2024 Africa Creative Market Propels African Creativity and Talent to New Heights

In partnership with U.S. Consulate General, American Business Council, Ascend Studios Foundation, Venture Garden Group, and Paramount Africa, the 2024 edition of the Africa Creative Market (ACM) took place at the Landmark Event Center in Lagos from September 17th to 20th.

Supported by esteemed organizations such as YD Company, Toyota by CFAO Motors, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment Lagos, Les Terange, Tafe Organics, Uber, Regal, Leadwood Furniture, The Luxury Network Nigeria, Seinde Signature, C&C, The Balvenine, Wift Senegal, 7edge Consulting, and with program partners including Forum for Women in Film & TV, Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, MTV Base, FashionEVO, Business of Entertainment Conference, Business of Photography Conference, Sport Entertainment & Creative Technology Summit, Global Creative Legal Summit, Kingdom Film Festival, Dance Boss with Kaffy, and Beyond The Shutter, this event brought together creative visionaries, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from across the African continent.

Over the course of four days, the ACM 2024 conference served as a platform for Africa’s creative industries to explore the convergence of art, culture, technology, gaming, film, fashion, and entrepreneurship. The event spurred discussions that will shape the future of African creativity. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from industry thought leaders and network across various creative disciplines, as multiple activities unfolded concurrently in different halls.

The Gurara Hall featured the Business of Entertainment Conference, Women in Film and TV Conference, FashionEVO Conference and MTV Music Day. The Imani Hall hosted the Sports Entertainment & Creative Technology Summit and Dance Gone Digital by Kaffy. The Sahara Hall accommodated the Business of Photography Conference, Beyond The Shutter Conference, and the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs. Finally, the Mandara Hall hosted the Kingdom Festival Summit, while the Kilimanjaro Hall served as the exhibition center.

Each hall welcomed attendees with introductory remarks from prominent individuals such as Kola Oshalusi, Founder of the Business of Photography Conference, Mykel Parish, Founder of the Business of Entertainment Conference, and Abba Saleh, Head Scheduler of Afrosport Media. Renowned industry experts, including Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Yemi Kings, Chukwuebuka Emmanuel (popularly known as BrainJotter), Agatha Amata, Shawn Faqua, Pastor Mike Bamiloye, and Obi Asika, led engaging panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions.

Throughout the event, the speakers emphasized the significance of indigenous narratives in shaping global trends, encouraging African creatives to embrace their potential. Attendees were treated to a diverse range of captivating sessions during the conference.

“As we conclude this year’s ACM, we are reminded of the immense potential of Africa’s creative industries. This edition has reinforced our commitment to empowering African creatives, fostering collaboration, and driving growth in the continent’s creative economy.” says Dr Inya Lawal, Convener of Africa Creative Market. “We’ll continue to nurture talent, promote cultural exchange, and champion African excellence on the global stage”

Women played a prominent role in the discussions, with the Forum for Women in Film and TV (FWIFT) Conference which was championed by renowned Nollywood actress, Mrs Joke Silva. This conference featured empowering contributions from distinguished individuals such as Joke Silva, Hajia Muheeba Dankaka ONN, and Laja Adedoyin. Similarly, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE 2.0) summit gathered thought leaders such as Joyce Daniel and Adaora Mbelu to explore strategies for mastering content creation and leveraging social media and e-commerce.

ACM 2024 also hosted a Nigeria/South Africa Co-production cocktail, in partnership with Wildpepper Studios and Black Roots. Organized by Oma Areh, Producer, Wildpepper Studios, the cocktail evening had in attendance several distinguished guests like the Consul-General of South Africa in Lagos, Nigeria, Dr Bobby Moroe who gave the welcome address and emphasized the power of cultural and creative partnerships between Nigeria and South Africa, Mildred Okwo, Arese Ugwu, Yolanda Okereke, Abuchi Peter Ugwu, Mmeli Khumalo, Lusanda Chauke.

The inaugural edition of Global Creative Legal Summit (GCLS), was also launched at ACM 2024. Brought together by Oyinkansola Fawehinmi popularly known as Foza, this conference was a convergence of legal experts in the creative economy and creatives exploring innovative solutions through the law. Industry leaders and thought experts like Oreoluwa Peters, Olamilekan Bamidele, Amanda Uzoagba, and Annie Oti led interactive and insightful sessions.

At ACM 2024, NOVUS, an intriguing exhibition of paintings and sculptures, made a powerful statement in the realm of contemporary art. Organized by The Luxury Network Nigeria, FashionEVO, YD Company, and Atlantic Exhibition, the exhibition was expertly curated by The Art Exential. Showcasing the remarkable talents of artists such as Akinsola Olalekan, Deji Ogunnubi, Ambali Omotayo, Azeez Salami, Bali Audu, Femi Adeleke, Fortune Adenekan, Greg Onyeka, James Afolabi, Nasir Adamu, Obajuluwa Oluwasegun, and Olayemi Olalekan, NOVUS presented a collection of breathtaking artworks that embraced true storytelling infused with authentic African influences. Each piece embodied a profound narrative, captivating viewers with its evocative portrayal of emotions and experiences rooted in the African context.

At ACM 2024, Fashion Day, organized by FashionEVO, stood out as a remarkable event. The conference, fashion show and awards ceremony brought together designers and creatives from across Africa, celebrating African fashion. The masterclass, led by renowned fashion expert Dr. Princess Oghene, focused on the essentials for a successful fashion career.

The Fashion Runway Show, curated by FashionEVO, showcased stunning collections from top African designers such as Joseph Ejiro, Amarelis Atelier, Gbenga Artsmith, Jon Pelumi, Skentele By Etti, Mmakamba, Henri Uduku, Dash Contents, GDWN, Shakara Trybe, Ciscacecil, Cute Saint, and Kola Kuddus. These designs seamlessly blended traditional African elegance with contemporary flair.

Several iconic figures in the fashion industry were honoured for their contributions, Awards were presented, recognising exceptional individuals for their significant contributions to the fashion and creative industries; Lanre Da Silva, Dr Reze Bonna, Azuka Ogujiuba, Victoria Michaels, Omoyemi Akerele, Kelechi Amade-Obi, Mai Atafo, Bola Balogun, Ruth Osime and Ms Sade Thomas-Fahm the pioneer Fashion designer in Nigeria was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Fashion, courtesy of Toyota by CFAO, whose impact continues to shape and inspire the community, especially in Nigeria and Africa.

During the conference finale, Dance Day, with renowned dancer and choreographer Kaffy Shafau, the founder of ImagnTo Dance, leading a series of captivating sessions and performances. Shafau delivered masterclasses on exceptional performances alongside other notable speakers. Simultaneously, Music Day took center stage and celebrated African music and dance, hosted by MTV Base. Obi Asika delivered a keynote address on technology’s role in the music industry, followed by discussions on digital distribution, social media promotion, and sampling in music. Industry leaders like Akintunde Johnson Bada (Co-Founder of ACM and MTV Base Program Director), Bugwu Aneto-Okeke, Yinka and Bola Obebe of Mefa, Osi Suave, and Dapo Ayo Adebisi shared insights on harnessing digital tools to reach global audiences. The live Music panel was hosted by Mefa with panels like Godwin Tom, Timi Dakolo, Praiz, Tobi Mohammed and Nancy Chuwudebe.

Dr. Bada Akintunde Johnson, Co-Founder of ACM, emphasized the significance of the Africa Creative Market (ACM) to the creative industry. He highlighted ACM’s role in driving Africa’s economic growth through creativity and innovation. This edition showcased Africa’s creative potential, and ACM remains committed to empowering African creatives and promoting the continent’s rich cultural heritage to the world.

The day culminated in an explosive finale featuring dance competitions powered by Redbull. Performances by Kaffy and ex-BBN star Hermes energized the audience, showcasing the vibrant future of African music and dance. The night concluded with performances by music artists such as Nasboi, Firefly, Tariq, and headliner Oxlade, whose electrifying performance closed the event on a high note.

ACM 2024 successfully fostered collaboration, innovation, and empowerment across Africa’s creative industries. It marked a significant step in positioning Africa’s creative industries on the global stage, providing opportunities for creatives, investors, and stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and push boundaries in shaping the future of African creativity.
For more information, please visit our website at www.africacreativemarketglobal.com