Ivory Coast to host Canex Wknd

A new event aimed at connecting Africa’s creative and cultural industries is due to take place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from November 25 to 27.

Presented by the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the Ivory Coast government, Canex Wknd is intended to bring together creatives, industry leaders, potential investors, buyers and businesses from across Africa and the diaspora.

The three-day event will focus on the film, TV, music, gaming, VR, digital, music, immersive technology and design sectors. According to the organisers, it will be an opportunity to network and exhibit fashion, visual arts, crafts and other creative products in a dynamic market.

There will also be masterclasses, educational programmes and in-depth panel discussions on the key challenges facing the African creative environment, recommendations on implementable interventions, film distribution, access to finance and more.

Film and film policy will be strongly featured in the Canex programme, according to the organisers. In addition to experts on relevant panels and a dedicated breakaway session, a red-carpet film event will take place.

“The all-important Francophone film sector will be pulled in to ensure that the conversations and outcomes are truly pan-African in their perspective and impact,” said Canex Wknd’s organisers in a statement.

Emerging and independent creatives who wish to take part in the event can register here.

Canex Wknd will be an important milestone in Afreximbank’s implementation of its Creative Africa Nexus (Canex) programme, a multi-faceted initiative aimed at supporting and developing Africa’s rapidly growing creative sector.

The Ivory Coast event comes after the Canex Summit that took place as part of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Durban, South Africa, last year. The next IATF event will take place in Abidjan on November 21-27 next year.

tagged in: Afreximbank, Canex Wknd