Stakeholders from the Kenyan creative sector met to outline plans for the Creation Africa Forum (photo courtesy)
For a group of Kenyan filmmakers, animators and AR/VR innovators, the Creation Africa Forum in Lagos felt like a creative dream come true.
Supported by the French Embassy in Nairobi, the group collaborated with storytellers from various parts of the continent to exchange ideas, propose projects, and investigate partnerships between Francophone and Anglophone Africa.
“It gave us a platform to discuss real partnerships across Africa,” said Brian Afande, CEO of Black Rhino VR, who has attended both editions of the forum. “I even got to meet President Emmanuel Macron at the first one in Paris; it opened up powerful conversations about how we can grow Africa’s creative industries together.”
For many of the participants, especially members of the Association of Animation Artists in Kenya (AAAK), the Lagos event marked their first direct exchange with creatives outside Kenya.
Ahead of the forum, they underwent mentorship and investor pitch training, helping them transform bold ideas into commercially viable projects.
This growing collaboration is part of a larger cultural movement led by the French Embassy in Kenya, which has made the creative sector a central pillar of its engagement strategy. The initiative comes as France prepares for the France–Africa Summit, set for May 11–12, 2026, in Nairobi, where the creative economy will take center stage.
At the heart of France’s renewed focus on cultural diplomacy is Maison des Mondes Africains (Mansa)—a new Paris-based institution celebrating contemporary African and Afro-diasporic creativity.
Inspired by the legendary Malian ruler Mansa Musa, Mansa serves as a cultural incubator, performance venue and media hub aimed at redefining how Africa and France collaborate in the arts.
“Kenya has a great vision for its creative economy,” said France’s Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet, noting the promise of initiatives like Talanta Hela. “But the real challenge lies in delivery. Investing in human capital; the youth, is the most sustainable path forward.”
From animation studios to music producers and film startups, Kenya’s creative energy is attracting global attention.
The country ranks as Africa’s fourth-largest film market, behind Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco, and its animation sector is seeing surging international demand, especially in advertising and edutainment.
Kenya Film Commission chair Sudi Wandabusi believes collaborations like these can elevate the entire region. “France’s support helps connect Africa’s creative markets and open up access to new audiences,” he said.
With global players like Canal+ and BPI France expected at the 2026 summit, Nairobi could soon become a hub for new funding, partnerships and cross-cultural productions that blend African storytelling with international expertise.