The crucial role the media can play in propelling economic growth in Africa and building bridges with the wider world will be part of a packed agenda when the Africa Soft Power Summit returns for its much-anticipated seventh edition in Kenya this month.
The premier event bringing together the continent’s creative and innovation ecosystems takes place in Nairobi from 20-23 May. The Africa Soft Power Summit has evolved into a distinctive platform spanning media, finance, policy, technology and the creative industries.
At a time when the world faces intensifying challenges, from climate change and sustainability to AI, the need to showcase diverse perspectives and fresh solutions has never been greater. Africa’s creative and tech sectors have already demonstrated their power as engines of global growth, and African soft power stands as a transformative force for positive change.
As traditional champions of globalisation step back, Africa and its vast diaspora have both the opportunity and the responsibility to step forward: to shape new narratives, to bridge capital and creativity, policy and innovation, and to connect local ideas with global ambition.
This year’s theme, Africa’s Compound Interest: Aligning Ecosystems of Finance, Creativity and Human Capital for Growth, positions Africa’s growth as a compounding process where capital, ideas, talent and markets reinforce one another over time. It explores how financial systems can better support innovation and creative industries; how cultural and digital economies translate into scalable businesses and meaningful jobs; and how human capital, particularly women and youth, is integrated not just as participants, but as drivers of value.
The Summit will include the Remarkable African Women’s Leadership Conference, powered by African Women on Board (AWB). This marks the continent’s first dedicated convening on African women’s leadership, reframing female leadership as institutional infrastructure integral to economic design, capital allocation, policy effectiveness and long-term stability.
The event also features the Creative & Innovative Industries Conference, uniting leaders from technology, finance, media, sports, art, entertainment, and policy to examine how Africa’s cultural and creative capital translates into investment, scalable businesses and broader economic growth.
