MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / CULTURAL EVENTS
Lagos is hosting the 2026 edition of Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), bringing artists, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers together.
Akure —
Lagos is hosting the 2026 edition of Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), bringing artists, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers together.
The four-day event opened on November 5 and will run until November 8 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre.
Hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) through its Creative Africa Nexus programme, the theme is “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World.” Participants have travelled from Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora.
The programme covers film and television, music, fashion, sport, literature, publishing, gastronomy and visual arts.
Its purpose extends beyond showcasing talent: organisers want to connect professionals with finance, partners and wider markets.
A PLATFORM FOR CREATIVE BUSINESS
CANEX WKND combines performances and exhibitions with practical sessions on investment, technology, skills, intellectual property and market access.
Through the CANEX Deal Room and creative pitch sessions, entrepreneurs can present projects to financiers and potential partners. The platform is designed to turn creative ideas into viable businesses and commercial opportunities.
This focus addresses challenges facing creative professionals. Many struggle to secure funding, protect their work and reach audiences beyond their home markets. Fragmented distribution networks can also limit earnings.
Afreximbank says its support for the sector has grown over time, with financing available for Africa’s creative and cultural industries reaching US$2 billion.
The bank aims to help creators build scalable enterprises, retain ownership of intellectual property and capture more of the value generated by African culture.
FILM, TELEVISION AND MUSIC IN FOCUS
Film and television sessions will examine how African stories can reach wider audiences and how the industry can strengthen production, distribution and financing.
One discussion, “Made in Africa, Watched in Africa,” will consider research on audiences, distribution and financing in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa.
Another session, “Stories Without Borders: Africa, Hollywood and the Global Diaspora,” will explore connections between African filmmakers and the international screen industry.
Music also has a prominent place in the programme. The CANEX Music Business Lab will address music creation and the business structures that support artists.
Sessions will consider independent artist branding, music publishing and intellectual property rights. Musicians need visibility, fair agreements, reliable revenue channels and control over their work.
The programme will include a major concert on November 7. Nigerian star Davido, Congolese singer Fally Ipupa and Flavour are among the announced performers, alongside Libianca, Charlotte Dipanda and other acts.
FASHION AND AFRICAN CREATIVE IDENTITY
Fashion programming will examine how designers can build profitable brands and compete in wider markets.
A masterclass on building profitable fashion brands brings together professionals from different parts of the industry to discuss business development and growth.
The sessions also address textile value chains, market access and intellectual property. These issues matter to designers seeking to expand production and protect original work.
In addition, the CANEX Fashion Show and Awards Night will provide a platform to present African fashion and recognise creative work.
By placing fashion alongside film and music, CANEX highlights links between creative sectors.
Designers, musicians, filmmakers and visual artists share cultural influences and can collaborate on productions and commercial projects.
MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT
The event’s wider programme includes literature, publishing, gastronomy, visual arts and sport.
The CANEX Book Factory, book fair, writers’ workshops and manuscript pitching sessions will support writers and publishing professionals.
Food will receive attention through the Junior Chefs Competition, the Africa Jollof Wars Competition and live demonstrations. The activities will explore business opportunities in African ingredients and culinary traditions.
Sport will also connect with the creative economy. Former footballers Didier Drogba and Jay-Jay Okocha are scheduled to take part in a discussion on the business of the game. A Legends Football Match is planned for November 8 at Onikan Stadium.
The CANEX CreaThon, delivered with pan-African technology company Gebeya, will bring creators, developers and innovators together to develop projects in music, video and gaming.
Participants will have mentorship, digital tools, computing resources and a US$50,000 prize pool. Other sessions will examine artificial intelligence, authorship and intellectual property.
BUILDING A STRONGER CREATIVE ECONOMY
The African Union Commission is also using the gathering to advance discussions on policy, financing and cooperation.
Its programme includes a ministerial roundtable on Africa’s creative economy, with attention to technology, intellectual property protection and the movement of creative goods and services across borders.
The discussions reflect a wider challenge. Africa has creative talent and growing international audiences, but creators also need investment, training, infrastructure and policies that support fair trade. Cooperation between governments, financial institutions and businesses could help close these gaps.
For Lagos, hosting CANEX WKND places the city at the centre of an important continental conversation. It also creates opportunities for local hospitality, transport, event production and tourism businesses.
The event continues until November 8, with further cultural activities, a songwriting camp and the football match scheduled for the closing days. Its impact will depend on the partnerships and business relationships that continue after the event.
Ultimately, CANEX WKND 2026 presents African culture as both a source of identity and an economic resource. By bringing fashion, film, music and other creative fields into one space, the gathering aims to help African talent connect with capital, audiences and international markets.
Its central test will be whether those connections lead to lasting opportunities for creators and businesses across the continent. That outcome would matter most to independent creators and growing enterprises.
