Plenary Session The Creative Industry Bringing Africa’s creative sector into mainstream investing?

Plenary Session The Creative Industry Bringing Africa’s creative sector into mainstream investing?

Thursday, November 4th
15:00 - 16:30

*Note: Please meet in the green room 30min prior to the session start time to meet your fellow speakers and be mic’d up

About the Africa Investment Forum:

Africa Investment Forum 2022 is the continent’s largest transactional investment marketplace. It will bring together deal sponsors, deal brokers and deal makers from around the world. This year’s Market Days event will be the first face-to-face gathering since 2019.

Launched in 2018 by the African Development Bank, AIF provides investors with access to a deal platform, offering bankable and de-risked projects with strong support from Africa’s leading development finance institutions.  It is this transactional focus that distinguishes AIF from other African business summits. In addition to the public plenaries and the panel sessions, there will be private boardrooms that focus on specific deals at the Market Days. 

Session Description: The Creative Industry Bringing Africa’s creative sector into mainstream investing?

Across the continent, there are African creatives including digital innovators and experts, fashion designers, film producers, musicians and actors all seeking innovative ways to and grow their businesses, create opportunities, and build their brands.

These creative industries are potential job multipliers with the potential to generate over USD 4.2 billion annually in revenue across the continent. The film, music and handicrafts sectors have become some of Africa’s most vibrant industries, with a global audience growing exponentially.

Session Goals: 

  1. Discuss the status of the continent’s creative industries–opportunities to
  2. Discuss impediments to securing capital for the sector.
  3. Discuss alternative financing models for cultural and creative industries.

Session Format:

This is a 90-minute session, consisting of brief opening remarks from Samba Bathily, CEO, Africa Development Solutions and a moderated panel discussion. 15 minutes will be reserved at the end for Audience Q&A. The panel will be one lively conversation with a moderator who knows the topic instead of a set of sequential monologues. Answers and interventions should be short and example-rich, with everyone speaking in sentences rather than paragraphs.  Long introductions will not be made for panelists as full bios and background information is available to the audience. 

Opening Remarks:

  1. Samba Bathily, CEO, Africa Development Solutions

Moderator:

  1. Viola Llewellyn, Founder, Ovamba

Investment  Conversation:

  1. Ben Bruce, Founder, SilverBird Group
  2. Osinachi, Digital Artist
  3. Elie Kuame, Founder Creative Director of Elie Kuame Group

Questions for Discussion:

  1. African creatives are captivating global audiences. As they do so, they inspire millions of young people. How can creatives be job creators beyond their individual artistic endeavors?
  2. Historically it has been very difficult for creatives to raise equity and debt financing. Is this changing? What could accelerate this progress?
  3. What role does the global African diaspora play in the success of the creative industries?
  4. What role can African DFIs and investors play in accelerating the growth of the creative industries?