africa and the diaspora.

“Nigeria is preparing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of FESTAC in 2027, providing an opportunity to link the cultural legacy with the continued development of contemporary creative industries.”

Meanwhile, Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said the event would help convert Africa’s creative talent into sustainable commercial opportunities.

“By bringing creators together with investors, financiers, buyers and policymakers, we are helping to strengthen the ecosystem required for African creative businesses to grow, access new markets and retain greater value from their work.

“Hosting CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos is particularly significant, given Nigeria’s influence across music, film, fashion, literature and other creative sectors.”

She said the event would bring together participants from across Global Africa to deepen collaboration, mobilise investment and support the continued growth of the creative economy.

Also, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said Nigeria’s hosting of the event reinforced the country’s position as one of Africa’s leading creative and commercial centres.

“Our creative industries are an important source of enterprise, employment and exports, and strengthening the connections between talent, investment and markets is critical to unlocking their full economic potential.

“ CANEX provides an important platform to bring African and diaspora creatives, investors and businesses together in Nigeria while creating opportunities for stronger partnerships, greater market access and increased investment across the creative value chain.”

She said Nigeria looked forward to welcoming participants from Global Africa and showcasing the depth and diversity of the country’s creative economy.

Musuma said CANEX WKND 2026 would build on the momentum of previous editions, with the 2024 edition in Algiers, Algeria, facilitating and agreeing deals worth more than 540 million dollars.

He said the 2024 edition attracted no fewer than 4,000 participants from 81 countries.

Musumba said Afreximbank had also committed two billion dollars to support Africa’s creative industries between 2024 and 2027, which reflected the bank’s commitment to strengthening the sector’s contribution to trade, enterprise development and employment across Africa.

He said the Lagos edition will serve as a test run for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027), which Nigeria will host in November 2027.

According to him, IATF2027 is expected to provide a broader continental marketplace for African businesses, including creative enterprises, to expand commercial partnerships and access new markets. (NAN)