UK/Kenya Season 2025: African Creative Industries Symposium

Overview

The African Creative Industries Symposium will convene leading artists, cultural practitioners, policymakers, investors, and academics from Africa, the UK, and beyond. As part of the UK/Kenya Season of Culture, this landmark event will spotlight Africa’s creative economies as engines of growth, innovation, and cultural diplomacy.

Through four key panels: Fashion, Visual Arts, Music, and Financing, the symposium will foster dialogue, networking, and international collaboration to strengthen Africa’s creative industries and connect them with global markets.

Visual installation

• NATAAL Media unveiling of the UK/Kenya Season commissioned piece, WILD ONES (Shitanda & friends take flight) - a photographic conceptual masterpiece created by Kenya-based collective, Nu Nairobi.  This digital display will be presented on the main screen of the Lecture Theatre during the closing of the Symposium. (Kenya)

• Special performance by CHIMANO supported by the Wild Ones display (Kenya)

• ZOUBDIA (Morocco)

• URBAN ZULU (Democratic Republic of Congo / South Africa)

• CAROLINE MOSYEMI (Kenya)

• TIANNAH (Nigeria)

Programme Schedule

• 10:00 - 11:00 | Registration

• 11:00 – 11:10 | Welcome

• 11:10 – 11:30 

• 11:30 – 12:30 | Panel 1: Africa Fashion – Local, Regional & Global Value Chains

• 12:40 – 13:40 | Panel 2: Visual Arts & Centring the African Imagination

• 13:40 – 14:30 | Lunch Break

• 14:30 – 15:30 | Panel 3: Music & Soft Power

• 15:40 – 16:40 | Panel 4: Financing & Investing in African & Diasporan Creatives

• 16:45 – 17:00 

Speakers

Panel 1: Africa Fashion – Local, Regional & Global Value Chains

Exploring fashion’s role in AfCFTA and regional value chains, this session examines intra-African trade in raw materials, regional manufacturing hubs, and access to global export markets. It also highlights innovations in sustainable and ethical production, with a focus on supply chain traceability and new regulatory opportunities.

• Moderator: Az Chinaliev  – Relationship Manager: Architecture, Design and Fashion, British Council

• Lotfi Aoulad – Founder of Das Relais

• Yoanna "Pepper" Okwesa – Founder & CEO, The Assembly Hub

• Valerie Lawson – Founder & Strategic Advisor, CVL Beauty / My Runway Group

• Dr Lauren England -  Senior Lecturer in Creative Economies, King's College London Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries

• Toyin ‘Tiannah’ Lawni – Founder & CEO, King of Fashion

Panel 2: Visual Arts & Centring the African Imagination

This panel explores how art and culture drive national pride and creative activism, charting paths toward progressive social change. It highlights the power of multidisciplinary collaboration and the vital role of artists, galleries, and institutions in expanding access and opportunities within the visual arts ecosystem.

• Moderator: Barbra Okafor -  Creative & Media Expert, PfAL – LSE

• Touria El Glaoui – Founder & Director, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

• Keith Shiri – Film expert, Programmer & Consultant

• Esther Akothee -  Performer / Visual Artist

• Anastasia Pather - Visual Artist, Spier Arts Trust

Panel 3: Music & Soft Power

This panel examines music’s power in creating economic, social, and cultural value while fostering cross-cultural collaboration and regional ties. Discussions cover recording label associations, technology and AI in Africa’s music industry, youth empowerment, and how innovation, production, and knowledge archiving shape impact, trade, and global influence.

• Moderator: Dr Olawale Ismail - Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Peace and Development, King's College London: African Leadership Centre

• Laverne Thomas – Operations Lead, Warner Africa

• SMADE – Founder SMADE Group, Co-Founder Afro Nation

• Willis Chimano – Music Artist & Activist (Manager: Susan Knapp)

• Gracey Mae – Founder & CEO, MAE PR (Artist Label Services)

Panel 4: Financing & Investing in Africa and Its Diasporic Creatives

This panel explores financing African creatives through tailored instruments, governance, and impact funding. It addresses government incentives, intra-African trade and value-chain investment, and opportunities in climate justice and cultural tourism. Diaspora financing — angel, venture capital, and private equity is highlighted as a driver of sustainable creative growth.

• Moderator: Nzube – TAC Trustee (Financial Expert)

• Wakiuru Njuguna – Managing Partner, Heva Fund

• Prof. Roberta Comunian -  Symposium Partner / Professor Creative Economies, King's College London, African Leadership Centre

• Professor Eka Ikpe– Symposium Partner/Director Professor in Development Economics in Africa, King's College London, African Leadership Centre

• Bayo Omoboriowo  – Founder/CEO, Tikera Africa

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