Artists, investors, and policymakers from across Africa and the diaspora are gathering in London on 18 October for the African Creative Industries Symposium, a landmark event hosted by The Africa Centre in partnership with the British Council and King’s College London. Set within the iconic Bush House, the one-day summit forms part of the UK/Kenya 2025 Season of Culture and aims to chart a new course for Africa’s creative economy, from fashion and visual arts to music and cultural investment.
The symposium arrives at a time when Africa’s creative industries are rapidly expanding, contributing significantly to GDP and youth employment while shaping global popular culture. Yet, despite this momentum, barriers in financing, policy, and infrastructure continue to limit their growth. This gathering seeks to change that, offering a platform where artists, investors, and cultural leaders can work together to strengthen creative value chains and unlock sustainable opportunities for the continent’s creators.
The event brings together some of the most influential voices in the global cultural landscape, including UNESCO’s Lotfi Aoulad, Touria El Glaoui of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, SMADE of Afro Nation Festival, Yoanna “Pepper” Chikezie of The Assembly Hub, and Teesa Bahana, director of Uganda’s 32 Degrees East. Music powerhouse Taponeswa Mavunga of Sony Music UK, Moky Makura of Africa No Filter, and Wakiuru Njuguna of HEVA Fund are also among those shaping the conversation.
“This is more than a symposium, it is a collective reflection on how Africa can reclaim agency over its creative economy,” said Fadil Elobeid, Director of Programmes at The Africa Centre. “African creativity drives global trends, yet the continent’s artists remain under-recognised and undervalued. This event is about realigning that imbalance and positioning creativity as an economic force for development and dignity.”
Discussions at the symposium will delve into four key areas: fashion, visual arts, music, and financing. From exploring intra-African trade and sustainable production models to examining intellectual property protection, cultural diplomacy, and the role of digital platforms, the agenda reflects both the diversity and dynamism of Africa’s cultural scene. Delegates will also address how technology and soft power can elevate African stories on the world stage while ensuring that artists retain ownership of their work.
The African Creative Industries Symposium also celebrates collaboration between academia and culture. Alongside The Africa Centre and the British Council, partners include the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London, the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa’s Programme for African Leadership at the London School of Economics, and the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence. Together, they highlight how knowledge exchange and research can support inclusive, sustainable growth within creative economies.
After a day of panels and breakout sessions, the symposium will conclude with a reception at The Africa Centre in Southwark, a cultural institution that has championed African excellence and diaspora voices since 1964. The evening will also feature the launch of Nataal’s new publication celebrating Kenyan art and fashion, marking a symbolic bridge between creative communities across continents.
With names such as Chimano of Sauti Sol, Chi-chi Nwanoku of Chineke! Orchestra, and cultural investors from across Africa and Europe, the African Creative Industries Symposium promises more than dialogue, it offers a blueprint for reimagining Africa’s global influence through creativity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.
In a city that has long served as a meeting point of cultures, London becomes the stage for a new kind of exchange, one where Africa’s creative power takes its rightful place at the centre of the global conversation.
