Culture

Africa creatives alliance launches to transform Africa’s cultural and creative sectors

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2024

The Africa Creatives Alliance (ACA) is set to transform Africa’s cultural and creative sectors, supporting socio-economic growth and integration.

The Africa Creatives Alliance (ACA), aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to transform Africa into a global powerhouse by unlocking the potential of its cultural and creative sectors.

This significant alliance will empower creative entrepreneurs to contribute to Africa’s development goals.

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Officially launched during the Africa Urban Forum (AUF), the ACA works with partners like the African Union, UN-Habitat, and AfriLabs.

The AUF addresses the opportunities of rapid urbanisation in Africa, positioning the creative industries as key to socio-economic growth and continental unity.

Africa’s creative economy, though underutilised, offers enormous potential. With the global creative industries contributing 3.1% to global GDP, Africa’s creative sector can significantly boost export earnings and create jobs, especially for the continent’s youth. However, the continent needs a coordinated effort to fully activate these creative economies.

Rita Ngenzi, Founding Director of ACA, highlighted the need for a unified approach to building a continent-wide cultural and creative industries ecosystem.

While there are vibrant pockets of creativity across Africa, a consolidated network is still missing. The ACA aims to bridge this gap by facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Key partners like MoTIV Africa and AfriLabs believe this alliance will unlock Africa’s creative potential and create significant socio-economic benefits.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

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Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

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Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”