Entertainment Week Africa (EWA), formerly known as Entertainment Week Lagos, is poised to take center stage in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 18th to 23rd, 2025. This transformative event signifies a monumental leap for the African creative landscape, offering an unparalleled platform for creatives across the continent to connect with global investors, influential industry leaders, and policymakers. EWA 2025 represents a strategic evolution, expanding its scope beyond Lagos to encompass the entire continent, solidifying its commitment to fostering a vibrant and internationally recognized African creative economy. This ambitious undertaking aims to propel growth and development across diverse sectors, including music, film, fashion, technology, and live production, showcasing the immense potential and dynamism of Africa’s creative industries.
The core of EWA 2025 revolves around six meticulously curated flagship experiences, each designed to address specific facets of the creative ecosystem. The Content Festival will serve as a hub for showcasing innovative storytelling and content creation, while the Music Festival will celebrate the diverse rhythms and melodies emanating from across Africa. The Fashion Festival will spotlight the continent’s burgeoning fashion scene, highlighting unique designs and showcasing emerging talent. The AI & Tech Expo will explore the intersection of technology and creativity, fostering innovation and exploring new frontiers in digital artistry. Complementing these, the Live Production Expo will delve into the technical aspects of creative production, and the Creative Job Fair will connect talented individuals with exciting career opportunities. These interconnected experiences will create a synergistic environment, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of valuable networks.
EWA 2025 is not just a showcase; it is a strategic initiative designed to empower emerging creatives and provide them with the tools they need to thrive. The event will offer invaluable mentorship programs, connecting aspiring artists with experienced professionals who can guide their development. It will also facilitate access to funding opportunities, crucial for turning creative visions into reality. Furthermore, EWA 2025 will open doors to international markets, providing African creatives with the exposure and connections necessary to expand their reach and impact on a global scale. This multifaceted approach underscores EWA’s dedication to nurturing talent and fostering sustainable growth within the African creative industries.
Darey Art Alade, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Livespot360, the driving force behind EWA, emphasizes the transformative journey of this initiative. In just three years, EWA has evolved from a local endeavor into a continental force, demonstrating the power of vision and collaboration. This rapid growth reflects the urgent need for a platform that amplifies African creativity and connects it with global opportunities. Alade highlights EWA’s commitment to building a pan-African creative economy that is not only visible but also viable and globally competitive. This vision underscores the importance of creating sustainable structures that empower African creatives to thrive in the global marketplace.
EWA 2025 is strategically positioned to address critical challenges and unlock the immense potential of Africa’s creative industries. The event serves as a vital bridge, connecting talent with the necessary infrastructure, innovation with crucial capital, and local potential with global visibility. With projections indicating that Africa’s creative industries will contribute billions to the continent’s GDP and generate millions of jobs, EWA 2025 plays a crucial role in facilitating this growth. The event provides a structured entry point for international investors seeking to tap into the burgeoning African market while simultaneously supporting the continent’s emerging creative talent. This dual focus ensures that investment translates into tangible benefits for African creatives, fostering sustainable development and economic empowerment.
EWA’s track record speaks for itself. Previous editions have successfully facilitated distribution opportunities for African creatives and fostered high-impact partnerships that have propelled careers and businesses forward. The upcoming Lagos edition of EWA 2025 is expected to further elevate Africa’s creative economy onto the global stage, showcasing the continent’s vibrant talent and solidifying its position as a major force in the global creative landscape. EWA 2025 is not just an event; it is a catalyst for change, driving the growth of a dynamic and globally competitive African creative economy. It represents a powerful testament to the transformative power of collaboration, innovation, and the unwavering belief in the potential of African creativity.
