African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, has partnered with Gebeya, a pan-African technology company with a proprietary Large Language Model (LLM) and digital infrastructure designed for African language users, to launch the CANEX Create-thon 2026, a competition aimed at accelerating innovation across Africa’s creative industries.
With a total prize pool of US$50,000, the initiative will support African creators in transforming original ideas into functional creative projects across three categories: music, video, and gaming.
Participants will gain access to Gebeya’s Dala Studio platform, high-performance computing resources and technical support during a four-day creation sprint scheduled for 20 to 24 August 2026.
Unlike traditional pitch competitions, the CANEX Create-thon requires participants to develop and submit working prototypes or completed creative projects. The initiative seeks to demonstrate what African creators can achieve when equipped with the right digital tools, funding, mentorship and opportunities for global exposure.
Mr Temwa Gondwe, Director of Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank, said “Africa’s creators are visible and have the digital talent but have often lacked the financial backing and access to digital tools to grow their trade. The CANEX Create-thon bridges this gap by equipping our creators with access to technology to turn their viral ideas into viable long-term businesses. Through CANEX, we are enabling creators retain more value from their work, and to build a competitive base in regional and global markets. It's time African creators captured the true financial value of their global influence.”
The competition is open to amateur, emerging and established creators from across Africa. Applicants do not need the support of a production company, access to a traditional studio or an existing audience to participate.
Both individuals and teams are eligible, subject to the competition guidelines. Throughout the creation sprint, between 30 and 40 ambassadors from Gebeya’s community network will provide technical guidance, help participants navigate the Dala Studio platform and maximise the available computing resources.
Mr Amadou Daffe, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Gebeya, said “The commercial momentum behind African creativity is already evident. Recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa have grown by more than 20 per cent in a single year, the continent’s gaming market continues to expand, and Nigeria’s film industry remains among the world’s largest by production volume. However, many creators still lack access to the technology and production infrastructure needed to realise the full potential of their ideas. Through Dala Studio, the CANEX Create-thon will place practical digital tools directly in the hands of creators and challenge them to build original music, video and gaming projects. We want to help African creators move from inspiration to execution and from experimentation to products that can reach audiences, attract partners and create commercial value.”
The competition will recognise first, second and third-place winners in each of the three categories. Winners will receive: First prize US$7,000, second prize US$3,500 and third prize US$1,500
Additional awards of US$500 will be presented to qualifying finalists in accordance with the competition guidelines.
All eligible submissions will undergo an initial technology-assisted screening to verify compliance with the competition requirements. Approved entries will then move to a public voting stage to determine the top 100 projects before an expert panel comprising professionals from the creative, technology and business sectors selects the final winners.
First-place winners in each category will also receive the opportunity to attend CANEX WKND 2026, scheduled to take place at the National Theatre in Lagos, Nigeria, from 5 to 8 November 2026.
In addition to cash prizes, selected winners will benefit from exposure through Afreximbank’s CANEX network and opportunities to engage with creators, investors, businesses, policymakers and leaders across Africa’s creative industries.
The CANEX Create-thon forms part of Afreximbank’s broader strategy to strengthen and commercialise Africa’s creative and cultural sectors. The programme is also expected to establish a scalable model for identifying creative technology talent and supporting the development of commercially viable African creative products.
Registration opens on 30 July 2026 and closes on 19 August 2026. Participants can register and access the competition guidelines, including eligibility, intellectual property and submission requirements, through the official CANEX Create-thon registration platform.
No comments:
Post a Comment