The Relationship Between developed nations and Africa – the past, the present and the future?

Despite growing recognition, African creatives often face cultural and systemic challenges in achieving global prominence. This panel will explore how African innovators are leveraging the digital space to break free from traditional norms, overcome obstacles, and carve out new opportunities. It will highlight key learnings from their journeys and examine how a fresh narrative of African creativity can inspire global audiences while maintaining authenticity. How can these trailblazers collaborate across borders to build a thriving, interconnected creative ecosystem that redefines Africa’s place in the global cultural landscape?

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By 2050, Africa will be home to 25% of the world’s population with more than $16 trillion in combined business and consumer spending. This profound demographic shift and economic growth are driving transformative change across African markets, offering unprecedented opportunities for investment. With strategic leadership by business and policymakers alike, these opportunities can be seized to fuel industrialization, create jobs, foster technological innovation, advance green economies, reduce poverty, and raise the standard of living across the continent.

“Realizing Africa’s Potential: A Journey to Prosperity” identifies the trends, opportunities, challenges, and strategies for success in Africa’s emerging industries including health care and pharmaceuticals; mining; insurance; investment; private equity and venture capital; international and intraregional trade (automotive, agriculture and agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, transportation and logistics); capital markets; and entertainment. The book offers unparalleled insights to scholars, investors and policymakers alike a holistic perspective on how these industries may evolve and actionable strategies on how to maximize the impact of trade and investment on industrialization to unlock Africa’s long-term prosperity.

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When drought hit Ethiopia in 1983, millions of people were impacted by famine and one million people starved to death. Kenyan photojournalist Mohamed Amin and his BBC colleagues Michael Buerk and Mike Wooldridge documented the historic events surrounding the famine. These images inspired musicians to stand together and led to the recording of the worldly famous song "We Are The World". Documentary screening followed by a Q&A with Salim Amin, film director and son of late Mohamed Amin.

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