Africa Soft Power (Africa Month) May 2022

About the Event

The Africa Soft Power Project’s 2022 “Africa Month” Summit themed: Africa & the Global Community: The New Face of Collaboration, convened on 26th-28th May in Kigali, Rwanda.

In the wake of COVID, Africa’s digital, creative and knowledge economies have emerged as resilient pathways to recovery. From sports and music, to technology, fashion, tourism and film, amongst others – how is the continent leveraging opportunities and advances within these industries to build a strong recovery, facilitate youth participation, develop infrastructure and secure Africa’s place on the global stage?

We assembled a global gathering of visionaries, thought leaders, influencers, and pioneers to converse around the theme of harnessing Africa’s soft power, not only for the continent, but the global diaspora community at large.

Speakers:

H.E. Wamkele Mene

Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
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Mike Ogbalu

CEO, Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS)
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Gina Din-Kariuki

Founder, Gina Din Group (GDG)
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Jude ‘M.I.’ Abaga

Rapper, Founder/CEO, TASCK Agency, and Incredible Music
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Victor Williams

CEO, NBA Africa
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Naledi K. Khabo

CEO, Africa Tourism Association
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Ngaire Blankenberg

Director, Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art
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Nana Baffour

Co-founder, NVH Studios; Executive Chairman, Enda
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Mary Edoro

Head of Content, BellaNaija Style
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Carol Abade

Group CEO, EXP
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REWA

Artist; Founder, Cranstoun Corporation
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Joan Mazimhaka

Co-Founder & CEO, Illume
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Eniola Mafe

Founder & Principal, Eniola Mafe Advisory
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Nnenna Onyewuchi

Executive Director Strategy & Innovation, YBR
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Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu

IFC Regional Director for Eastern Africa
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Matthew Ryder QC

Fmr. Deputy Mayor of London
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Peng Chen

Co-Founder & CEO, Hustle Sasa, Inc.
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Alice Nkulikiyinka

Director, I&M Bank Rwanda
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Sophie Masipa

Co-Founder, Mwungano ESG
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Ibrahim Sagna

Global Head and Director, Advisory and Capital Markets, Afreximbank
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Albert Kinuma

Africa Partnerships Lead, Segovia Technology
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Navalayo Osembo

Co-Founder & CEO, Enda Athletic, Inc.
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Nathalie Munyampenda

CEO, Kepler
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Amin Gafaranga

Founder, Atelier Academy
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Janine Gaëlle Dieudji

Independent Curator and Cultural Producer
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Lucy Mbabazi

Head of Africa Advocacy and Partnerships, Better Than Cash Alliance
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Benny Bonsu

Director of Daily Content, The International Olympic Committee
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Luol Ajou Deng

Two-time NBA All-Star
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Charles Smith

Former NBA basketball player
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Arun Shanmuganathan

Co-Founder, Hence Technologies
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Tola Adegbite

Founder & Creative Director, TURFAH
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Lethabo Sithole

Chairperson, AfCFTA Youth Forum’s Advisory Board
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Bonita Mutoni

Chairperson, Rwanda Tours and Travel Association
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Gayheart Mensah

Board Member, Africa Prosperity Network
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Dr. Gaidi Faraj

Asst. Professor History, Grambling University
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Ayoola Gbolahan

Award-winning Painter & Sculptor
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Compères

Ernest Danjuma Enebi

Founder & Managing Partner, Denda (Compère)
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Mayen Ekong

Area Counsel (Middle East & Asia) Wärtsilä, Singapore
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Sessions

Prof. Benedict Oramah

President, Afreximbank
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H.E. Wamkele Mene

Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
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DAY ONE: MAY 26TH, 2022

From streaming to gaming, to e-commerce, how are innovations in payments shaping trade and customer experience in the creative and digital economy?
As Africa’s fintech space expands, how can we harness the current momentum to support the growth of adjacent sectors in the continent’s digital, creative and knowledge economy?

Mike Ogbalu

CEO, Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS)
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Albert Kinuma

Africa Partnerships Lead, Segovia Technology
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Lucy Mbabazi

Head of Africa Advocacy and Partnerships, Better Than Cash Alliance
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Carol Abade

Group CEO, EXP
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Leveraging technology and innovative financing solutions to upscale the sports industry and drive fan engagement
Building infrastructure to support an ecosystem of African sports tourism, products, content and exports

Victor Williams

CEO, NBA Africa
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Benny Bonsu

Director of Daily Content, The International Olympic Committee
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Luol Ajou Deng

Two-time NBA All-Star
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Charles Smith

Former NBA basketball player
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Navalayo Osembo

Co-Founder & CEO, Enda Athletic, Inc.
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Matthew Ryder QC

Fmr. Deputy Mayor of London
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Africa has the world’s youngest population – and with that available resource, how can we utilize creativity and innovation to build largescale human capacity, facilitate inclusive growth and secure Africa’s competitiveness in a technology-driven global market

REWA

Artist; Founder, Cranstoun Corporation
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Nana Baffour

Co-founder, NVH Studios; Executive Chairman, Enda
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Arun Shanmuganathan

Co-Founder, Hence Technologies
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Nnenna Onyewuchi

Executive Director Strategy & Innovation, YBR
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In today’s environment, how do African brands take advantage of the macro trends, technology advancements and global eye on Africa to build sustainable, impactful businesses? What role does and can Africa’s fashion industry play on the global stage?

Nana Baffour

Co-founder, NVH Studios; Executive Chairman, Enda
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Moses Turahirwa

Founder & Creative Director, Moshions
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Tola Adegbite

Founder & Creative Director, TURFAH
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Mary Edoro

Head of Content, BellaNaija Style
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DAY TWO: MAY 27TH, 2022

With COVID seemingly subsiding, how can Africa’s major players and global institutions contribute to the continent’s digital, creative and tourism economy while harnessing its vast pool of young innovators for economic growth and social cohesion?

Ngaire Blankenberg

Director, Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art
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Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu

IFC Regional Director for Eastern Africa
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Ibrahim Sagna

Global Head and Director, Advisory and Capital Markets, Afreximbank
Read more
Sophie Masipa

Co-Founder, Mwungano ESG
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How does the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) commitment to streamlining and boosting intra-African trade support the linkages as well as growth of travel, tourism, innovation & creativity on the continent?
What is the importance of creating an enabling environment for innovation, creativity and the growth of young voices on the continent?

H.E. Wamkele Mene

Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
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As COVID restrictions are removed across Africa, how is the continent’s tourism industry – travel, hospitality, food, arts, music/nightlife, wildlife, sports etc – positioning itself for recovery?
How does the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) commitment to streamlining and boosting intra-African trade support the linkages as well as growth of travel, tourism, innovation & creativity on the continent?

Naledi K. Khabo

CEO, Africa Tourism Association
Read more
Joan Mazimhaka

Co-Founder & CEO, Illume
Read more
Lethabo Sithole

Chairperson, AfCFTA Youth Forum’s Advisory Board
Read more
Bonita Mutoni

Chairperson, Rwanda Tours and Travel Association
Read more
Gayheart Mensah

Board Member, Africa Prosperity Network
Read more
Dr. Gaidi Faraj

Asst. Professor History, Grambling University
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Matthew Ryder QC

Fmr. Deputy Mayor of London
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Nkiru Balonwu

Founder and Creative Director, Africa Soft Power Project
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From afrobeats, to amapiano to soukous, how do we ensure that the revival of music from Africa translates to tangible benefits for both creators and the continent as a whole?

Jude ‘M.I.’ Abaga

Rapper, Founder/CEO, TASCK Agency, and Incredible Music
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Peng Chen

Co-Founder & CEO, Hustle Sasa, Inc.
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Eniola Mafe

Founder & Principal, Eniola Mafe Advisory
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As Africa’s creative, digital and knowledge industries power the expansion of its soft power, how are pathways for inclusion, opportunities and leadership being created for women in this changing landscape? How can Africa’s evolving narrative include a new representation of its women?

Gina Din-Kariuki

Founder, Gina Din Group (GDG)
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Mary Edoro

Head of Content, BellaNaija Style
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Alice Nkulikiyinka

Director, I&M Bank Rwanda
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Nathalie Munyampenda

CEO, Kepler
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DAY THREE: MAY 28TH, 2022

(Pre-BAL Finals event Powered by ARTSPLIT & FCMVA)

REWA

Artist; Founder, Cranstoun Corporation
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Amin Gafaranga

Founder, Atelier Academy
Read more
Janine Gaëlle Dieudji

Independent Curator and Cultural Producer
Read more
Ayoola Gbolahan

Award-winning Painter & Sculptor
Read more
Ngaire Blankenberg

Director, Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art
Read more

Ticket options

REGULAR PASS

$248 (1 Day) | $450 (2 Days)

Access to all in-person sessions
Access to end of conference summary report(s)

VIP PASS

$375 (1 Day) | $750 (2 Days)

Access to all in-person sessions
Access to dinner/networking functions
Access to end of conference summary report(s)

GROUP PASS

A bundle of 5 Regular or VIP passes

10% discount for passes

FREE PASSES

For creatives and startups interested in getting FREE PASSES to the summit, email: asp@theafricasoftpowerproject.com with your name & organization’s name to get your discount code.

*Limited Availability

Speakers and ASP Faculty members, please contact asp@theafricasoftpowerproject.com directly for assistance with ticketing and accommodation enquiries.