Global Creative Summit launches in SA to strengthen Africa’s creative economy

Timed to coincide with the upcoming 2025 G20 Summit, which will be hosted on African soil for the first time, the GCS aims to align Africa’s creative industries with global economic priorities. The summit brings together creative practitioners, policymakers, and investors from across the continent and beyond to explore opportunities for collaboration and sustainable growth.

Countries confirmed to participate include Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Réunion Island, and eSwatini, with additional confirmations expected. Invitations have also been extended to G20 member states.

Multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Gordon “Commissioner Gordon” Williams will deliver the keynote address at the event’s Investment Gala Dinner.

Founder Sinamandla Kwepile described the initiative as “a bold step toward the Africa we want,” adding that the summit supports the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Our mission is to shape a shared African creative agenda—one that removes barriers, accelerates cross-border collaboration, and ensures our artists and cultural entrepreneurs can move, trade, and create freely across Africa and the world,” Kwepile said.

Three-day programme

The three-day summit will bring together delegates from across creative sectors to exchange insights and promote African unity. The opening day features the Investment Gala Dinner, where Ambassadors for African unity will be honoured.

The second day focuses on panel discussions and industry dialogues centred on the mobility of art and creatives across the continent. The closing day will include a musical showcase hosted by Inside Art Fest 2025, featuring performances by Maglera Doe Boy, Warras, and DJ Switch.

Focus areas

The summit will highlight five key creative industries where Africa has demonstrated global influence — music, film and television, fashion and design, gaming and digital arts, and publishing and literature.

In music, discussions will explore ownership, protection, and growth of African soundscapes. The film and television segment will examine investment and co-production opportunities, while the fashion and design pillar will address sustainability and cultural diplomacy.

The gaming and digital arts sessions aim to position Africa as a leader in emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, while the publishing discussions will consider ways to strengthen indigenous storytelling and improve literacy across the continent.

Trade and diplomacy will also form a central theme, with organisers emphasising the need to address barriers to the movement of creative goods and services. The summit seeks to position creativity as a driver of economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development.

Looking ahead

Legacy projects and partnerships initiated during the summit are expected to continue beyond the event, with plans already in place for the next edition in 2026, to be hosted in the United States.

Organisers have invited delegates, institutions, and private partners to participate in what they describe as a historic effort to shape Africa’s creative future and strengthen its voice on the world stage.