ABOUT ACEL
Shaping the future of Africa's creative and cultural economy.
Where Ideas, Investment & Collaboration Shape Africa's Creative Future
The Africa Creative Economy Lens (ACEL) is the flagship convening of the Africa Creatives Alliance (ACA) and Africa's premier platform for shaping the continent's creative and cultural future. Conceived as a strategic marketplace of ideas, investment, and collaboration, ACEL brings together policymakers, creative intermediaries, investors, and industry leaders to unlock the full potential of Africa's creative economy.
More than a convening, ACEL is a co-creation platform—a dynamic space where actionable insights, knowledge products, and solution frameworks are collaboratively developed to address the sector's most pressing challenges. These outcomes move beyond dialogue, informing policy decisions, program design, and investment priorities across the creative value chain.
ACEL is designed to shift the creative sector from fragmented activity to integrated, investable ecosystems that generate jobs, drive exports, and foster sustainable growth. Through its forums, showcases, and collaborative labs, ACEL enables evidence-based policymaking, strengthens cross-border partnerships, and amplifies African creative excellence on the global stage.
The Journey
Gaborone, Botswana
Building Sustainable Infrastructure
Building on this momentum, ACEL 2026 will take place in Gaborone, Botswana, on 27-28 August 2026, under the theme "Building Sustainable Infrastructure for Africa's Creative Economies." Gaborone represents a strategic hub for regional collaboration, fostering dialogue on policy frameworks, physical assets, and digital systems.
Policy Infrastructure
Advancing coherent creative economy policies that support regulation, IP protection, trade, and investment.
Physical Infrastructure
Strengthening the spaces that enable creative production, distribution, and collaboration (hubs, studios, venues).
Digital Economy
Unlocking digital systems that power creation and global market access (fintech, DRM, emerging tech).
AUGUST 2026
Upcoming Flagship Event
Key Milestones
- • 200+ Leaders Convened
- • 20+ Countries represented
- • Creative Economy Action Paper
- • Investment Safe Label Pilot
Kigali, Rwanda
From Declaration to Action
Over 200 leaders, including government representatives, DFIs, investors, and creatives from more than 20 countries convened in Kigali, Rwanda, with endorsement and participation from the Rwanda Ministry of Youth and Arts.
Two Major Outcomes
Creative Economy Action Paper A strategic roadmap for implementing the recommendations and priorities identified through ACEL discussions.
Investment Safe Label Pilot Developed to validate and de-risk creative intermediaries, improving access to sector-specific finance.
Featuring key participation from AfDB, CANEX, IFC, Sony Fund, UN, and ARIPO.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Launch with African Union
The Africa Creatives Alliance (ACA) was launched at the inaugural Africa Urban Forum, marking a continental commitment to treating creativity as an economic priority.
Moonshot 8 Report
Policy Version
Guiding policymakers in adopting an orchestration-focused approach for the creative economy.
Public Version
Designed for creative intermediaries: hubs, incubators, accelerators, and makerspaces.
Endorsed by the Uganda Parliamentary Forum, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Finance, and UNESCO as a guide for systemic activation.
