$2 Billion Afreximbank Fund Launches to Boost Africa's Creative Economy at CANEX in Lagos

The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 kicked off in Lagos yesterday, drawing a diverse array of creatives, investors, policymakers, and cultural figures from across the African continent and its diaspora. This four-day event, running from November 5 to 8, is hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as part of its Creative Africa Nexus programme.

Under the theme, “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World,” the event aims to delve into various sectors including film and television, music, fashion, literature, gastronomy, and visual arts. A key focus of CANEX is to foster discussions around financing, intellectual property rights, technology, and skills development, which are crucial for the growth of the creative economy.

One of the standout features of CANEX is the introduction of the CANEX Deal Room and Creative Pitch Sessions. These platforms are designed to connect entrepreneurs with potential investors, facilitating the transformation of artistic ideas into profitable ventures. The initiative is part of Afreximbank’s broader commitment to supporting Africa’s creative industries, which has seen an impressive increase in available financing, now totaling $2 billion.

This funding is aimed at empowering African creators and businesses to build scalable enterprises, enhance their ownership of intellectual property, and retain a greater share of the economic benefits generated by their cultural contributions. By investing in the creative economy, Afreximbank hopes to lay a foundation for sustained growth and development across the continent's diverse artistic sectors.