CANEX WKND dey Lagos Nov 5–8 to turn Afrobeats and Nollywood fame into deals
- Afreximbank and partners go host CANEX WKND at Wole Soyinka Centre for Lagos from November 5 to 8.
- Di 2024 edition for Algiers bin draw nearly 4,000 participants and produce deals wey pass $540 million, di bank talk.
- Organisers want creators to earn more from African music, film and fashion, no be just to win global attention.
African music, film and fashion dey known around di world, but di people wey dey make dem often dey earn small from that fame. A four-day gathering for Lagos wan change that.
CANEX WKND go hold from November 5 to 8, 2026 at di Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts for Lagos. Na di African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) dey organise am, with di Federal Government, di African Union Commission and di African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Di theme na “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World: From FESTAC ’77 to CANEX ’27”. E link di 1977 black and African arts festival wey dem host for Lagos to next year 50th anniversary.
For ordinary Nigerians, wetin dey ground na jobs and income. Music, film, fashion, publishing, design, food and sport fit create work and bring foreign money, but only if creators keep fair share of wetin their work earn.
From visibility to money
Afrobeats and Nollywood don win audiences abroad. But a hit song no dey automatically pay di artist well if there no business structure to collect royalties, protect copyright and reach markets.
Organisers talk say di event mean to connect creative businesses with investors, financiers and policymakers, no be just to stage performances.
Dem point to di 2024 edition for Algiers, Algeria, wey dem hold from October 16 to 19. According to Afreximbank, e draw nearly 4,000 participants from 81 countries, get 108 exhibitors and produce agreed deals wey worth more than $540 million.
Those deals include a €245 million facility with New World Television to help part-finance their purchase of sports broadcasting rights for 24 African countries. Di bank also announce a $3 million facility for Mediwood Studios to support Tunisia film industry.
For a pitch session, Cameroonian designer Kibonen Nfi receive a $250,000 pledge from investor Moji Hunponu-Wusu, while a group commit another $100,000 involving Nfi and Zimbabwean designers Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri and Thulani Ngazimbi.
Afreximbank talk say dem don set aside $2 billion for Africa creative industries between 2024 and 2027.
Wetin go happen next
Di Lagos edition go host a finance summit and deal room where creative businesses fit pitch to investors. Di test go be whether di meetings turn into signed deals and loans wey people fit access, especially for small operators wey often dey struggle to borrow because their main assets na ideas and copyright.
Culture journalist Jahman Anikulapo, editorial director of Naija Times, talk say FESTAC show say culture fit unite people across borders and affirm African heritage. Di question for Lagos na whether this gathering go leave lasting businesses behind, no be just a colourful week.
