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CAX Africa 2020: Embracing African Stories

Published

6 years ago

February 20, 2020

Eric

By Dolapo Aina

The Creative Africa Exchange was held in Kigali, Rwanda in the month of January 2020. According to the Creative Africa Exchange’s official page; CAX Africa was created and designed to be the connection of Africa’s creative economy to stimulate, consolidate the African creative and cultural industry’s fragmented ecosystem into a sustainable impactful asset that contributes to the transformation of the Continent. Launched during the Intra Africa Trade Fair in Cairo in December 2018, CAX is the first exchange of its kind. The only pan-African summit for the creative ecosystem devoted to creativity in the fields of music, art, design, fashion, literature, culture, publishing, film and television.

In his opening remarks the President of Afreximbank Professor Benedict O. Oramah stated that ‘a pearl can never lose its shine no matter the turbulence. Rwanda and African personalities are breaking boundaries to make their mark. The rich poll isn’t a surprise as Africa is a rich poll of talents. The creative economy is seen as a viable sector. Culture and creative industries catalyse economic growth and create small and medium scale enterprises. But it lacks the ability to maximize the creative poll financially. African countries import more creative goods than they create. It is markets that would attract and drive the creative industry.’

During Aiteo Managing Director’s speech; Dr Ramson Owen asked the one question that must have been on the minds of some of the delegates. Why was AIteo (an oil and gas company) sponsoring CAX Africa? He went further to ask why must others speak for Africa? It should not be. It is time for the creative sector to profit from the sector. This sector has been operating in the informal sector. It is time to operate in the formal sector. So, he said.

Furthermore, Dr Ramson Owen opined that Africa elsewhere is viewed as a country. Could it be because Africans aren’t telling their stories? His advice was for those in the creative industry to work on quality and control.

During the presentation by the Rwanda’s Minister of Youth; Mrs Rosemary Mbabazi made a proud statement when she stated that the African Continent is rich in talent but how do we turn this into profits?

During the perspective from the creative industry session; Beninois-American actor Djimon Housou posited that ‘Hollywood also showed me a way back home. Amistad showed me a shocking glimpse of slavery. History is the lens that we use to see into the future. As Africans, we need to remember that we are great people, greatness is in our DNA. We must snap out of this cultural amnesia. We told our stories but did not write them down.’

The veteran Rwandan actress Carole Karemera who has starred in such movies, like the Haitian born Raoul Peck’s directed ‘Sometimes in April’ stated during a panel that ‘art needs a space and in Africa; there are not enough spaces for arts. Many African artists don’t create for the youth. We need to determine those who are consuming the African arts.’

During the main panel discussion; Djimon Housou reiterated the fact that Hollywood took him back home. Whilst Zambia’s Minister for Tourism and Airts; Minister Roland Kaoma stated that Africa needs to agree that the art industry must be upgraded from soft social to economic industry. Africans cannot continue to say we have potential talents. The potentials must become commercial. The creative industry must be seen as an economic sector.

Mrs Kanayo Awani of Afreximbank revealed that movies, music, arts and crafts, building production facility can tap into the 500-million-dollar fund available to support the trade of Africa creative products and creative ventures that are bankable. And she beseeched those in the creative industry to engage Afreximbank.

During the understanding the African Creative Ecosystem panel: CNN’s Eleni Giokos asked the delegates at the Intare Conference Arena Is Africa trading amongst herself? And the replies were mixed. Also, during this session, the Beninoise- American actor Djimon Hounsou advised those in the creative industry to any project you have, you must do a nice presentation. It is your duty to pave the way for the next generation

For her part, Nigeria’s Omotola Jalade Ekeinde stated that Africa needs structure (screens, film villages, proper studios). And that the movie practitioners need to invest in structure, film schools. Whilst Nigeria’s well-known music director Clarence Peters opined that film making is the only artform that evolves around everything from wood to rubber.

On the second day of CAX Africa; sessions like access to capital; the art of production and access to market; how loud is the women’s voice in the creative industry; how digital development is driving demand for new capacity across the Continent; were covered and discussed.

And several salient issues were addressed. Chris Oshiafi, the chairman of Pan African Capital opined that creative people need patient capital. Josephine Ndao who is the Head of Enterprise and SME Development at the African Development Bank stated that the investors’ comfort lies in wanting to invest in the distribution stage. Whilst the founder and chairman of Megalectrics Mr Chris Ubosi reiterated the fact that the products are there. You need to make your talent profitable. Develop fundamental structure.

And Mrs Uche Cynthia Nwuka who is the Group Head Creative Industry of Bank of Industry advised the young creative practitioners attending the conference to understand what it takes to commercialise their business. Learn about the business of what they are doing. The government needs to understand and support the business.

In the Art of Production Session; veteran Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo stated that ‘for film making, there are trainings for different levels. There is a level to group all African creatives into one. We are competing at the global stage. We practically conduct surgeries with forks and knives in Nollywood.’ He went further to state that the world is not coming to Africa for anything but the originality. The real Game of Thrones is in African stories. People are beginning to shoot movies in shorter periods because it is possible.’

Another veteran Nigerian movie actor Rita Dominic stated that the creative industry two decades ago was not viable for financial institutions but the story is not the same today. Supporting the creative industry is a necessity. And she reiterated what her colleague Omotola Jalade Ekeinde said when she said ‘we need film schools, enabling laws, funding, lawyers that understand creative rights etc.’

During the how loud is the woman’s voice in the creative industry session; all the ladies agreed that every woman is a bankable person. And the moderator the famous Star Jones stated that there is no one who made it easy.

How digital development is driving demand session delved into some in-depth analysis on what Africa needs to tap into, which is the digital space. Konga’s CEO Nnamdi Ekeh was of the view that the movie and music industries are the next after oil but the income being generated from these sectors for Nigeria is next to nothing. Whilst the founder of Chocolate City Entertainment; Audu Maikori stated that Africa needs to understand what our people want. We need to embrace technology. In five years, Artificial Intelligence would probably write a script for Rita Dominic. And what might be missing would be human nuances and feelings.

Professor Aboubacar Sanogo, who is a film studies professor at the Canada’s Carleton University in Ottawa; delivered a speech on the importance of preserving old movies. After his speech, a movie called Soleil O by the late Med Hondo (who was a Mauritanian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and voice actor. He emigrated to France in 1959 and began to work in film. He received critical acclaim for his 1967 directional debut Soliel O) was shown. This movie which was entirely self-funded was only restored in 2017 by the famous Martin Scorsese through The Film Foundation. Professor Aboubacar Sanogo who has his roots from Burkina Faso knew the Nigerian Professor Pius Adesanmi; who was his colleague in the same University in Canada.

The CAX Africa summit can be summed up in the words of Zambia’s Minister for Tourism and Airts; Minister Roland Kaoma who said that Africans should embrace their stories and that modernisation is not Westernisation.

Featured

Fake Agency Scandal: NDC Demands Gbajabiamila’s Sack

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2026

Eric

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to an alleged multi-billion-naira corruption scandal involving a purported non-existent government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the opposition party described the allegations as grave and said Gbajabiamila’s continued stay in office could compromise any credible investigation into the matter.

The NDC’s demand follows allegations made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has publicly denied exists.

According to the party, the allegations raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability and integrity within the Tinubu administration.

The NDC alleged that despite the Presidency’s denial of the agency’s existence, the PFIPC purportedly secured budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act and opened a domiciliary account, a Pound Sterling account and a Treasury Single Account (TSA) domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The party questioned how an agency described as non-existent could allegedly establish multiple high-level government financial accounts without official approval or the required documentation.

It also called on the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to explain whether forged documents were used in processing the accounts.

The statement further alleged that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved 314 staff positions for the purported agency, describing the development as another issue requiring urgent explanation.

According to the NDC, the allegations also include claims that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant, reportedly valued at N27.39 billion, a request Adeyemi allegedly rejected.

The party also cited Adeyemi’s claim that he secured his appointment through the Chief of Staff after allegedly paying N600 million, of which N400 million was allegedly paid through proxies, while N200 million remained outstanding.

It said the alleged unpaid balance reportedly contributed to the Presidency’s subsequent denial of the agency’s existence.

The NDC further alleged that the claims point to a wider pattern of institutional corruption, including the alleged sale of public appointments.

The party also linked the controversy to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom it described as an intermediary between Adeyemi and the Chief of Staff.

According to the statement, Tanimola reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, a day after the police reportedly received a petition from the Chief of Staff.

The NDC also referenced Adeyemi’s claims that he survived multiple assassination attempts, including an attack along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on September 7, 2025, and alleged that certain individuals within government are plotting to eliminate him.

Against the backdrop of the allegations, the party demanded the immediate removal of Gbajabiamila to allow what it described as a full and impartial investigation.

It also called on President Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine the alleged operations of the PFIPC, including its budgetary allocations, financial transactions, account openings and staff recruitment.

The NDC further urged investigators to probe the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death and the alleged assassination attempts on Adeyemi, while recommending that Adeyemi be granted witness protection.

The party also demanded that the Chief of Staff produce all official documents signed since assuming office for forensic examination.

In addition, it called for the questioning of officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation over their alleged roles in the matter.

The opposition party also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force to commence what it described as a thorough investigation without fear or favour.

“The NDC will not accept the usual tactic of issuing a mere defensive press release from the Presidency as a deflective ploy. Nigerians deserve to know the truth through a transparent process that promotes fairness and justice,” the statement said.

The Presidency has previously maintained that the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila had responded to the fresh allegations contained in the NDC statement.

Featured

Glo-sponsored African Voices Features Former CNN Anchor, Isha Sesay

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2026

Eric

Accomplished journalist and former Cable News Network (CNN) International anchor, Isha Sesay, will this week return to the studios of the global news network, not as an interviewer, but as the subject of its celebrated 30-minute magazine programme, African Voices, sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom.

The episode will shine a spotlight on the remarkable journey of the distinguished broadcaster whose career has traversed some of the most influential corridors of international journalism.

The 50-year-old British-Sierra Leonean media personality, born on January 6, 1976, rose to prominence through an illustrious career at CNN, which she joined as a news anchor in 2005 after distinguished stints with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Sky News. Over the years, Sesay became one of the most recognisable and respected faces in global television news, bringing clarity and composure to some of the world’s most consequential stories.

An alumna of Trinity College, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Sesay steadily carved a distinctive niche for herself in broadcast journalism. In 2009, she became the host of the inaugural edition of International Desk, CNN’s weekly news programme, further cementing her reputation as a journalist of substance and international standing.

Her career afforded her the opportunity to engage with numerous eminent personalities, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his successor, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, among other notable global figures.

Sesay also contributed to Anderson Cooper 360° as presenter of the 360 Bulletin, a role she assumed on January 17, 2011. Subsequently, she was reassigned as anchor of another flagship news programme, CNN NewsCenter, continuing a professional trajectory that reflected both versatility and excellence.

Beyond the newsroom, Sesay has demonstrated a deep commitment to social impact. In 2014, she launched her educational and humanitarian non-profit advocacy initiative for the African girl-child. The organisation, aptly named Women Everywhere Can Lead, has since provided educational support and empowerment opportunities aimed at nurturing a new generation of female leaders across the continent.

More recently, Sesay captured public attention with her personal journey into motherhood, welcoming her first child through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) as a single mother. Her experience has resonated with many women around the world, adding another compelling chapter to a life story already rich in courage, resilience and inspiration.

On this edition of African Voices, Sesay will share insights into her distinguished career, her enduring advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment, as well as her new and deeply personal adventure into motherhood. The programme will air on Saturday at 7.30am.

Repeat broadcasts will follow at 11.00am on the same day, while additional screenings are scheduled for Sunday at 3.30am and 6.00pm. Further rebroadcasts will air on Monday at 3.00am and 5.45pm, and on Tuesday at 5.45 pm, with the same time belt continuing into the following week until Monday at 3.00am

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President Tinubu Addresses Wife, Remi, As ‘Iya Alakara’

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2026

Eric

President Bola Tinubu drew laughter at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner on Thursday, after playfully referring to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as “Iya Alakara”, a Yoruba phrase meaning “the woman who sells bean cakes”

The light-hearted moment happened during the inaugural dinner at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja as the President welcomed guests.

Addressing the audience, Tinubu said: “Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara.”

The audience laughed as the First Lady smiled.

The remark referred to recent online reactions to comments made by Oluremi Tinubu about small businesses.

At a recent event under the Renewed Hope Initiative, she encouraged women to consider small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli, saying they need little start-up capital.

Her comments sparked debate on social media, with some Nigerians saying the advice did not reflect the country’s current economic situation.

Responding to the criticism days later, the First Lady said her remarks were misunderstood and explained that the programme supports different types of small traders and provides grants to help them grow.

The President’s remark was widely seen as a light joke about the online debate over the First Lady’s comments and public concerns about the country’s economic situation.