Mr Tadiwanashe Murahwi
Project Coordinator
UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa
VOICES OF CHANGE
Meet the visionaries, policymakers, and industry titans shaping the future of Africa's creative economy.
Guiding two days of conversations on building sustainable infrastructure for Africa's creative economies — 15–16 October 2026, Gaborone.
Thato Matlhabaphiri (SCAR)
Founder of The Podcast With SCAR
Botswana
Poloko Mosarwa (Phlyhoney)
Radio Host & Creative Entrepreneur
Botswana
Ssanyu Ssematimba
Head of Department – Creative Arts & Events of African Leadership Academy
Uganda
ACEL 2026 Speakers
The lineup
Policymakers, investors, founders and creatives from across the continent, sharing what it takes to build Africa's creative economy.
Botswana
Mr. Tebogo Matebesi
Ministry of Sports and Arts
Botswana
Mr. Moroka Moreri
Director of Film & Visual Arts
Ministry of Sports and Arts
Botswana
Ms Gloria Alakanani Baitshepi
Acting Secretary General
Botswana National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM)
Botswana
Gaokgakala Daniel Lemmenyane
Chief Executive Officer
National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB)
Uganda
Amb. Paul Amoru
High Commissioner of Uganda to Pretoria
South Africa
Philina Wittke
European Union / Goethe-Institut
South Africa
Beth Arendse
CEO
Business & Arts South Africa (BASA)
Nigeria
Gbenga Kayode
Director & Producer
Faaji Productions
South Africa
Karabo Senna
Sales & Licensing
SAMRO
Kampala, Uganda
CK Japheth
Founder
MoTIV Makerspace
Botswana
Atang Arnold
Founder
The Spaces Botswana
Botswana
Eddy Mihigo
Creative Practitioner
Botswana
Tefo Paya
Mightysong
Botswana
Tumelo Michael Bogatsu
Creative Strategist
Baagisan Think Tank
Botswana
Nikita Neo Mokgware
Co-founder
Women in Film Guild
Uganda
Rita Ngenzi
Founding Executive Director
Africa Creatives Alliance
Sweden
Johanna Kouzmine-Karavaïeff
Director of Research and Creative Economy Systems
Africa Creatives Alliance
Uganda
Ivan Sewajje
Lead, Communications and External Affairs
Africa Creatives Alliance
Kennedy Ngenzi
Lead, Programs & Delivery
Africa Creatives Alliance
Botswana
Mboko Basiami
Founder and Creative Director
Glotto
Botswana
Kabo Phetlu
CEO
Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub
JK
Botswana
John Kgomotso
Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub
Botswana
Mumsy Themba
Creative Practitioner
Zimbabwe
Daves Guzha
Cultural Leader
More speakers to be announced
Gaborone, 15–16 October 2026.