Africa Soft Power to hold conference on ownership gaps in Africa’s creative economy
Africa’s rapidly expanding creative industry is set to take center stage as the 2026 Africa Soft Power (ASP) Summit kicks off in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 20. The four-day gathering will bring together investors, policymakers, technology leaders and creative professionals to address one of the continent’s biggest economic challenges — how to ensure Africa retains greater ownership and financial value from its globally celebrated cultural industries.
Despite the worldwide success of African music, fashion, film and digital content, organisers say the continent continues to miss out on significant economic returns due to weak ownership structures, limited infrastructure and inadequate investment systems. While Afrobeats dominates international streaming platforms, African fashion brands gain recognition on global runways and Nollywood attracts growing international audiences, much of the financial value generated still flows beyond the continent.
According to the summit organisers, the event aims to spark conversations on building stronger ecosystems that support African creators, entrepreneurs and innovators. They argue that cultural influence alone is no longer enough, stressing that ownership, access to capital and long-term investment strategies are critical if Africa is to fully benefit from the industries it continues to shape and export to the world.
Held under the theme, “Africa’s Compound Interest: Aligning Ecosystems of Finance, Creativity and Human Capital for Growth,” the summit will explore how finance, culture and talent development can work together to drive sustainable economic growth. Discussions are expected to cover emerging topics such as artificial intelligence, data ownership, creator economics, diaspora investment and the growing flow of capital into African markets. Organisers say the concept of compound interest reflects the need for patience, strategic alignment and, most importantly, ownership-driven growth.
The conference programme will feature dedicated sessions on leadership, innovation, inclusion, commerce and investment opportunities across Africa’s creative landscape. Notable speakers expected at the summit include Zainab Hawa Bangura, Alex Okosi, Heike Harmgart, Bolanle Austen-Peters, D’banj and Rita Dominic. Previous editions of the summit have attracted participants from major organizations including Google, Netflix, Mastercard, Safaricom and Afreximbank, highlighting the growing global interest in Africa’s creative and innovation economy.
source: the cable