Idris Elba confirmed for Creative Africa Nexus Weekend in Abidjan

He joins a list of over 100 top speakers from Africa and the diaspora, representing a range of creative sectors, who have confirmed their participation in Africa’s most sought-after gathering of creatives.

Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, CANEX WKND 2022 will assemble creatives, investors, industry leaders, creative industry businesses and government representatives for networking and deal-making opportunities. Participants will also get to learn from notable voices in African music, film, fashion, crafts, visual arts, literature, gaming and virtual reality.

With roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, Elba is well-known for roles such as Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire, and DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, for which he won a Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor.

The actor is scheduled for the “When Giants Speak” fireside chat on 26 November, among other activities. He will bring his wealth of international experience and insight, acquired over decades to the programme, which also includes panel discussions, masterclasses and live performances.

“CANEX WKND is a major milestone in the bank’s implementation of its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme; a multi-faceted intervention aimed at supporting and developing Africa’s rapidly growing creative and cultural industries,” a statement reads.

Other top industry experts confirmed for the event include label execs Audu Maikori and Oscar ‘Oskido’ Mdlongwa as well as singer Yemi Alade, award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and retired Ivorian soccer star Didier Drogba.

Sessions are open to all registered CANEX WKND delegates along with all masterclasses that commence on Thursday 24 November.

Registration is still ongoing here.