Events

Meetings Africa 2025: countdown to the Premier Pan-African event begins

Published

2 years ago

February 1, 2025

Meetings Africa 2025, hosted in Johannesburg, will connect global business leaders and spotlight Africa’s diverse destinations and opportunities

The countdown to *Meetings Africa 2025* has officially begun, and with less than a month to go, excitement is building across the continent.

On 1 February 2025, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange was buzzing with activity as the media launch event for this eagerly anticipated gathering was held.

The event, hosted by South African Tourism in partnership with the Gauteng Tourism Authority, Johannesburg Tourism Company, and the Sandton Convention Centre, is set to take place from 24 to 26 February 2025 at the prestigious Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, in the Gauteng Province.

This year’s edition promises to be even more significant, as it paves the way for the historic G20 Summit, which will be hosted on African soil for the very first time in November 2025.

In 2024, *Meetings Africa* generated an impressive economic impact of R145 million directly, with an additional R275 million in indirect impact.

This brought the total contribution to South Africa’s economy to R420 million. This success builds on the achievements of 2023, when the event contributed R388.5 million, with R133.9 million coming directly and R254.5 million indirectly into the country’s economy.

Speaking at the media launch, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Honourable Patricia de Lille, emphasised the event’s importance in connecting Africa’s business events stakeholders with influential international buyers.

“*Meetings Africa 2025* aims to continue to spotlight Africa’s diverse destinations and unique offerings for business events by unlocking Africa’s Opportunities Through Quality Connections,” she remarked.

“The event serves as a platform for business deals, knowledge sharing, and cross-sector partnerships, with a strong emphasis on enabling meaningful networking opportunities to support industry growth.”

Mlungisi Mabaso, Acting Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, also addressed the audience during the launch. He highlighted the economic benefits of hosting such major events, stating, “As a city of a thousand hellos, we are the beating heart of business connections for South Africa and the continent.

Events like *Meetings Africa* not only attract visitors to our shores, but they also create economic opportunities that generate jobs, boost our township economy, and grow our already solid reputation as a premier business hub for the continent.”

**Event Highlights:**

– **Business Opportunities Networking Day (BONDay):** 24 February 2025
– **Exhibition Days:** 25-26 February 2025
– **Venue:** Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

With the business tourism sector continuing to grow, *Meetings Africa 2025* is set to become a cornerstone of the African events calendar.

The event’s continued success underscores South Africa’s position as a global leader in business tourism and a gateway to Africa’s vast economic opportunities.

For more information and to register, visit [www.meetingsafrica.co.za](http://www.meetingsafrica.co.za).

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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.”