Africa’s Digital Renaissance: Afreximbank and Gebeya Ignite Creative Innovation with US$50,000 Create-thon

Africa’s vibrant creative industries are poised for an unprecedented digital transformation, and a new initiative by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and pan-African technology company Gebeya is set to accelerate this evolution. Through its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, Afreximbank has partnered with Gebeya to launch the CANEX Create-thon 2026, a groundbreaking competition designed to empower African creators with the tools and funding needed to convert innovative ideas into tangible, market-ready projects.

With a substantial prize pool of US$50,000, the Create-thon challenges musicians, filmmakers, storytellers, and game developers from across the continent to build working prototypes or completed creative projects. This intensive four-day sprint, scheduled for August 20-24, 2026, aims to bridge the crucial gap between Africa’s abundant creative talent and the access to technology, resources, and financial backing often required to thrive in the global digital economy.

Unlocking Dormant Potential with Digital Tools

The initiative directly addresses a long-standing challenge for African artists and innovators. “Africa’s creators are visible and have the digital talent but have often lacked the financial backing and access to digital tools to grow their trade,” stated Mr. Temwa Gondwe, Director, Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank. “The CANEX Create-thon bridges this gap by equipping our creators with access to technology to turn their viral ideas into viable long-term businesses. Through CANEX, we are enabling creators retain more value from their work, and to build a competitive base in regional and global markets. It’s time African creators captured the true financial value of their global influence.”

Unlike traditional pitch competitions, the CANEX Create-thon demands practical output. Participants will leverage Gebeya’s cutting-edge Dala Studio platform, computing resources, and receive hands-on technical support. This focus on tangible production underscores the commitment to fostering executable innovation rather than mere conceptualization across three core categories: music, video, and gaming.

Tapping into a Booming Creative Market

The timing of the Create-thon aligns with significant growth trends across Africa’s creative sectors. Mr. Amadou Daffe, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Gebeya, highlighted this momentum: “The commercial momentum behind African creativity is already evident. Recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa have grown by more than 20 per cent in a single year, the continent’s gaming market continues to expand, and Nigeria’s film industry remains among the world’s largest by production volume.”

Despite this vibrant growth, many creators still grapple with limited access to the necessary technological infrastructure. “Through Dala Studio, the CANEX Create-thon will place practical digital tools directly in the hands of creators and challenge them to build original music, video and gaming projects. We want to help African creators move from inspiration to execution and from experimentation to products that can reach audiences, attract partners and create commercial value,” Daffe added, emphasizing Gebeya’s role in providing localized, AI-powered digital infrastructure tailored for African realities.

Inclusive Access and Expert Support

The competition is designed to be inclusive, welcoming amateur, emerging, and established creators alike, whether participating individually or as teams. Critically, it removes barriers by not requiring the backing of a production company, access to a conventional studio, or an existing audience. Throughout the creation sprint, participants will benefit from the guidance of 30 to 40 ambassadors from Gebeya’s community network, ensuring smooth navigation of the Dala Studio platform and effective use of available resources.

Recognition and Global Exposure

Beyond the opportunity to develop their projects, participants will vie for substantial financial rewards. First, second, and third-place winners in each category will receive US$7,000, US$3,500, and US$1,500 respectively, with additional US$500 awards for qualifying finalists. Submissions will undergo a robust judging process, beginning with technology-assisted screening, followed by public voting to select the top 100 projects, and a final assessment by an expert panel drawn from the creative, technology, and business sectors.

The impact extends beyond monetary prizes. First-place winners will earn an invaluable opportunity to attend CANEX WKND 2026, held at the National Theatre in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 5-8, 2026 (https://WKND.CANEX.Africa). This platform will provide selected winners with significant exposure through Afreximbank’s CANEX network, facilitating engagement with creators, businesses, investors, policymakers, and creative-industry leaders, further amplifying their reach and potential for commercialization.

Afreximbank’s Broader Vision for Africa’s Creative Economy

The CANEX Create-thon is a cornerstone of Afreximbank’s broader strategic objective: to develop and commercialize Africa’s creative and cultural industries. As a Pan-African multilateral financial institution dedicated to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade, Afreximbank understands the critical role creative sectors play in economic diversification and job creation. This initiative not only supports individual talent but also aims to establish a replicable model for identifying creative-technology talent and fostering the development of commercially viable African creative products, contributing to the continent’s overall economic resilience, especially in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).